Page 36 of Structure of Love

Some instinct whispered in my ear, and as if I was on autopilot, I called up Zar.

Zar answered quickly but sounded like he was munching on something. “Sup.”

“Zar. I’m asking for a serious favor.”

“Uh, okay. Hit me.”

“I’ve got a date tonight. In fact, I should be leaving right now, but Cooper just called me—”

Zar groaned like he was done already.

“—I know, I know, but he’s high as a kite and at Kellogg Park. Cops are already on scene and threatening to throw him in jail unless someone picks him up. I know it’s a huge ask, and he’s a pain in the ass even sober, but if someone doesn’t get him, it’ll be an even worse shit show tomorrow.”

I could hear my friend thinking. I started praying.

“Look, I owe you a favor because of the sex talk. I’ll do this for you, but…Gage, this is the only time I’m doing it. I owe you a favor, and Ash told me about this new guy, and it sounds like you seriously like him.”

“I really, truly do.”

“I don’t want you missing the date. So go. I’ve got Cooper.”

“I love you so much.”

“Say that to your date, not me!” He laughed and hung up.

I seriously had the best friends in the universe. I hustled my butt out the door and only texted Cooper that Zar would get him. Then I was in the truck and away. I didn’t care if Cooper had an opinion on that. He didn’t get to nitpick who picked him up and dealt with his shit.

Okay, happy thoughts, happy thoughts. Don’t worry about Cooper, focus on Logan. Happy thoughts.

We were doing something fun tonight. Axe throwing, in fact. Logan had mentioned to me that he and his friends regularly met up on Tuesdays for Bonk and Brews, or so they called it.A chance to meet up, vent if they needed to, and have fun with friends. It sounded awesome. Why didn’t my group do that? Granted, I worked with all my friends, and we generally hung out on Monday nights for DnD and Friday nights for live music, but still.

Anyway, I met Logan at the place, and I loved the vibe the second I was through the door. Someone had put some thought into the space, as there was a bar with tables on the left side, and the right was four lanes of axe throwing. I spotted Logan leaning against the bar, chatting with the guy behind the counter. It felt like I unclenched a little at the first sight of him. Ah, there he was.

“There you are,” Logan said, unknowingly repeating my very thought. He drew me in for a kiss and a light hello.

I melted. Coming to my date was one hundred percent the better choice. With that thought, all worries about Cooper sort of splintered and spun off.

“Ready to throw some axes? Channel your inner Viking?”

“I will throw things at the speed of gay.” I was ready to hit things, too. It sounded like so much fun.

Logan snorted. Aww, he liked my jokes!

I’d keep him just for that.

The guy behind the counter walked us to our lane and went over the safety rules, which were mostly common sense. Logan gave me a crash course on how to throw the axe so it actually hit the bull’s-eye instead of bouncing off, which kinda helped, although it took me three tries to get an axe somewhere in the wood.

Logan was damn near a pro. He wasn’t hitting the bull’s-eye every time, but he got damn close. Look at him, though, those muscles under the shirtsleeves flexing when he threw. Did he work out? Or was this the result of some hobby of his? I hadto wonder what he benched and whether he’d like to be a gym buddy too.

“Put some feeling into it,” he encouraged. “You’re too polite right now. Think of something that’s pissed you off and then throw.”

Oh? That I could do. Axe, you are hereby Cooper. I stared at the metal, reimagining the whole scenario right before I’d left, and anger filled me like quicksilver. Imagining dealing with Cooper instead of being here actually incensed me this time instead of sparking the usual dread. I hefted the axe, then threw it with all my might, and the motion felt satisfying even before the axe fully left my hand.

But, uh, what the fuck? How the hell did thehandleof the axe get buried in the wood and not the blade?! As cathartic as that’d felt, embarrassment started creeping in. I could feel the heat of the emotion in my cheeks.

Stunned silence fell for a second. I questioned how physics worked, because that shouldn’t be possible. Logan stared at axe like he couldn’t believe his eyes.

Then he turned to look at me, concern evident. “Honey, want to talk about it?”