STANDING IN THE the driveway, I wave as Jay backs out and drives off before I storm inside to kick Logan’s ass. If Jay knew he was there, she didn’t say anything.
Shoving open his door, I find Logan lying in bed with his hands tucked behind his head and a shit-eating grin on his face. “What the fuck, Logan!”
He whistles through his teeth. “Holy shit, little bro.” He laughs. “That was one hot piece of ass.”
“Don’t talk about her like that!” I pause, taking a deep breath to rein in my temper. “You’re lucky she didn’t see you.”
“She didn’t.” He waves me off. “Nice sex face, by the way. Of course, I’ll have to block that part out when I’m replaying the image her getting off in my head.” He throws his head back and lets out a high-pitched moan like a girl.
“You know you could’ve just shut the door. Not stand there and watch like some creeper.” I move to punch him in the thigh.
He laughs and holds up his hands in surrender. “I’m sorry. I just woke up and I was taking a piss. The door was unlocked. I didn’t know you had company. Who was that? I thought you were bangin’ that little blonde. Melanie or something?”
“Reagan.” I shake my head. “We broke up in May. Good to know you were paying attention during our little chats, big bro,” I retort.
“I do listen. I just forgot for a hot minute. Reagan is the judge’s daughter, right? She cheated on you with Grayson Martinez at prom.” I nod. “See, I listen,” he declares. “So, tell me… Who’s the babe?”
I hold back my laugh and tell him, “Jayla.”
Logan’s eyes go wide and his mouth pops open. “Sparkles?” he chokes out. “Shit, Zach. Dad mentioned you were spending time with her. I completely forgot.” He smirks. “I told you she’d grow up to be hot. So, you finally made your move.”
“Actually, I made my move last summer. Several times.” I waggle my eyebrows.
“How do the Mackenzie boys feel about you bangin’ their little cousin?”
“She’s my girlfriend.” I correct him. “And they’re cool with our relationship.”
“You know her dad was Marcus King, right?”
“Yeah. How’d you know?”
“Dylan.” Logan smiles like a proud big brother. “Good for you, Zachy.” I punch him in the thigh. “Ow! Dude, lay off the steroids. When the hell did you get so fuckin’ strong?”
“Football, dickhead. You should pull your nose out of those law books and hit the gym once in a while.”
“Fuck off!” He punches me in the arm. It doesn’t hurt. “I try to go to the gym when I can. I’m just busy.”
“I know.” I drop down on the edge of the bed. “You look good, asshole. Tired, but good. What are you doing home, anyway?”
“I have some legal stuff I need Dad’s help with. I’m flying back tomorrow night. What are you up to for the rest of the day? You wanna do something?”
“I wish I could, but our Homecoming dance is tonight and I have to be at Jay’s house for dinner at five.” I stand up from the end of the bed and stretch my arms over my head. “I need to go home and get ready. You should come with me to the house and then over to Jay’s for dinner. Meet her mom, Emerson.”
“Ah. The enemy,” Logan jokes, rubbing his hands together.
“Emerson’s pretty chill,” I tell him as I head for the door. “Cam will be there and so will our grandparents.”
Logan rolls from the bed and slips on his shoes. “So, how long has Cam been sleeping with the enemy?”
His question has me jerking to a stop in the doorway and turning around. Logan laughs and holds up his hands in defense. “Don’t worry, I’m not gonna say anything. Everything echoes in this house. Cam should really consider putting some furniture in here.”
LOGAN MAKES HIS way into the kitchen and my mom squeals in excitement as I jog up the stairs to my room for a shower. Homecoming isn’t as formal as prom; we’re only required to wear a suit and tie. After my shower, I put on my black Calvin Klein suit and hang the silver tie Jay bought for me to match her dress loosely around my neck. Grabbing my keys, wallet, and phone off my bed, I hurry downstairs to find my mother so she can help me with my tie.
