“I’ll live wherever you want.” He kissed her on the cheek, moved to the counter and paid for the food.
They left the restaurant. The tantalizing aroma of chicken, pita bread, and hummus wafted out of the bag. Another train rolled over their heads as they slowly traipsed the few remaining yards to her apartment.
“In the summer, I want to take you to Indiana Dunes.” He cradled the to-go bag in the crook of his arm while he laced his free hand with hers. “It’s on the coast of Lake Michigan and is about an hour drive.”
“How do you know we’ll even be a thing come summertime?” Brooke teased.
“A feeling,” he smirked. “I have a sixth sense about these types of things.”
Brooke’s apartment building came into view. “If we’re together, together, why haven’t you kissed me yet?” She scrunched her nose.
George waited outside in his usual spot.
Logan stopped. “I was waiting,” he twisted to face her, “you know with the whole passing out, emergency surgery, infection and stitches across your abdomen thing.”
“I think a kiss would be the perfect remedy for a very long couple of days,” she countered.
Then he dropped the bag of food to the ground beside his feet. He wrapped an arm around her waist and gingerly brought her close until their hips touched. “I have wanted to kiss you every second of every hour, since the last time.”
“Then it’s time you stopped counting.” Brooke peered up at him and cupped his jaw. “I sent you away to Shelby. I’m sorry. I was scared. I worried I wouldn’t be enough. I didn’t want to keep you from happiness. Since my life isn’t perfect, and I have a less-than-ideal past, I sometimes question my worth. I had an addict for a mother, a dead beat of a father, and somehow in that dysfunction I managed to put myself through college and medical school, but it doesn’t mean the scars have completelyhealed. But I’d like to try with you. You make me feel worthy. You make me believe in myself and most importantly in love.”
Logan grinned. “I love,” he kissed her gently on the lips, “every part,” he kissed her on her cheek, “of you,” he kissed her on her temple.
Then he cradled her head between his hands. “And now, no more waiting.”
Then his lips gently graced hers.
His ChapStick coated her lips. Her heart sped up when his signature scent filled her lungs. She memorized the feeling of his skin against her cheek, and his scruff against her chin. The kiss was smooth and gentle like they were slowly floating away somewhere warm and incredible. His strong arm supported her waist and kept her upright. Her fingers traced his chest and eventually rested under the collar of his shirt.
He deepened their kiss making her lips part. He tasted as good as she remembered. And she knew he was the person she wanted to kiss again and again until the day she died. Brooke completely forgot about their location in the middle of the sidewalk, in the middle of the city. The sounds of the city disappeared, because Logan made her imagine a life full of good things, great things, and better than there ever was things.
Someone whistled. Brooke pulled away and peered over her shoulder toward George who then pumped his arm in victory. “I’m glad to see you survived!” His voice barreled toward them.
“He let me in to your apartment when I went to get your change of sweats,” Logan revealed.
George whistled again.
“You know,” she fidgeted with the collar of his shirt, “he probably won’t stop until we stop.” Then she peered up at him.
“I know.” Logan grinned, sneaking a quick peck. “But I don’t care.”
“Me either.” Then he leaned in and kissed her again.
CHAPTER 21
On the first Sunday evening they finally had free, they drove out to Logan’s parents for dinner. It ended up being easier than them coming into the city. Danielle couldn’t find a sitter, so he checked with Brooke, and she agreed going to them worked fine. Logan wondered if the dinner would feel different now that they were actually dating for real and no longer under the guise of fake dating. They agreed that his parents never needed to know about their fake dating phase.
The beginnings of spring made the air balmy and sweet. Logan lowered the windows of the car a few inches to let the tangy air roll through the cab. The wind picked up and made Brooke’s hair whirl around her.
Brooke spoke loudly over the roar of the engine. “When do the twins turn one?” They held hands over the center console.
“In a week. Danielle has insisted on a huge birthday bash.” Logan changed lanes without missing a beat. “She’s renting a petting zoo to come set up in her backyard.”
“They do that?” Brooke scrunched up her nose. “I can’t remember ever even having a cake for me.”
“I’m sorry, that bites, but don’t worry that will change.” Logan squeezed her hand. “I plan on making sure not a singleone of your birthdays ever passes without the most annoyingly perfect fanfare.”
“I wasn’t—I don’t need fanfare.” Brooke’s cheeks splashed with pink. “Just a cake, a day celebrating with family. That would be enough.”
