“You should let him buy you a coat. It’d probably be designer or something. You know he’s one of the highest paid members on the team, right?”
I shake my head at my friend. “I didn’t, and I really don’t care, either. Money’s not a priority for me, outside of making enough to support me and Reed.”
Not that he’s actually going to buy me a coat.
Me
I don’t need your money or your help, Viking. It’s sweet of you to offer, though.
There. Now he has an out, and I won’t feel that irrational twinge of disappointment that would be inevitable when he didn’t follow through. Win-win.
Logan
So stubborn.
That was a compliment, by the way. At least, mostly.
Me
LOL. Don’t you have a game to get ready for?
I do.
You should do that, then. Good luck tonight.
You and Reed should watch. Chasers always plays the game on every screen. They have fantastic appetizers.
Maybe. You gonna score a goal for us?
Why am I encouraging this? Flirting with him is just soeasy. I love the back and forth with him, and I have since that night in California. Still, it’s only going to end one way. With me getting hurt.
Logan
I’ll score one for each of you if you promise to watch.
Adrienne squeals beside me. “Girl. Eddie and I will go to Chasers for dinner with you. You have to say yes. This is too good.”
My lower lip aches as I suck it between my teeth and worry at it. “You have to promise not to tell Bryse. He’d give me so much shit for it, and I don’t want anyone at work knowing that Logan and I are talking.”
“I don’t think Bryse would give you shit, Blair. But if you really don’t want him to know, of course, I won’t tell him. For now, at least. If you guys end up dating or something, I don’t know how I’d keep that from him. I’m not great with big secrets.”
That makes me chuckle, because the idea of Logan and medatingis so absurd. “Deal. I guess we’re going to Chasers.”
Me
Fine. I promise. Don’t let me down, Viking.
Logan
Never.
That one word reverberates through my body like the clang of a church bell.
Never.
I’m going to regret this, I just know it. Still, there’s a much-too-large part of myself that can’t seem to care. And when Logan does, in fact, score two goals that night? I almost completely forget why all of this is such a bad idea.
twenty-three
