Page 18

L ana storms to the front door, whipping it open, and I’m surprised it doesn’t go flying off the hinges. “That motherfuckering prick of a prick.”

“Where are you going?” I follow her, getting ready to bear hugging her into staying.

“I’m going to Mark’s to ream him a new asshole, is where I’m going. How dare he attack you! I’m going to kill him!” Tears fill her eyes as her anger comes boiling out from inside.

“Lana. Sit down.”

She shakes her head. “No way.”

I take her hand in mine, acknowledging how my best friend really did kick ass. “Please.”

With a heavy sigh, she finally agrees. “Fine.” Her bottom lip trembles as she plops down into the chair next to mine. “I hate him. I can’t believe this happened. I am so sorry. If I had known—”

“Stop. You didn’t know. Him being a complete disgusting monster is not your fault.”

“But I introduced you two. I was the one dating him. You came here to escape your shit husband, and I just brought more shit on you.” Her shoulders sag in defeat as she cries.

“Lana. Look at me.” When she doesn’t, I command her again, “Look at me.” This time she does. “This is not your fault, and I don’t blame you. Please don’t beat yourself up over this. I’m fine.” My back pain is worse since then, but I won’t tell her that.

“Will you at least go to the cops? He deserves to be put behind bars for what he did.”

I shake my head. “I can’t. At least not right now.” I don’t want him doing the same thing to someone else, but I had to wait just a little longer before reporting him. I’ll do the right thing, just not right now.

Lana sighs with a nod. “Okay. Yeah.”

“Stop being sad. I’m all right. It’s just a few scratches.” Nausea swirls like a stupid whirlpool.

“Thank fuck Logan was there.” Lana winces, her too probably picturing a worse outcome.

“Yeah.” I pick at the invisible whatever on the table.

“I have an idea.” She grabs two glasses, a bottle of sweet wine, and then pulls out a carton of cookie dough ice cream from the freezer. “We’re doing some damage tonight.” Lana smiles, but it fades quickly. “Actually, this is so insensitive. You were attacked and—”

“No. It’s perfect. I’ll get the popcorn.”

With our plethora of blankets and pillows spread across the living room floor, we indulge in a much-needed girl time. Distractions work wonders in these situations.

“Ben?! Your first kiss was Ben Stroodle?” Lana laughs, catching the popcorn I throw at her, dipping it into her ice cream.

“That’s disgusting, by the way. And yes, he was cute in a nerdy sort of way.” I shrug remembering my first year in high school lip lock.

Lana giggles. “Better than mine. Jeff Parker was such an asshole. He found out he was my first everything and told the entire senior year. I couldn’t show my face for a week.”

“Ew. God. I remember that. He hated me for putting yogurt in his football gear right before their championship game.”

We both fall back laughing and it feels good to laugh like this.

“Bastard deserved it. Thanks for that, by the way,” she says. “Guess my history of men started back then.” She snorts but a hint of shame falls over her.

“We were in high school, Lana.” I worry she’ll believe she’s a magnet for dirtbags, but really, it’s just a case of shit luck. “I am worried about wine being the answer to my problems lately.”

“I feel that.” Lana finishes her glass and pours another. “But we’ll worry about that in the morning.”

I smile. “Fine. Pour me another glass.” Under a blanket, I rest my head on the couch, eyes on the ceiling.

Lana reaches under the blanket and takes my free hand. “You’ll get through this and whatever you’re running from, you’ll get through that too. And I’ll always be here to help you.”

I smile, turning to peer at my friend. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too,” she says.

A pounding—severe thunderous pounding. How much did I drink last night? More pounding. Is this a dream? No, it sounds again, and I jump at the noise.

“What kind of monster is making that God awful sound this early in the morning?” Lana grunts before we each share a look of worry and then beeline for the kitchen.

I rip open the kitchen drawer, pulling out a knife and clenching it to my chest. A repeat of the balcony incident. “I got a knife.”