Logan’s raised voice carries from my dad’s office. “Did you at least see if Zoe was okay before you slammed the door in her face?” Logan asks.
“Zoe wasn’t with her,” my mom replies.
“Logan, this isn’t her fault,” my dad demands. “We’ll find Zoe, I promise.”
“What if we don’t?” Logan asks, his voice sounding worried.
“We will,” my dad promises.
I use the break in conversation to step inside the office. “Mom, can you tie this for me, please.”
“Oh, my God, Zach.” She brings her hand to her forehead. “I completely forgot about Homecoming. I’m the worst mother ever.”
“No you’re not.” I chuckle.
“I didn’t even get to congratulate you on your win last night. Why are you leaving so early?” she asks.
“Because I’m having dinner at Jay’s.”
“Oh?”
“Don’t act surprised, Liz,” my dad says. “We were invited.”
“You were?” I ask.
My dad nods. “Actually, your grandparents invited us at Emerson’s request, but your mom didn’t think it was a good idea. I’m sorry, but we won’t be able to make it.”
I shrug. “It’s fine. You guys are the ones missing out on my senior year.”
“Hey,” my mom says. “That’s not fair. You’re never home anymore.”
I shrug again. “It’s true. You don’t like Emerson and since you aren’t interested in getting to know my girlfriend, I spend my time over there or at Cam’s. Tonight is Jay’s first school dance, you know? Emerson spent the entire day putting together this big dinner party for Jay’s friends and their families.”
Regret flashes in her eyes and now I feel bad, but she’s so damn stubborn.
“He’s right,” Logan adds with a smirk. “I’ve seen them together and I know she makes Zach very happy.”
He’s such an asshole.
My mom finishes off my tie, then stands on her tippy-toes to kiss me on the cheek. “Have fun tonight, sweetheart.” She pats my chest and heads upstairs.
I look over at my dad with a frown. He shakes his head. “She’ll get over it.” He pats me on the back before pulling me in for a hug. “Have a good time tonight.”
“JESUS,” LOGAN SAYS, ducking his head to look out the windshield at Jay’s massive castle as I steer up the driveway. “I thought the Manning’s house was big, but this is ridiculous. It looks like a hotel.”
I laugh. “I know. We’re taking Jay’s Range Rover to the dance, so you can use my Jeep tonight if you want.”
“Are you guys coming back to Cam’s after?”
“It’s up to Jay, so I’m gonna say that’s highly likely since she’s not a fan of high school parties.”
Logan laughs. “For some reason that doesn’t surprise me. She grew up around adults.”
The front door opens and my beautiful girl appears in the doorway wearing a formfitting silver dress that stops just above her knees. Logan hops out of the Jeep and runs over to Jay, scooping her up in a hug and spinning her around. “Look at you, Sparkles, all grown up.”
“Shut up, Logan,” Jay warns through a laugh. “This time I won’t be aiming for your shins.”
“How did you know I was here?” I ask.
She holds up her phone. “Whenever you use your code at the gate, it notifies me.”
“Is Cam here yet?” Logan asks.
“Everyone’s here. They’re in the back,” she tells us as she closes the front door.
“Sweet.” Logan kisses her on the cheek and jogs toward the back of the house.
“You look gorgeous, Z,” she says, slipping her hands underneath my jacket and pressing a soft kiss on my lips.
“Jayla, does my grandson know you’re going around kissing handsome young men?” I turn and smile at Grandma Kate. “Well, hello, handsome. You look just like my grandson.”
I hug my grandma and kiss the top of her head. “Hi, Grandma. I’m sorry I haven’t been around much. I’ve been busy with school and football.”
“And me,” Jay adds.
“Grandma, Logan’s here,” I tell her. “He just went out back.”
“Oh, Logan,” she says in surprise, pressing a hand to her chest. “I feel like I haven’t seen him in years.” Her voice carries as she hurries off in the same direction.