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Lana’s mouth parts. “Um okay, we’re doing this. Alcohol therapy. Got it.” She flags down Joel, who pours the liquid into the glass. I don’t even ask what it is, I just shoot it back, letting it burn its way down my throat. Good.

“Another,” I say, wiping the excess off my lips.

“Listen, I’m all for drowning out the world with a good liquor but maybe just one tonight?” Lana questions my sanity, but I hold firmly.

“No. I want another.”

Joel casts a glance at Lana but begins pouring the same shot, and I take it back without hesitation. The third one doesn’t make it to my mouth as a large, but gentle hand engulfs mine.

“Let me go, Logan.”

“You’re done.”

“The hell I am. You’re not the boss of me.”

“You’re right. But I’m not letting you get shit faced because of me.”

I scoff out laughter. “This is not because of you.” I’m already slurring words, realizing how little I can handle my alcohol.

“We’re leaving and I’m driving.”

“I am not leaving with you. I’m here with Lana and we’re having fun.” Sort of.

“I think you should let Logan take you home, Sora.”

I cast her a glare that screams traitor, but all she does is shrug, wink at Logan then stalks off to the dance floor throwing her hips around as some guy moseys his way over to her. “See. I need to stay and make sure she doesn’t get into any trouble.”

“I think she’s covered.” Logan nods to the table across from us where Crew sits. A chatty woman beside him, but he’s not listening to her, not even looking at her. He’s watching Lana intently. His entire focus on her and I’m not sure if that’s good or bad. But something tells me she’ll be okay.

“Fine. Let’s go.”

Logan reaches for my arm to help steady me, but I jerk it away.

“Aren’t you supposed to be dancing with Claire?” I ask in a moody tone.

He opens his truck’s passenger door and, without hesitation, grabs my waist to help me inside. His touch is electric, sending me over the edge. “Do you want me dancing with Claire?” He’s stone serious with a penetrating stare, turning me weak.

Over my dead body.

I cross my arms to my chest, holding a scowl. “No.”

Logan leans in and my mind tells me to sit back, but I keep my position. The closeness radiates me. “And why is that?”

I swallow, us staring at each other. “What?”

“Why don’t you want me dancing with Claire, Sora?” He’s searching for the answer we both know is there, but I don’t say it. I don’t confess.

He drops his head with a sigh. “Seatbelt.” He closes my door, and my chest twinges with guilt and pain because I can’t admit it.

He knows how I feel, I’m sure of it. But he wants me to say it, wants to hear the words.

I like Logan. I like him a lot. Hell of a lot more than just friends.

And the thought of Claire’s claws all over him creates a sour hole in my stomach.

But because I can’t have him, I don’t want anyone else to have him either.

The thought of him being with another woman makes me physically ill.

It's pathetic, I know.

The drive home is silent, and I gnaw at my bottom lip, keeping myself from telling Logan the truth.

When he pulls into our shared driveway, I allow no time for him to ask me questions. I need to get out of here because the longer I stay with him, the faster my mind and body start to crumble.

“Thanks for the ride.” I go to open the door, but a loud crash inside the duplex has me freezing in place.

The noise sounded off in the distance, yet so close. Jason. Fred. Who the fuck is it this time?

Logan turns off the truck and makes his way around it, gently taking my hands. Him and all his handsomeness in my line of sight. “Give me your keys.”

I’m unable to speak as I peer over his shoulder.

“Sora. Your keys.”

Finally snapping back, I dig inside my small bag for the duplex keys. When I find them, I place them in his outstretched hand.

“Stay here,” he commands, then turns, making his way to unlock the door.

Stay here. Yeah right.

I follow close behind, Logan cursing when he notices. “I’m coming. Deal with it,” I bite back.

He goes first, flicking on the light, and I let out a horrid scream. At the back door, Fred peeks in through the window with his tiny ears. Jesus, who knew an adorable, fuzzy creature, could also be so terrifying.

When Logan opens the balcony doors, Fred scurries away, and Logan checks over the railing. “The loud bang was the trashcan falling.”

I let out a sigh of relief. “Fucking Fred,” I curse, holding my chest.

Logan comes back inside, locking the door. “I’ll let you get some rest.”

I go to tell him goodnight but nausea swirls in the pit of my stomach and I take off for the bathroom, barely making it before my stomach empties into the bowl.

Great.

With my hair being swept up, Logan’s hand rubs circles on my back.

When my stomach finally stops hating me, I rest my arm on the seat, laying my forehead down. “They just keep coming, don’t they?” I ask, not having the strength to lift my head.

“What’s that?”