Lana whips open a different drawer. “I got the pepper spray.”

“Ugh, I was looking for that the other day when I thought Fred was a serial killer.”

“When did you think Fred was a serial killer?”

“Remember that night when—” More pounding. “Fuck. I’ll go first.”

“What? No way. What if it’s Mark?”

“Lana. I’m bigger than you. He’ll poke you and you’ll fall,” I whisper shout at her.

“That is not true. I am a bad bitch.”

“You are bad and scary, but I’m still going first.” I slide past her, taking the lead, and that’s when I realize I’m extra sore this morning. My back feels like an elephant stomped it on.

I take a deep breath, Lana holding onto my baggie sleep shirt that hangs to mid-thigh.

My hand rests on the doorknob, and I mouth a countdown to Lana, who bobs her head at each descending number.

On one, I fling open the door, and big non scary man jumps when me and Lana let out a terrifying scream.

“Christ,” he groans.

“Holy shit! What the fuck, Logan?” Lana presses a hand over her heart.

I mirror her, my heart racing, as I lean against the doorframe. “What the hell are you doing?” I ask trying to catch my breath.

He sets down his hammer and power tools—power tools that make him extra sexy. “I’m installing a camera.”

“That’s fancy.” Lana raises her arm, the one with the pepper spray.

“Woah.” Logan holds up a surrendering pair of hands.

Lana tilts her head, brows furrowing together.

“Lana. Your pepper spray.” I cover my face in protective defense.

“Shit. Sorry. I’ll just go put this back.” She giggles slinking back inside, leaving only me and Logan.

I spin back around to find him staring at me.

“How are you feeling?” Logan asks, with a softness that surrounds me like a blanket. Right now? Right now, my heart is beating uncontrollably.

“A little sore, but fine.”

“Can I see?”

Can he see?

“Oh no, that’s okay. I’ll have Lana check the bandages later.” Not that I don’t want him to check on me, but avoiding another heated moment feels like the right thing to do.

He nods, not pushing further, going back to apparently installing a camera.

“This is fancy,” I say bending over a smidge to inspect, but when I realize my shirt won’t cover, I snap to a straighter stand.

“It’s necessary.”

“You didn’t have to do this, Logan. And you also didn’t have to start so early in the morning. Even the birds are pissed.” I chuckle trying to stop yawning.

He shrugs, throwing some kind of wrench inside his toolbox. “I couldn’t sleep, anyway.”

“How come?” The thought of his sleepless night being because of me crosses my mind.

He ignores me, pulling out his phone. “It’s all installed. You just gotta download this app and set everything up, but if you need me to, I can show you—”

“You’ve done enough already, and I’m sure I can handle this part. But just know, I’m adding this to the tab.”

“Sora.” His firmness sends shivers rippling through me. “You’re not paying me back.”

“Not this again. I am paying you back.”

He steps forward. I should retreat, yet I'm strangely stuck in place. He’s so tall, and I look up into his soft, yet heated, gaze.

“I told you before, I don’t want your money.

” He glances down at my mouth, at my exposed legs, then back up to lock eyes with mine.

Jesus. “Just download that app.” He hands me a piece of paper with the information before backing away.

“And take care of those wounds.” He’s gone before I can blink, shutting the door to his part of the duplex.

“Did he leave?” Lana peeks out, pretending she wasn’t eavesdropping.

“Yes. He’s gone.” I close the door behind me, still in a comatose state, but I don’t miss the subtle smirk on my best friend’s face. “What’s that look for?”

“Nothing.” She hands me a full mug of coffee.

“No. I know that look. What is it?”

“I don’t know what you are talking about. But I am going to go shower.”

“Liar!” I yell at her as she hurries up the stairs.

There is obviously nothing happening between me and Logan. If he wanted to install a camera for safety reasons, cool. Fine. It’s not like it’s incredibly sweet of him or anything.

But it is. It’s so incredibly sweet.