LOGAN

Thursday passes and Friday is gone within a blink. Over the last few days I’ve kept myself busy and viewed different apartments and houses for Maggie and Skylar. There’s a two-bedroom house a few blocks away from me and it’s affordable. The elementary school is close as well and it won’t be available for another month. A part of me wants to put the deposit down and let Maggie know it’s taken care of, but I know I can’t be too overbearing about this. Each time I push her, she instinctively pulls away.

I put Herman in the backseat of the car and drive over to Kayla’s allowing him to hang his head out the window the whole time. After parking in her driveway, I grab the leash and walk Herman up the sidewalk leading to her door. Before I can knock, she opens it with a huge smile on her face.

“There you two are,” she says beaming, allowing us to enter.

Her three dogs come running and instantly start playing with Herman. I turn and look at her smiling and notice she’s wearing a black dress that goes mid-thigh and slightly falls from her shoulders. Her brown hair is pinned up out of her face. She licks her red lips and scrunches her nose at me.

“What?” She places her hands on her hips and waits for me to answer.

“Nothing.” I’m taken aback by how stunning she is, but I keep it to myself and push the thoughts away that push through my mind.

She playfully rolls her eyes just as a knock is heard on the door. Tucking loose strands of hair behind her ear, Kayla lets out a deep breath. After the door creaks open, she laughs and I hear a familiar voice complimenting how beautiful she looks. Christian enters, dressed in a button-up shirt and nice slacks. I eye him, and an unspoken message is exchanged between us and I think he understands he better not hurt her.

Christian looks at me then looks over at Kayla. “Oh sorry, I hope I wasn’t interrupting anything.” His manners are on point, and the way he smiles and looks at her, brings back that familiar feeling I keep pushing away.

“No, I was dropping off Herman,” I say walking toward the door. “Just leaving, actually.”

Christian places his hand on the small of Kayla’s back as I walk past them and I realize what’s taking place. Kayla is going on a date with Mr. Perfect and I should be happy for them both. That’s what friends do. As I walk past his Mercedes I feel the jealousy stream through me. I climb into my car and turn up the radio to drown out my thoughts. As always, I get stuck in traffic while heading toward Maggie’s and it annoys me more than usual when my phone vibrates in my pocket.

Instead of texting back, I call and it goes straight to voicemail. Fuck.

Taking the next exit, I pull over at a gas station and try to call Maggie again and this time she answers.

“What do you want, Logan? My text should’ve been enough.” She’s talking quietly but the hostility isn’t lost on me. 

“I’m on my way there already, can I come see her at least?”

“It’s not a good idea. She’s been in and out of sleep and her fever is climbing. She needs her rest and you being here would do exactly the opposite of that.”

The silence between us cuts as sharp as a knife.

“Anything else?” she adds.

“I guess not.”

Maggie hangs up and I stare out the window of the car for a long while and watch the storm clouds drift on the horizon. This is exactly why they need to be closer. Before I get on the highway, I call Drew because he’s my go-to buddy on the weekends I’m home and he happens to be off until Sunday.

“Hey man,” Drew is in the middle of laughing as he answers.

“Are you busy tonight?” I ask since my weekend plans are shot.

“Going to grab dinner in about thirty minutes.”

I hear Courtney yelling in the background inviting me to come along and I smile. Courtney is known for being a tad abrasive but at times like this, I welcome it.

“Apparently I need to invite you. Wanna meet us at the Wine Bar on 5th?”

“Are you sure? I mean if it’s a date, I don’t–”

Courtney grabs the phone from Drew. “You’re coming. So, meet us there, ‘k?”

Over the years she’s been determined to crack my shell and I let out a laugh. It’s the first time I’ve really smiled in the last hour. “Yeah, I’ll meet you two there.”

She squeals and gives the phone back to Drew. “See you in a bit.”

Drew and Courtney pull up as soon as I do and I meet them at the door before we walk in. Courtney gives me a big smile and Drew’s shaking his head at her.

“Detective,” she nods as I open the door for her.

“She’s really feisty today,” Drew warns, following behind Courtney. I’m pretty sure she’s feisty every day, but I don’t dare say that, even though I’m sure Drew would agree.

We walk in and are immediately seated at a corner table in the dark room. Jazz music flows lightly in the background and the flickers of candles on the tables reflects shadows against the walls. This is a place where people bring their dates, not have a dinner with a friend and it just became really awkward.

“And I officially feel like a third wheel,” I say before opening the menu.

Courtney rolls her eyes and gives me a big smile. “Do you want me to sit beside you?”

I shake my head but she doesn’t hesitate and moves beside me. “I much prefer staring into Drew’s eyes over dinner anyway.”

I chuckle.

“I got a smile out of hard-ass Logan Knight. That’s winning,” she says, her Southern twang obvious, then laughs loudly not giving a fuck how quiet the room is or who’s dinner she’s interrupting.

The waiter comes to the table and Courtney orders a few bottles of wine and appetizers. While we wait, I ask the right questions about her family, the honeymoon, her job, and the questions-and-answer game goes on and on. Though at times I can be awkward in social situations, Courtney tends to not care and treats me the same way she treats everyone else. She calls is Southern hospitality and I call it being an extrovert who gives no fucks, but, somehow, we meet in the middle. Drew continues about work and I add a few things to the conversation as well, but it’s nothing more than small talk. I’m grateful for their company even though the situation is less than perfect.

I take a sip of wine and scan the room as I always do, mostly out of habit, but I swallow hard and let out a calm cool breath when I see a tall brunette wearing a black dress staring at me from across the room.

