Page 78 of Attractive Forces

I see when Logan gets the message. He grabs his phone out of his pocket, checking it.

He looks over at me, but only quickly, before glancing down at his phone to type out a message.

Sorry, team has plans, can’t hang out tonight.

Ok. let me know when you’re free to hang out again.

He doesn’t check his phone and he doesn’t look at me again.

The anxiety inside me is back at full throttle.

* * *

I can’t helpchecking and rechecking my phone after Chloe and I sit at one of the checkered tables at Angelo’s and order fries and smoothies.

I’m expecting Logan to message me back with some suggestion about when we can see each other next, but my phone screen remains resolutely blank.

Chloe raises an eyebrow at me. “So, you didn’t make the cut to hang out with Logan tonight?”

I try for a light tone as I push my blank phone away. “Obviously not.”

She gives the definition of a derisive snort as our server brings us our food.

“What have you got against Logan?” I ask.

“Besides him just being another generic jock?”

“He’s not generic,” I say.

Of all the things Logan is, generic is definitely not one of them.

Chloe looks up. “Speaking of generic jocks,” she says.

I look up to see Devlin Jamieson, one of Logan’s teammates, sauntering past our table.

I frown. “What have you got against Devlin?”

“I’m totally Team Charlie.”

I frown. “Team Charlie?”

“Yeah, haven’t you heard about the war going on between Devlin and Charlie? They live next door to each other, just down the street from me. They completely hate each other’s guts.”

“Why?”

She shrugs. “Not sure. Just one of those things, I guess.”

“And why are you Team Charlie?”

“Because Charlie’s a nice guy, and Devlin can be an arrogant dickhead sometimes.”

“Right.”

Chloe helps herself to one of my fries. “Anyway, back to the other rugby jock in question. Your friendship with Logan just seems to be all on his terms.” She looks at me as she chews.

Her words make me seize up. Because this time, I can’t automatically disagree with her. She’s right. Everything so far in our relationship has been on Logan’s terms. And I’ve been happy to go along with it because I like him so much.

“It’s like Logan says jump, and you say, ‘would you like me to jump all the way to the moon and get you some cheese,’” she continues.