“Nope.” She ate more of the pasta.
Her hunger made her mind muddled. She stretched to think of a way to change the conversation, but she came up blank. Instead, she remained quiet and ate pasta while Logan studied her.
“Umm—” Logan ran a hand through his hair. “I’m assuming they weren’t the greatest people.”
Brooke smiled. “Ahh,” she patted his shoulder, “you’re sharp.”
The tips of his ears-tinged pink. “Touché.” Logan leaned his back against his chair. “I’ll shut up now.”
“My family history is definitely not first date material—” Brooke’s eyes dilated at her misstep. “I mean not that this is a first date. I know it’s not.” She rambled on and on. “I’m not some girl who makes things into more than they are. We are only enjoying a meal together. You were being nice by staying behind?—”
Logan placed a steady hand on her forearm settling the tightening of her chest. “Hey, I’m having a nice time, whatever this might be. And for what it’s worth, I think you’re pretty amazing. And the fact that you came from I don’t know—less than ideal family circumstances only makes me admire you more.”
“Really?” Brooke hated how hopeful and desperate her voice sounded. She straightened her back and found her confidenceagain. “But you barely know me.” Brooke dabbed her napkin at the corners of her mouth.
“I know enough.”
She tossed the napkin down on the table. “Yeah, what do you know?” Brooke raised a skeptical eyebrow.
“That I’d like to become your friend.”
Friend?
Her stomach dropped.
Why did she hate the sound of friends?
Then she quickly reminded herself she was fresh off of a breakup. Friends, she could do friends.
Brooke ran a finger around the rim of her glass. “Why do you want to be friends with me?”
Logan chuckled. “Because I told you I like hanging out with women who snack.”
She rolled her eyes while she fought the urge to smile. “That’s ridiculous.”
“No, it’s not. I like snacks too.” His gaze danced across her face. “And I promise as a friend to always bring the snacks.” He fiddled around for a moment then shoved his hand into his jacket which hung off the back of his chair. Finally, he pulled out a personal size pack of Oreos. “Here.” He held them out to her. “I figured you might need these, now you don’t have to stop by the store if you polished off the rest of your pack at home.”
The guy bought her Oreos. She couldn’t remember the last thing Justin had bought her, but she knew for sure it wasn’t anything he put that much thought into.
“Fine.” She grinned as she took the package and tossed it into her purse. “We can be friends.”
Logan beamed. “Awesome.”
She finished up her meal then said, “Okay friend, let’s start by you telling me how much I owe for the check.” Brooke tried to reach for the bill folder.
He blocked her hand with his own. “It’s on me. I already put in enough for both of our meals.”
“Oh.” She sat back. “That seems very nonfriend like to me and more into the date material while we both established this is not a date.”
“I know it’s not a date, but I hate to admit this out loud,” Logan smirked, “I have to buy my friends.”
Brooke laughed. “I highly doubt that.”
“It’s true.” He pushed the bill folder far away from them.
“I should’ve known with the Oreos,” Brooke teased.
“See? I came prepared. I knew I wanted to be your friend, and I needed something to butter you up.”
