“Alone. Yeah.”
“Things are always better with an old friend.” Logan took another bite of his hot dog and gave me a friendly grin.
I wondered again about saying yes. I shouldn’t. I know I shouldn’t. I didn’t want to take part in anybody’s games or bets, but this was Logan.
Except, at that moment, the eyes of the man I had been so infatuated with left mine to follow a pair of pretty women passing by our table, scanning their backsides with a quick, efficient gaze before returning to his food. My heart landed in my stomach with a thud. Tyler used to do that, check out other women in the restaurant while he was with me—and apparently, when he was without me, too. I swallowed.
“So, what do you say? Do you want to meet up sometime this week, and we’ll see if you can keep up with me on the trail?”
Was hiking a date?
“I’ll buy you dinner afterward.”
Yup.
Logan oozed confidence. Grinning at me, smooth-talking me, giving hand signals to the guys behind us, all while smiling at Jen when she passed. My heart deflated. There was my answer. I wouldn’t put myself in another situation like Tyler. Sweet-talking or not, Logan would be put in his place. Our babies were not meant to be.Dang you, secret scrapbook.
“No, thanks. I wouldn’t want to have to carry your body up the mountain.” Strike one.
Undeterred, he leaned back in his chair, studying me. “I’ll split the money with you.” Ball two.
“You reek of desperation.”
“Wrap it up, Marten!” somebody from the crew called out, laughter breaking out behind us.
I was starting to feel sick. It had been fun with the other guys. We understood each other. Logan was something else entirely. Childhood crushes usually went away. And mine did. I went to college and even got engaged to somebody else. Logan wasn’t even on my radar beyond the occasional musings of my childhood. But now, he was sitting in front of me and asking me questions I had always dreamed of him asking, but instead of feeling flattered and sought out, I felt cheap and used. The pawn in some dumb game.
“Ready to go?” I asked Margo.
She nodded, and we stood. I grabbed a few more fries off of Logan’s plate. “See you around, Logan. Next time, bring your abs.”
He leaned forward. “Wait, what about our date?”
“I hike alone.” I couldn’t resist my sardonic smile when I added, “If you want somebody to show you around, Jen looks like she might love to.” Strike two.
He had the gall to look startled. “But I asked you.”
“And I guess I said no to…”—I motioned toward him with my hands—“all that.” I smiled at him, though inside I was going to be sick. “See ya.” We turned to go.
“Wait. I have a coupon.”
I stopped. Hold up.
Foul ball.
For all my emotions, an embarrassed smile began to form across my face. I wiped it clean before turning around.
“What?”
He stood and took a step closer, a smile playing on his lips. The sweet, earthy smell of his cologne went right to my weak heart.
“I don’t have it on me, but I do know it says it’s good for one date with you anytime.”
The umpire called a time-out.
“You don’t have it on you?” I cleared my throat and got my head back into the game. “I’m sorry, I’ll have to see it before I can accept. How would I know if it’s expired or not?”
He rubbed his chin with his hand, studying me. “I don’t think eight-year-old Tessa would have put an expiration date on that particular love note.” He looked pleased with himself, thinking he had me.
