Page 66 of Structure of Love

“One most can’t cross.”

“I’m not saying otherwise.” Logan shook his head. “But you are worth every moment of waiting for, hon. In more ways than one.”

My throat started to tighten with impending tears. No, I refused to cry right now, absolutely not. I leaned in to kiss him because I just had to. He was being so sweet, and I didn’t have the words to tell him how much I appreciated him, how much his words meant. Logan kissed back with a soft hum, as if he were purring with contentment.

I cleared my throat and attempted to lighten the mood again. “So, now that you’ve proven we have amazing chemistry, I have to ask, what are your kinks—”

My phone chose that moment to ring.

I closed my eyes, already willing to chuck it out the window, because how dare anyone try to interrupt me right now.

Logan lifted off the bed, a glorious vision of inked, godly perfection, fetched my phone from my pants pocket, and glanced at the screen as he handed it over. “Unknown number calling?”

“Why do I have a bad feeling about this.” I stared at my phone and debated not answering. It was almost eight o’clock, which was prime time for Cooper to call and tell me he was in serious trouble. I needed Cooper’s trouble about as much as I needed to drink battery acid. I don’t know why I thought of Cooper when it was an unknown number. Trauma, I guess.

“It’s okay to answer and tell whoever it is no,” Logan said, encouraging me.

Blowing out a breath, I sat up and swipedAcceptbut also put it on speaker. “Hello?”

The first sound of Cooper’s voice was the confirmation of every bad feeling, every twist in my gut. Shit, he must have changed numbers so he could reach me. This motherfucker.

Cooper sounded wasted, words slurring so badly I could barely understand him. “I need ya. Drunk and dis-disorder?Disorderly, that’s it.”

On a fucking Tuesday night, not even a weekend. Was he trying to stay permanently drunk? But seriously, had he changed his number just so he could make this phone call, to make me run to him after I’d told him I wouldn’t anymore? I wanted to turn and bang my head against the headboard. I wanted to rage against the heavens. I wanted to reach through the phone somehow and strangle him. The rage and frustration built up in me like heartburn.

I felt Logan’s gaze, knew he would support me either way I went, but I was not ruining my first night with this man because my brother was determined to destroy his life.

“Cooper, I’m not picking you up.”

He sucked in a startled breath.

“I told you, from now on, you get to deal with the consequences of your actions. I’m not bailing you out anymore. I’m tired of sacrificing my life because you hate yours.”

He abruptly sounded more sober. “You can’t. Mom won’t let you—”

“Could not give two fucks what Mom says. She’s made the monster, she can deal with you. If you don’t want to spend the night in a drunk tank, then stop drinking irresponsibly.”

“You can’t leave me in here, this place is gross!”

“Boo-hoo, so sad, reflect on yourself. You’ve got the whole night to do it in. And you changing numbers like this to reach me? Won’t do any good. You’re still on lockdown until you’ve grown the fuck up.” I hung up, promptly saved and muted this new number so I didn’t accidentally answer him again.

Then let out a huge breath because I felt like I’d just come off a circus wire.

Logan immediately hugged me. “Proud of you.”

“I won’t let him ruin my relationship with you. And he will if I let him.” I leaned in against Logan, soaking in strength, because years of conditioning still made me want to get up and go to Cooper. But I couldn’t. I wouldn’t. For once, I was prioritizing me. For once, I wasn’t going to let guilt trips and manipulation get the better of me.

Decisively, I turned off my phone. I wouldn’t even let them reach me. Tonight was mine and Logan’s, and I didn’t need interference.

I tossed the phone to the other side of the bed and pulled Logan on top of me. “You, come here. I need a distraction and a repeat.”

Logan laughed, the sound more felt than heard, and obliged. “Now, you asked something about kinks before we were so rudely interrupted?”

“I sure did.”

“Let’s start with figuring out a good ‘keep going’ word, shall we?”

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