I’m seriously fucked up. The dude probably hates my guts, while just being in his proximity turns me on.
Finally, Logan joins me, his brown eyes warm. He catches a lock of my hair between his fingers and gives me a sincere smile.
“I guess I got a little too excited about the possibility of spending time with you before our schedules get hectic. I forgotthat you mentioned you were coming here alone. Or maybe it was wishful thinking.” He crooks a smile. “When you mentioned Chloe, I assumed she was with you, and since I was hoping to have you to myself for a little while and didn’t want your friend to feel like a third wheel, I dragged Camden along with me. He wasn’t thrilled, but he is my best friend, so after a little badgering, he agreed. And now here we are.”
“Here we are indeed.” Despite my initial annoyance, I can’t help but grin. I don’t know what it is about him, but he makes me feel safe. Just a few minutes in his presence, and the tension in my muscles has nearly vanished. “Can’t he drive back home alone?”
“Afraid not.” Logan curls his hand around my waist. “We rode together. In my car. If he left, I’d be trapped here, and I’d miss my flight.”
“Pity.”
“You know I can hear you, right?” Hayes snaps as he stomps back over, tearing my attention away from Logan. Arms folded over his chest, he stands with his lips pressed into a thin line.
“Sorry, man.” Logan throws an arm over his friend’s shoulder, then peers at me. “I know you came here alone for a reason, and I probably should’ve asked first. You have every right to tell me to fuck off, but I really hope you’ll let us stay. Just one night. We’ll leave first thing tomorrow.”
Apprehension and curiosity battle in my mind. What do I really lose if I let them stay?
Nothing.
“Okay.” I flash Logan a smile. “You’re lucky this cabin has three bedrooms.”
“Must be my lucky day.” He pecks my lips and takes a step back. “What are you shopping for? Maybe we can help.”
“How about I finish my shopping, and you pick up whatever you want? Then we can meet in the parking lot.”
“Be ready in twenty minutes,” Camden barks, already stomping down the aisle.
Logan winks at me. “I better catch up with him. Otherwise, he’ll only pick out stuff I don’t like. He’s a bear when he’s in a mood.”
“Go get your Grinch, Golden Boy.” With that, I turn on my heel.
Before I can go anywhere, he gently grasps my arm and pulls me into him. “Please don’t call him that,” he says, all his playfulness evaporating. “Literally, you can call him anything else, okay?”
All I can do is nod. I’m not sure how I feel about Camden Hayes, but I’m not mean to people just because. “Of course. Don’t worry.”
He steals another kiss and then rushes after his friend.
“Yana,ty idiotka?3,” I tell myself as I continue my shopping.
Twenty minutes later,once my bags are loaded into my Escalade and the guys have loaded theirs into Logan’s BMW iX, they follow me to the cabin. The whole way, I listen to another random playlist at full volume, distracting myself from the nervousness that’s taken over my body. With the way my stomach roils, I’m not sure I can even eat dinner.
Here and there, I check my rearview mirror. Each time I see Logan’s car, my anxiety dissipates a little more. The way he follows at a safe distance adds another point to his rating in my head.
I’ll admit, at least to myself, that he’s climbing the leaderboard.
And I haven’t even slept with him yet. Hell, we haven’t even been on the kind of date where we have time to talk. This is so not like me, but maybe that’s the appeal of this situation. To live my life without overthinking, without doubting my decisions.
Maybe I can stay in the moment, stay afloat, and let Logan’s presence add to the lightness. I feel weightless when he’s around. That alone tells me that I’m making the right choice by letting him stay.
As for his best friend? I’m sure it’ll be okay. We can just ignore each other.
I park the car and climb out quickly. Evenings always feel darker outside the city, especially during the winter. Snow glimmers under the headlights of Logan’s car as he parks behind me. I wait for the guys, using the time to take in the pine trees crowding the cabin and the road.
Logan climbs out of the car first. A gorgeous smile breaks across his lips. “It’s so beautiful.” He points up. “The sky is endless out here. And the stars? Damn.” Shifting, he takes in the cabin. “Wow, Queen, you’re full of surprises. When you said ‘cabin,’ this is not what I was expecting.”
“I dunno,” Camden mutters loud enough for me to hear as he unfolds himself from the passenger seat. “A very posh space for a very posh girl. It’s exactly whatIpictured.”
Annoyance flares to life in my veins. “You don’t know me.”
