The anticipation carries my feet forward, crossing the hall to him. My movement catches his attention a second before I reach him, and a little smile pulls at his lips as he pockets his phone.
“Hey. You ready?”
I nod, offering him a hand and hauling him to his feet. A quick glance around the corridor reveals we’re alone, and I frown.
“Did Lexi and Willow head home already?”
“No, it was just me tonight.” I must be wearing my confusion, because he lets out a soft chuckle before explaining, “Lexi flew to Texas this weekend to see Wyatt, and Willow…is on a date. A sleepover kind, apparently.”
This is a new development I hadn’t heard about. Then again, they are stillLogan’sfriends, so there’s no reason I’d be that looped into their social lives.
“So much for that self-imposed celibacy Willow was bragging about earlier this year.”
The statement has Logan laughing and holding up his hands in front of him. “Hey, you said it, not me.”
I laugh too while wrapping my arm around his shoulder and pulling him to me. He leans into me, his arms sliding around my waist for a quick hug, and I can’t fight the smile threatening to take over my face as I kiss the side of his head.
“Well, I’m glad you still came by yourself,” I murmur againsthis hair.
“Me too. Even if you did lose.”
I shrug while still holding him, not the least bit concerned about our loss tonight. With the streak we were on, it was bound to happen eventually—though, I am slightly disappointed by my magic dick theory.
“Losses are just part of the game. But at least I’m still going home a winner.”
He pulls out of my embrace to look at me, his brow arched with equal parts curiosity and amusement.
“Oh yeah? And what makes you say that?”
“Well, you see…I found something interesting in my bag before the game.” Slowly, I pluck his drawing from where I stashed it in the side pocket of my duffle, and muse, “Was this your way of asking me to be your valentine, Little Reed?”
His cheeks tint with the deepest shade of pink I’ve seen yet when he realizes exactly what it is I’m holding, but it’s the shift in his expression, becoming more guarded and wary, that has me kicking myself for teasing him.
“I know it was stupid, but—”
“It wasn’t stupid,” I declare, shaking my head. “I love it. The art, but also that you trust me enough to give it to me. So thank you.”
His gaze traces my face before he whispers a soft, “You’re welcome.”
I smile, cupping the side of his face. My thumb skates over his cheekbone, where blush still tints his skin, darkening his freckles ever so slightly. Sometimes I have a hard time deciding if I love those more than the cracks in his irises, and right now is definitely one of those moments.
“You know, you’re pretty damn cute when you decide to be nice,” I murmur.
“And when I’m not nice?” he counters, brow arched. “Whatam I then?”
“Hot as fuck, obviously.”
He rolls his eyes but doesn’t hesitate to kiss me back, long and slow, when my lips land on his. His fingers slice through my hair, holding me in place, and I can hear my pulse thundering in my ears with every second we remain locked like that.
Because this freely affectionate side of Logan? It’s unlike anything I could’ve expected.
It’s something I can’t get enough of, and I never want to lose it.
He pulls away all too soon, but his hands linger at the base of my skull, playing with the hair there while he looks at me with a gaze full of unspoken tenderness. Which just makes me want to haul him back in for another kiss. Unfortunately, I can’t trust myself not to get carried away, so instead, I unlink his hands from my neck, slide one of his palms into mine, and lead him down the hall toward the exit.
“I see you found something new when you raided my closet today.”
His cheeks heat some more as he looks down at the jersey before picking at the hem.
