Page 56 of Structure of Love

“Yup. I didn’t have the heart to correct him.”

Ah, they talked of music, this made more sense now. Cohen and Logan both liked similar genres.

Well, I could join in on this conversation. “I had a similar, personal experience. I don’t know if you remember, Logan, but ‘Addicted’ by Saving Abel was super popular when we were in junior high.”

“Oh sure, that was constantly on the radio.” Then he paused, eyes widening. “Ohshit.”

“Ha, you just realized, didn’t you? That whole song is about how much he loves going down on his girlfriend.”

“Oh my god, it is! I haven’t heard that song in years.” Logan leaned back and laughed. “Wooow. Okay, that was a sleeper, right there.”

“Felt the same way when it ambushed me three years ago. I just happened to be in a rental car, and SiriusXM played it, and I’m like…hold on…is he saying what I think he’s saying? My parents let me listen to this?”

“Can’t even blame it solely on the seventies,” Cohen said before taking a swig of beer. “There’s songs in the twenties about murdering a husband. Wow, this is really good beer.”

Logan lifted his own beer in salute. “Thanks.”

“I’m buying some of this off you later,” Cohen warned him.

“I’ve got cases, man. Feel free to grab whatever.”

“Really? I’ll take a case.”

“Sure.”

Adah called from the other side of the pool. “I need someone taller than me!”

I almost immediately stood, but Logan waved me down.

“Eat, eat, I got it.”

I watched him saunter toward her, assured that whatever it was, he could handle it. This was a relief, watching Logan fit in so well with my friends. He did it effortlessly, too.

Cohen’s head tilted as if to study my expression more head-on. “I think I know by looking at you, but you talked to Logan yet?”

“Not yet.” I blew out a breath. “I need to. I need to find the right timing.”

For many reasons, I needed to move our relationship forward. Not just because I itched to lay hands on Logan. I liked sex, always had, but I’d neverwantedsomeone like I wanted him. Often, when I was around him, I felt like the air became charged. As if my entire body could sense him next to me even without a single part of us touching. Our chemistry together would be insane.

It wasn’t like I had a formal blueprint in my head of how a relationship should go, but I did have a rough sketch. Of how the foundation should be genuine liking of the other person, the framework friendship and trust, with layers added on as the relationship progressed. I’d mostly followed the idea with Logan, because I wanted that firm foundation under me. According to my internal blueprint, he’d scored high in every section, including sharing my friends and social circle, which were key for me.

Watching him help Adah with a smile and a teasing expression cemented it for me. I needed some redline changes about now. I didn’t want to wait any longer to put us on the next level. I didn’t want to be casually dating, I wanted to be together.

All I had to do was find the right timing to take that step with him.

And god, I couldn’t wait, so it better be soon.

Cohen bumped my elbow with his. “Safe sex, okay? Don’t lose your head.”

I stared, aghast he could read that off my face so easily, because what the hell! “I was not that obvious.”

“You looked at that man like a starving wolf would a prime rib.” Cohen snorted, amused. “You think after knowing you so many years, I can’t read you?”

He had me there.

19

Logan