As soon as I’m in the entryway, Jade shoves my sneakers at me.
“Put those on,” she orders.
“Are you insane?” I ask, but my voice is softer now, less sharp.
Blakely opens the door before I can stall.
Sunlight spills in, warm and bright—California doing what it does best, refusing to match anyone’s mood.
I step outside, and the door closes behind me with a soft click.
For a second, I just stand there on the front porch, wincing at the day as if it’s too loud.
Then I see him.
Logan is leaning against his truck at the curb like he’s trying to look casual and failing.
In one hand, he’s holding a clear cup with condensation beading down the sides.
He pushes off the truck when he sees me, and the smile that spreads across his mouth is small, restrained—like he’s trying not to scare me with how much he wants this to be good.
“Hey,” he says.
I stop at the end of the walkway, squinting at him like my suspicion came back online.
“What is this?” I ask.
Logan lifts the drink slightly. “A bribe.”
My mouth twitches. “To do what?”
“To get you in the truck,” he says, eyes glinting behind the sunglasses. “Voluntarily. Preferably without kicking and screaming.”
I fold my arms. “Are you kidnapping me?”
Logan’s smile deepens. “It’s only kidnapping if you don’t get caffeine first.”
I shake my head, but my heart does that stupid flip again.
He walks toward me slowly, stopping close enough that I can smell him—clean soap, a hint of something spicy, the warmth of him in the sun.
He holds out the latte like it’s an offering.
“Iced vanilla,” he says. “Cold foam. No weird surprises.”
My favorite.
My throat tightens unexpectedly, because it’s such a simple thing.
And it’s also…proof.
That he notices. That he remembers. That he’s been paying attention even while everything is falling apart.
I take it, fingers brushing his for a second.
“At the party, you said you wanted a normal day.” Logan’s voice softens. “I can’t make everything bad go away, but I wanted to give you as normal of a day as I could. Jade and Blakely insisted on helping, which is how they ended up here.”
I lift a brow. “And you listened to them.”