––––––––

KAYLA

Christian is a nice guy and love animals as much as I do, which I agree with Lucy, I don’t know how that’s even possible. Our Thursday night double date was cancelled and he rescheduled for tonight, just the two of us, which I willingly agreed to. When I look at Christian, I know he’s the whole package. He has a career, he’s compassionate, loves to have fun, and he’s gorgeous. If I had to describe my dream man two years ago before meeting Logan Knight, Christian would check all the boxes.

As we’re walking out to Christian’s car, I feel my phone vibrate and notice I have a text from Courtney.

I lock my phone and shove it in my clutch. Christian opens the car door for me, being the perfect gentleman. During the ride to dinner he asks me a series of questions, and after each one it ends with a me too. We have a lot in common, mostly, but I don’t dare bring up my past. It’s often too painful to talk about. Even mentioning or thinking about foster care doesn’t really brighten the mood and I don’t want his or anyone’s pity. It’s made me who I am today and I’m proud of who I’ve become regardless of my adversities.

The time passes by so quickly as we drive across town and soon he’s pulling up to the valet. Before we walk inside, he places his hand on the small of my back, and his touch does something to me. Oddly enough it feels natural. The hostess smiles at Christian, but he doesn’t notice her low-cut shirt or the way she’s undressing him with her eyes. He’s too busy looking at me, as if I’m the only woman in the room. I can’t remember the last time I’ve been the center of anyone’s attention, but it makes me feel wanted and I’m not complaining at all.

Before we’re sat, Christian excuses himself to the bathroom and I wait with a smile on my face and that’s when I notice Courtney, Logan, and Drew sitting in the corner. I’m a little confused because I thought he was going to visit his daughter this weekend. I try to put the pieces together but it’s not adding up.

At first, he doesn’t notice me, but when he does, I feel the fire burning between us, even across the low-lit room. His gaze singes over me and heat rushes through my body. Though no words are exchanged, and he’d never admit he’s thought twice about us, his eyes say it all. There’s too much tension, unspoken words, and emotions flowing between us, and I’m temporarily lost in the thoughts of us. My heartrate is erratic and I almost forget to breathe as I try to recompose myself. Swallowing hard, I turn my head, trying to pretend I didn’t see him, though it’s a poor attempt because it’s too obvious. Courtney notices Logan’s attention is on something else, I see her ask him a question because nothing gets past her. Thinking quickly, I turn around putting my back toward them and hope she doesn’t draw attention and that Logan doesn’t out that I’m here. I hope, just this once, she doesn’t get involved because it would make this date extremely awkward.

Christian returns and I look over at him and smile, hoping he doesn’t notice the change in my behavior. The hostess seats us in direct line of their table and I catch stolen moments with Logan over Christian’s shoulder, which feels so wrong. Randomly our eyes meet and I try my damnedest to pretend he’s not there, but it’s hard. As much as I hate to admit it, I’m drawn to him like sprinkles on donuts. This date was supposed to be about getting over Logan and here I am thinking about him. Granted the current situation doesn’t help at all.

We order wine and I’m two glasses in before our dinner arrives.

“Everything okay?” Christian asks cutting into his vegetarian pasta.

“Yeah, fine.” I smile over the rim of my glass before I empty it and fiddle with my salad, but I’ve lost my appetite.

“I was thinking of volunteering at the shelter tomorrow, do you plan on being there?” he asks.

I search his face and my heart does a little flutter at the thought of him wanting to genuinely help. “Of course. I’m sure they’d love to have you.”

“Would you?”

His bluntness slightly catches me off guard or maybe it’s the wine—probably a little bit of both—but I give him a smile. Heat rushes to my face so I excuse myself to the bathroom. Just as I’m out of sight, I lean against the wall and breathe. I have so many mixed emotions flowing through me that it’s hard to pinpoint how I feel right now while my mind is swimming.

After I compose myself for a moment, I walk to the end of the low-lit hallway, noticing the way the lanterns on the walls flicker like candles. Just as I’m getting ready to push open the bathroom door, someone grabs my hand and turns me around. Words slip from my mouth until I’m face-to-face with blue eyes.

“What are you doing?” I try not to look at Logan, not wanting to fall into his gaze that’s kept me captive for the past hour.

“Wondering if you need to be rescued or not.” He slightly smiles, and I can’t tell if he’s joking or being serious.

I narrow my eyes at him. “I’m fine, thank you very much. I’m actually having a great time.”

“Is that why you’re more interested in everything but your date?”

My mouth falls open and I’m ready to rebut him except I don’t realize how close we are until his warm breath brushes against my cheek. My back presses against the cool wall and I’m teetering on edge as his mouth moves closer to mine. The warmth of his body encapsulates me and I’m losing myself in the moment. Logan takes my cheek in his hand just as our mouths crash together, but this is no accident. My fingers instinctively thread through his hair, and our kiss deepens even further as our breaths become more ragged. Our tongues brush against each other—greedy mouths and lips—and I’m trying to stop, but we’re in too deep—completely committed to kissing. We’re lost in each other for an indefinite amount of time, and I don’t seem to care. Emotions soar through me, and I know he feels it, too, because his body gives him away.

Logan’s mouth slows, and he whispers, ‘I’m sorry’ across my lips. He lingers over my mouth for a blink of time before pushing away. I have just enough time to look into his eyes that are so damn sad. I open my mouth to say something, anything. I want to scream out to him but the words don’t come as he walks away.