Chapter Twenty-One
Alfie
The lights to Logan’s town house were a welcoming sight when the cab pulled up the curb in front of the front pathway. I let out a relieved breath just seeing it as I pulled out money to hand over to the driver. I hadn’t realized just how badly I needed a break from life.
The town house was on the outskirts of mainstream life. Certainly not the luxurious and ritzy part of the city, but it felt safe and serene compared to the hustle of the inner city. I loosened my tie as the driver of the cab helped pull out my bags from the trunk before exchanging a polite goodbye with me. I stood on the curb while listening to the quiet murmur of distant conversation in the warm evening air along with the click of sprinklers.
Late spring in the States felt warm compared to spring in Devon. Sweat gathered at the back of my neck as I gathered my bags to head up the pathway to the front porch and door. After knocking on the door, I took a step back to wait as footsteps from inside approached quickly. The door opened a moment later, and Logan clapped his hands.
“Yes! I was hoping you would hurry your old ass up.”
I laughed. “I could only go so fast, and if I’m old, then you’re ancient.”
He grinned happily at me before sweeping me up into a hearty embrace that I returned just as eagerly. It felt comforting to know that I still had one friend in my life who hadn’t changed into a complete stranger.
“Good to see you, mate,” Logan said, and let go of me to grab two of my bags on the front porch. “Come inside. I just ordered some takeout from a restaurant in the city that I think you’d enjoy.”
I followed Logan inside into the crammed hallway. Setting my bags down on the floor, I glanced around the small but impressive town home with hardwood floors and freshly painted walls.
“It looks good in here,” I said, taking in the nice furniture in the living room. “I’m glad this house worked out for you.”
“It’s nothing fancy,” Logan said. “I bought it on a foreclosure as I was telling you on the phone. It needed some fixing up. It still does in various areas, but it’s better than paying out the ass for one of those apartments in the city. Plus, the noise is insane down there. It doesn’t matter what time of night it is, there are people every-fucking-where.”
“No doubt. I rented one for a few months a couple of years ago. It made a dent in my bank account just to live there for three months.” I ran my fingers through my hair. “I don’t remember the noise, but I lived at the office during that time. Taking the company public was a great choice, but I still have nightmares about the amount of work I put into it.”
“I imagine, dude. I’m thinking that the rent down there made a dent in mine worse than yours. You got a little more to play with.” He gave me a cheeky grin.
“Perhaps.” I shrugged and returned the grin. Of all the people in the world, Logan was the one I could simply be myself in front of. My father had been cut from the same cloth: accepting, loving, and supportive. I was beyond grateful for Logan seeing that Dad was gone now.
Logan chuckled as he motioned for me to follow him into the kitchen at the back of the townhouse. It overlooked a small yard with a thriving garden planted along the fence line. “Come on, man. Take a load off.”
I leaned over the window sill and let my eyes run along the perfectly lined rows. “Are you growing weed again?”
He snorted. “No, asshat. I’m growing vegetables. I decided cleaning up my diet was way better than getting high and trying to forget I was getting fat and still not hooked up with a good woman.”
My turn to laugh. “You’re not married because you choose not to be. You’re a great guy.” I accepted a tall beer when Logan offered one. I took a long sip, letting the cool barley and foam soothe my dry throat.
He wagged his eyebrows at me. “Are you hitting on me?”
“You wish.” I sat down at the table and took another sip of the lager. It was beyond delicious, exactly what I needed after my long day. “Tell me, mate. How many years has it been since we’ve seen each other?”
“A few years, man. Too long if you ask me,” Logan said, taking a sip of his own as well.
“Agreed, but specifically. Has it been two years?” I found it a little disturbing that it had been so long. Logan was the kind of friend I could get together with no matter how long we’d been apart, and it was like we’d seen each other for the last time the day before. I was lucky, and I knew it.
“The last time I was in London maybe. I wasn’t in the city the last time you were in the States on business.” He shrugged and drank deeply from his beer before setting it down. “You have to tell me the full deal on Harry’s wedding and this new girl who seems to be creeping into your life.”
Warmth rushed up my neck to coat my cheeks. The last thing I wanted was for Logan to judge me for falling for Molly. Or maybe it was the sleeping with Molly part. Something had me on edge about all of it.
I shrugged. “I told you that Harry has turned into a complete asshole. I’m not sure when it happened as we’ve not really stayed in contact over the years, but somewhere along the way, he decided that cheating on his fiancée was a good idea.”
“That’s rotten.” Logan shook his head. “And especially right before the fucking wedding.”
“Right?” I leaned back in my chair, emotionally taking off a load. The rest of the evening was mine to do anything I wanted to do. Scary enough, all I could think about doing was finding Molly and dragging her into bed with me. Sex sounded lovely, but holding her close to me while I drifted off to sleep sounded even better.
The woman was quickly becoming my comfort, which wasn’t a good thing. She had a life to rebuild, and I wasn’t sure that she wanted me in it. Not that I could blame her. Her recent adventures in romance had done everything but literally rip her heart from her chest.
“And you helped his ex-fiancée out by letting her shack up with you?” His tone was even, but I didn’t like the insinuation. Molly was a great girl and only stayed because I pushed her to.
