“My…ugh, the guy I’m seeing,” I replied. “Sorry, I don’t know what he’s doing here.”

“He doesn’t look particularly happy,” Logan remarked, and suddenly, to my horror, Ellis began striding across the street towards us.

I suddenly cursed the fact that this car didn’t have a roof I could pull over, something I could use to hide from him - and yeah, I knew how bad it was that I felt the urge to hide from the guy I was ostensibly dating.

Ellis arrived next to the car and slammed his hands down on the top of the door on my side. I jumped, and Logan shifted slightly as if to put himself into a better position in order to take Ellis out.

“So, this is the guy, is it, Reeva?” He demanded, nodding in Logan’s direction. “That’s the guy you went out with today?”

“Yeah, I told you, Ellis,” I snapped. “We were running an errand for Mom.”

“In his convertible?” Ellis replied with a sneer. “Yeah, seems pretty practical.”

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I changed tact. “Were you waiting outside my apartment for me?”

“Yeah,” he lifted his chin up.

“Why?”

“I wanted to see with my own two eyes who you’re getting rides from,” his face twisted up into a smile. “And who you’re giving rides to.”

“Shut the fuck up, Ellis!” I snarled. I didn’t need this. I wanted him gone, but he didn’t look much like backing off.

“Oh, come on, you’re fucking me around!” He exclaimed, his voice raising - a couple of people who had been quietly making their way down the street lifted their heads to peer at us. I was mortified. Why did he have to do this now, in front of Logan?

“I’m not doing anything,” I snapped back. “Nothing. And besides, who were you fucking at that party last night?”

“Oh, yeah, because I’m meant to sit at home because my dumb girlfriend won’t come out to have some fun!” He threw his hands in the air, and Logan finally intervened.

He had been doing his best to ignore the situation as if unfolded, but when he jumped in, his voice was sharp.

“Come on, man, have some manners,” he cut in. “Maybe you should just go.”

“Oh, I bet you’d love that,” Ellis turned on Logan. “Where did you take her, huh?”

“I took Reeva to the gardening store to run an errand for her Mom,” he replied calmly. “I picked her up from work and I brought her back here as soon as we were done. Not that you’re owed an explanation for anything she does.”

“Oh, go fuck yourself,” Ellis brushed Logan off, not taking his eyes off me once. I’ve seen Ellis grumpy before, but I didn’t know he had this in him. I found myself a little intimidated, pressing my back hard into my seat.

“So, you coming with me, or are you staying with your boyfriend?”

“I’m not going with you and I’m not staying here. I’m going home, Ellis,” I shot back. “And for the record, I’m not anyone’s girlfriend. Not yours, not Logan’s, not anyone’s.”

“Then what the fuck have we been doing the last couple of months?” He demanded.

“Wasting my time,” I replied firmly. I got out of the car, and Logan did the same, leaning up against the hood and watching as events unfolded.

As I tried to cross the road, Ellis stepped out in front of me, blocking my path. My heart leaped up into my throat. My skin prickled with fear.

I wanted to be strong and in-control, but confronted by his anger, I found myself recoiling in fear. He reached out and took my arm, and I froze completely - the tension of his fingers on my skin made me want to scream, but it was as though my throat had seized up completely.

“Get off her, man,” Logan strode towards us, his voice cutting through my reverie at once. He took Ellis’s hand and removed it without even trying.

I was taken aback by his strength, by his control, and wondered how many fights he’s broken up in his time.

“Don’t you tell me what to do,” Ellis squared up to him, spitting out clichés like a moody teenager. Logan stared him down as I stepped behind the car, putting some space between them and I.

Ellis might have been dumb, but he wasn’t quite that stupid - he was a full head shorter than Logan, and while Logan seemed sweet, I could bet he wouldn’t hold back if the situation arose. There was still that hint of the renegade about him, and I could tell Ellis could sense it too.

Soon enough, Ellis backed off, putting a few paces between himself and Logan. He looked over at me where I was hiding out behind the car, and cocked his head to the side. He wore a derisive expression on his face, and I clenched my fists to keep from crying.

“I wouldn’t bother trying to hang with everyone again, Reeva,” Ellis called out to me. “They’re going to be pissed when they hear about this.”

He made his way back down the street, and Logan escorted me across the road to my apartment. I was still shaking, much to my humiliation - how would I ever redeem myself in Logan’s eyes now?

“If he comes back, just let me know, okay?” He caught me by the shoulders and looked intently into my eyes as if checking to make sure I was okay.

I automatically jerked myself out of his grip, my head still too full of Ellis’ hands on me not to be put out by his touch.

He let go at once, taking a step back to give me some space.

I let out a long, shuddering breath, my body shaking slightly. Well, at least I didn’t have to worry about dumping Ellis now - it seemed like we’d pretty much dealt with whatever our relationship had been.

“I will,” I nodded. Logan reached into his pocket and pulled out a scrap of paper, scribbling something down on it before handing it over to me.

“This is my number,” he pressed it into my hands and squeezed me lightly. “Call me if you need anything, anything at all.”

“I will,” I confirmed. “Thank...thank you.”

“Not at all,” he bowed his head, dismissing my thanks. “I’m going to go along to your Mom’s now and drop this stuff off. I’ll see you later, okay?”

“Okay,” I agreed, and he gave me one last look over before he turned and made his way back to the car. My pulse was dropping, and the hazy edges to my vision were beginning to disperse.

I took a deep, shuddering breath, and tried to bring myself back to reality, before turning and unlocking the door to my apartment and heading upstairs.