“Of course. But you two ended on good terms. I don’t see why that matters. If anyone should be uncomfortable, it’s Dalton. You and Logan are sopublic. Must be hard for him.”
“I’ll stay behind the bench. I like it there.”
“You’ve always been stubborn like your mother,” he says with a sigh.
In this instance, it’s not stubbornness, it’s self-preservation. Even if I told my dad everything that went on between me and Dalton, I’m not sure he’d see most of what happened as a problem. He’d probably gaslight me into believing I was misinterpreting events, the same way Dalton always did, especially now that he seems to have taken even more of a liking to him.
“Thanks for the chat, Dad,” I say, heading out the door. I didn’t get answers, but the conversation definitely gave me a lot to think about.
The Bullets lose 5-3, but Logan scores two goals and an assist. Throughout the game, I keep turning my dad’s claim over and over in my mind. Logan mentioned that a trade might get him in cup contention, but hearing my dad say it, too, drove home that it’s a possibility. What’s Bellerive offering Logan in terms of a career? Lots of ice time, but given Bellerive’s very uneven performances this season, the bigger rewards won’t come.
I’m standing in the hallway outside the dressing rooms, waiting for Logan when a text from Tamiko comes through. She’s somewhere in the building, and I half expected her to beat my side. Since Logan’s become chattier with the press, he’s become her favorite player.
Did one of you leak this? It’s cute, but a bit risqué for the public-private line we’ve been walking with you two.
I click on the attachment, and while it loads, I try to remember what photo Logan might have taken. He always asks, and I don’t remember anything risqué being a discussion.
Once the photo appears, ice streaks through my limbs. The photo is of me. My hair is shorter than it is now, and the sultry expression on my face is one I only get when I’ve had a few too many alcoholic drinks. My shoulders are bare, blankets clutched to my chest. It’s from the waist up, so other people might not be able to tell I’m in a bed, freshly fucked.
The memory returns as though it happened yesterday and not so many months ago. My stomach rolls and threatens to reject the dinner I had earlier.
Not me.Logan texts back.But I know who. I’ll take care of it.
Whatever he thinks he’s going to do, I already know I don’t want it. I stride closer to where the players come out, so I can catch Logan as soon as he leaves.
Abort!Tamiko texts back, clearly on the same wavelength as me.We have channels to deal with this. We can spin it. Do NOT take care of anything. I take care of these things. I do that.
Not this.Logan texts back.
His responses are aggravating and thrilling. Part of me loves that he’s so uncompromising in his defense of me. But the other part of me, the part who’s watched Logan in his earlier seasons, knows the emotional control he claims to have is pretty new. The hothead still lives inside him somewhere, and I’m worried about whatthatversion of Logan might do.
As soon as I catch sight of him coming out of the dressing room, there are almost literal thunderclouds over his head. His expression is not one I’d call in control, and there’s the tiniestfrisson of uncertainty that snakes down my spine—an old muscle memory—before I remember that this isLogan.
“Hey,” I say, grabbing his arm when he almost walks past me.
“Don’t even try to talk me out of it.”
“To be clear, ‘it’ is what?” I guide him toward the weight room down the hall. After I open the door, I almost have to drag him in.
“Going to see Dalton.”
“No, Logan.”
“Tell me he didn’t take that photo of you, and I won’t go.”
“You know I can’t.”
“Why would he leakthatphoto?” He’s watchful, as though searching for a truth I haven’t told.
I shrug my shoulders.
“Doc, if you don’t want me to go, I need the truth.”
“If I tell you the truth, you’ll just want to go even more. And I want you to stay with me.” I wrap my arms around his neck, and I press myself against his suit-clad body. “Stay with me. We’re together, right? Whatever he’s doing doesn’t matter.”
“Tell me.” He closes his eyes, and his jaw tics.
The urge to keep what Idoknow to myself is incredibly strong. There’s no telling how Logan will react, but I also want him to understand why he has to let it go.