“Yeah, I did.” I tapped the table as my thought jumped from moment to moment with her. “I just couldn’t let her go back to America so torn up. She’s a unique woman for sure, and I believe that she was hurt by everything, but not devastated.”
“Really? Keep going.” He sat down and leaned toward me, his eyes filled with interest.
“Well, as fucked up as this is, I think their marriage was more of a business proposition than a real courtship.” I glanced down at my drink and continued. “I think she cared for Harry, and that they could have become something, but he was in a hurry to gain another tax deduction, and I think she enjoyed the idea of Europe and the security she thought he could provide.”
“That’s no reason to get married.” He shook his head. “My mom and dad married for practicality, and you know how that shit turned out.”
“Yeah. It didn’t.” I glanced up at him, turning the conversation back to Harry to keep Logan from dipping into the sadness of his childhood. His mom and dad divorced when he was little, and his mom took him to London, never to see his dad again.
It was great for me, because we became fast friends, but for him, it was hell. He worshiped his father. I was grateful that my dad stepped in and gave him a little bit of security, treating him like a son alongside me.
“So, do you think this is the first time that Harry cheated on the girl?” His eyebrow lifted sharply.
“No.” I rubbed my chest absently. “I think he’d done it many times before, but this time, her best friend from here in the States was there and caught him. I think having Peyton tell Molly about Harry cheating was the moment Molly had to own up to the fact that she was marrying a cock.”
“Wow.” He leaned back and gave me a quizzical look. “It seems so odd to me that she would allow him to get away with it before the wedding. Is she that desperate for security that she would ignore his faults, even those that would potentially ruin the marriage in the future?”
“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “She’s a beautiful, talented, loving woman. I don’t know what she was thinking.”
“Oh, no.” He reached out and patted the table in front of me. “I know that look.”
“What look?” I finished my beer and got up, walking to the trash can and pitching it in. “Not sure what’s you’re talking about, old friend.”
“You’re falling for her. If I know anything, I know you.” He got up too as the doorbell rang. “That’s dinner. Don’t go anywhere. I want to dig a little into you falling for this woman.”
“All right, but no judging me. The heart doth want what it wants.” I glanced over my shoulder as he walked out of the kitchen, his voice carrying behind him as he made fun of my proper English.
Dinner sounded good, but the conversation that was sure to follow did not. Not in the slightest.
*
“Well, as I’ve said many times before, and I’ll say it again now,” Logan leaned back from the table and rubbed his stomach, “I’d never judge you. It’s impossible to look at someone’s situation and really understand the why’s and how’s. I won’t even try.”
“I appreciate that.” I ran the last bite of my garlic bread around my plate, sopping up the remaining tomato sauce from our lasagna. “I’m not sure how to explain it myself. She needed my help, and I stepped in with completely good intentions.”
“I don’t think you falling in love with her is a bad intention. It just happens.” He let out a contented sigh.
“You’re right. I certainly didn’t plan it.” I pursed my lips as the sound of Molly’s voice filled the inside of my skull. She wanted to know about my mother, and I’d denied her that one thing. It was too tender of a topic. “She asked about my mum.”
“Oh, yeah?” Logan looked a little surprised. “And what did you tell her?”
“That we would talk about it another time. I wasn’t ready to bring it up.”
“You never are.” He smiled warmly at me. “Not that I blame you. You ready for another beer?”
“No.” I yawned loudly. “I know it’s only six in the afternoon at home, but I’m beyond beat.” I stood and stretched. “I’m going to call it a night.”
“You sure?” He stood and smiled. “You puss.”
“Sticks and stones…” I winked and took my plate to the sink before thanking him again for dinner and walking to the small guest bedroom he had prepared for me.
I stripped my clothes off and got into the bed, the sheets nice and cold. A shiver ran down my spine, and my thoughts quickly turned to Molly. How good it would have felt to have her roll over and press her hot, little body against mine.
She could have me sweating and kicking off the covers within minutes.
“Speaking of Molly.” I leaned over and reached for my phone. It was a little after midnight. “What are the chances you’re up, lass?”
The phone rang three times, and I was ready to hang up as her sweet voice filled the line. She sounded like she’d been asleep.
“Alfie?”
My body hardened almost immediately. “Hey. Did I wake you, love?”
“Yeah, but it’s okay.” She cleared her throat. “Are you okay? Did you get to Logan’s?”
“Yes. We just finished up a big dinner, and I’m in bed.”
A soft moan filled my ear. “I want to be in bed with you.”
“You’ve no idea, lass.” I closed my eyes as my cock throbbed painfully. Why the fuck hadn’t we decided to just stay together at Logan’s? Right. I didn’t want to be judged by the one person who accepted me. Knowing that he wouldn’t have judged me left me feeling like a fool. I’d given up the chance to hold Molly at night. Stupid.
“Well, check in with me later this weekend, maybe? I’d really love to see you a few more times before you head home.”
“All right. Sweet dreams, okay?” I rolled onto my side and coveted the sound of her voice.
“You too. Night, handsome.”
“Night, love.” I dropped the call and tossed my phone toward a pile of clothes on the floor. There was no way I was going to sleep with a rock-hard erection. I slid my hand under the sheets and lifted my hips, fucking myself until I exploded.
With nothing left to give, I finally passed out.