“The mortifying moments between us. I’m a magnet for disaster.”

Logan says nothing. He just continues to hold my hair, but I muster up what little strength I have left and lift my head. It’s official, Logan has seen me at my absolute worst.

I’m now seated in front of the tub, my back resting against the cold finish. “Do you like her?” I let the alcohol speak for me.

“Who?” Logan peers down at me, appearing like a giant.

My neck strains upward to see him. How does he do that? Make every room smaller. “Claire. Do you have feelings for her?”

His eyes narrow. “No, Sora. I don’t have feelings for Claire.”

I try to find a hint of lie behind his words, but there’s nothing. He’s perfectly still, without a tick of guilt.

“But you two have a song,” I groan.

A song! I want to yell.

“We were kids. Our fathers were good friends. They used to play music at her dad’s farm, and we danced. It’s nothing.” Still no emotion behind his words.

That’s good. But the thought of her witnessing Logan growing and maturing into the man he is now made me loathe her even more. She got to be there for him at his happiest moments and possibly his saddest ones.

“She’s pretty and must be smart if she has her own business. You two would make a great couple.” Saying that aloud makes me want to empty my stomach again.

“Are you finished?” He crouches down, and I can’t help my body’s response. It’s betraying.

“With puking? Yes. But—”

“Good.” He snakes one arm around my back and the other under my knees, effortlessly lifting me like he has done before.

“Logan, what are you doing?” I wrap my arms around his neck for stability.

“Putting you to bed.”

“You don’t have to do that. I have a perfectly good set of usable legs.”

He ignores me, walking us into my bedroom.

When he gently sets me down, he lifts my legs slightly one by one and starts unbuckling the back of my heels.

With every brush of his fingertips on my skin, I shiver.

Somehow, it doesn’t go unnoticed because when he locks eyes with mine, it’s predatory. Fire. Absolute fire.

“Thank you,” I breathe.

He runs a hand slowly down my calf before standing to his full height. “I’ll stay and make sure you’re all right. I’ll sleep on the chair.”

I roll my eyes. “I feel like we’ve been here before. And I’ll end up telling you, the chair is too small and to just sleep in my bed with me.” I pat the comforter beside me. “I know you’re not going to leave, so just get over here.”

His throat bobs and then he lays himself down on top of the bed, hands behind his head. I bite my lip at the sight of his flexing biceps.

With his eyes closed, I muster up the courage for another question. I’m on a roll tonight. “Logan…”

“Mmm,” he hums.

“Did you love Charlotte?”

His eyes pop open, landing intensely on me. “How do you know about her?”

“Small town, remember?”

He snickers. “Right. You’re really diving into my love life tonight.”

I shrug. “I’m deeply interested.”

His expression turns to regret as he continues looking at me. “I did. Or at least I thought I did. But she isn’t the woman I thought she was.”

“Who did you think she was?”

“The one.”

Oh. My heart stammers.

“Turns out she was far from it. She stole money from me.”

A gasp leaves my throat. “That’s… horrible.”

“She stole thousands and then ran. She came back crying, saying it was a mistake, but that’s only because the team I hired found her.

And this wasn’t her first time stealing from someone.

” His chest rises as he breathes in deeply.

“If she needed the money and just came to me, I would have happily given it to her.”

No doubt.

“I know you would have.” The man replaced my tires. Along with so much more. Logan’s heart is pure, and he’s a good man.

His forearm muscle flexes underneath my hand. “I told her I never wanted to see her again and if I did, I’d press charges. So, she left town, and I haven’t heard from her since.”

“You keep her number in your phone.”

His brow rises in question.

“I saw it when I texted Lana the night I got locked out,” I sheepishly confess.

“I keep it in case any legal trouble would come up. That’s my only reason. Though I wouldn’t be surprised if she changed numbers by now.”

“I’m so sorry that happened to you.” Still having my hand resting on his forearm, he glances down at it then back to me.

“We’ve both had some shit luck in the romance department or lack there off.

” I huff, taking my hand away, but Logan reaches for it, pulling it back to him, interlocking our fingers.

“My past is nothing compared to yours or what you went through, Sora. Never downplay what he’s done to you.” There’s a chill in his voice hardly hidden.

“Can I… do you mind if I lay my head on your shoulder? I’m tired and you look pretty comfortable.”

The muscle in his jaw moves, but he holds up his arm, telling me to snuggle in next to him. So, I do. I close my eyes, taking in everything about Logan. The way he feels. Smells. Breathes. I’m afraid I’ve become lovesick and thinking about never seeing him again makes my insides twist in panic.