He pushes off my desk and raps it with his knuckles. “Well, let me know if you need help with anything.”
“Thanks. Ditto.”
“So I’m goingto be the only kid there?” Reed asks as he shrugs into his coat and grabs the bag containing the homemade pumpkin, pecan, and apple pies I baked yesterday.
“Yeah, I’m sorry. If you hate it, we can leave.”
Reed chuckles. “Are you kidding? Do you know how jealous my friends are going to be that I get to spend Thanksgiving hanging out with the best players on the Rogues? It’s going to be awesome.”
When I declined Bryson’s invite to dinner, I was worried Reed would be upset. He and Eddie have grown close, and I was sure he’d rather spend time with his friend. If I’d thought going there was an option, I probably would have declined Logan’s invite, even though I’m genuinely excited to spend the evening with my new friends. And the guys on the team. They’ve all been really kind. So this reaction? Both hilarious and a huge relief.
“Glad to hear it.”
“It’s pretty cool that you’re friends with them. Who would have thought my boring sister would end up hanging out with a bunch of pro athletes?” Reed playfully nudges me with his shoulder, and I roll my eyes, even though my cheeks hurt from smiling. As the months have gone on and Reed has settled in and made some friends at school, there’s been a huge shift in his attitude. He still has his moments when he’s a little shit, but he’s less broody, less angry.
It’s a huge relief. The number of nights I’ve spent awake worrying I’m ruining my little brother’s life is high. I just want him to be happy.
A knock on the door tugs me out of my thoughts. Reed has it open before I can even blink, revealing a smiling Logan.
He looks as handsome as always. His hair is pushed back and styled perfectly, and his strong jaw is covered in well-trimmed stubble. Hands tucked in the pockets of his coat, Logan gives Reed a little nod.
“Hey, man. Happy Thanksgiving.”
“Happy Thanksgiving,” my brother says in return. My heart expands a little when they clasp hands in a cross between a high five and a handshake.
Then Logan’s gaze turns to me. Those gray eyes of his make a sweep of my body, and my cheeks heat. I’m wearing a burgundy sweater dress with fleece-lined tights and ankle booties. The neckline is a deep scoop, and I’m wearing my mom’s diamondpendant necklace. I feel pretty, and if Logan’s appreciative look is any proof, he agrees.
“Hey, angel. You look… Wow.”
My brother snickers at that, but Logan doesn’t seem to notice. He’s too busy staring at me.
“Thanks. You look nice too.” He looks more thannice, but the last thing I want to do is give Reed ammo so he can give me shit later.
“Can I carry anything?”
“Nah, I got it,” Reed says, smirking as he looks between me and Logan before stepping out the door with the pies.
“Let’s head out, then.” Logan waits for me to lock up, then we walk down the stairs and toward his car. We’re silent, and the goosebumps erupting along my flesh tell me I’m very aware of how close we are. When the backs of his knuckles brush against my hand, one finger stroking across mine, I suck in a breath. A glance at Logan reveals his attention on me and the corners of his lips twitching. Just when I think he may reach out and link our fingers, Reed looks back at us.
“Whose place are we going to, again?”
Logan clears his throat and unlocks his SUV with the press of a key fob. “Griffin and Mira’s. Their place is cool. You’ll like it.”
“I’m sure it is. Pretty much anything is bound to be cooler than our place.”
He’s not trying to be a little shit, but I can’t help the surge of guilt that zaps through my body. He’s not wrong. Our apartment is fine for now, but it’s not exactlynice.
“There’s nothing wrong with your place. A few coats of paint, and I bet it would feel homey.” Logan opens the passenger door for me, and my butterflies erupt in my stomach.
“Yeah. We have some colors picked out, but we haven’t had much extra time with my football practices and games.”Although Reed and I would like to make our place a little more put together, at least he’s not genuinely put out by it.
We’ll get to it, eventually.
Logan looks thoughtful as he climbs into the driver’s seat and starts his SUV. “How’s football going? It looks like your team is gelling well, from the games I’ve seen.”
My little brother grins, looking adorably boyish, and my heart squeezes. He’s turning into a young man, but every once in a while, I get flashes of the bright, smiley boy he was before we lost Mom and Dad. I can’t believe that Logan Byrne, of all people, is the one bringing it out in him. Who would have seen that coming?
“Yeah, we are. It’s been good. Coach says he thinks I could get a spot on the JV team freshman year if I keep improving.”
