“Please say yes,” Clay growled, but didn’t move from my side.
Luka shot him a look. “Logan?”
“Ow,” Logan said as he rubbed his jaw. “Owww.”
“Normally I would say something understanding or compassionate,” I said coolly, though a little amused. “But it’s difficult to find that for a sex pest and someone who takes rejection so poorly they’re willing to suckerpunch someone over it.”
“Same,” Luka said, pointing down at Logan. “Stay put. I’ve got to make a call.”
“Come on,” I said, pulling Clay back toward his locker.
“I’m not letting him out of my sight,” Clay muttered.
“I’m not saying you have to,” I said, rubbing his back gently. “And if he tries something, I’m not going to stop you. But right now, he’s sitting there, contemplating his life choices. Give him the space to do it, and hell, maybe he’ll even realize he deserved that and whatever comes next.”
“I doubt it,” Clay muttered, but he did follow me.
I stayed with him while we watched Logan, who had gotten up to sit on the bench, frowning at the floor. I didn’t know what was going through his head, but part of me hoped my sarcastic comment was right and he was thinking about what he’d done. Or maybe he was just imagining all the ways his life was going to start crashing down around him, or maybe he was still pissed off and didn’t have anywhere to really put it now that he’d been thwarted.
After a few minutes, an out-of-breath Reggie appeared with Luka, the latter having found a pair of pants and a shirt, but apparently no shoes. Reggie looked around, frowning at Clay and me. “Everyone alright?”
“We’re fine,” I said. “Not a bruise or scratch to speak of.”
“I see that,” Reggie said, looking at Logan, who couldn’t make the same claim as the red mark on his face was starting to darken quickly. He was going to have one hell of a bruise, andfrom the dent from his fist hitting the locker, I was guessing his fingers weren’t going to be a whole lot better. “I’m going to need to speak to all of you.”
“What?” Clay protested. “We already said what happened! We didn’t do anything except protect ourselves...and each other.”
Reggie sighed. “I never said you were in trouble, now did I? I need to speak to you both, but it can wait until later. Logan, are you willing to come with me?”
Logan looked up, a stubborn set in his jaw. “And if I don’t?”
“Well, we can get the medical staff down here. They’re pretty big guys, used to working with physically aggressive patients, and have ways of calming you down,” Reggie said, miming a needle. “Or if you really want to push it, this was technically a double assault. We could get the cops involved, but...I don’t want to do that. What I want is for you to follow Luka and me, and we’ll see if we can’t get this sorted without someone having to be taken out, drugged, and in cuffs.”
Logan’s face crumpled, and I felt a pang of sympathy. We were all here for a reason after all, and healing or people in need of healing weren’t at their best. “Is he going to be ejected from the program?”
Reggie gave me a searching look. “That’s going to depend on a lot of factors, but the first and foremost is Logan here.”
“Go,” Clay told Logan in a voice far softer than I expected. “They’re here to help us, man. Reggie’s a twit, but he’s a twit with a heart, so if he says he’s going to talk, he’s going to talk. And if he says you’re not getting thrown out right away, then take the chance they’re offering. And maybe if they don’t throw you out on your ass and you apologize for being a prick, I might be nice enough to guide you toward the guys who won’t turn you down .”
Reggie and Logan gave Clay a blank look, while I ducked my head to hide my smile as Luka sighed. “That’s almost sweet, you willing to give him a peek at your little black book.”
Clay shrugged, sounding irritated, though I didn’t know if that was at himself for suddenly finding compassion or because Luka was teasing him. “I didn’t say I was gonna out anyone, but I can point him in directions. It’s not like I need to do all that shit anymore anyway.”
Logan snorted. “Whatever. Let’s go, I’m over it.”
“For your sake, I hope not,” Reggie said softly, stepping back and letting Logan get to his feet and follow him and Luka out. It was the first time I’d seen an incident where someone might actually get into serious trouble, and I was surprised at the response. If anything, I would have expected Reggie to show up with more people, but perhaps this method had worked in the past.
I turned to Clay as he angrily dug through his locker, waiting until he noticed and turned to look at me. “What?”
“You don’t need your little black book anymore, eh?” I asked softly.
His brow rose. “You’re naked.”
“I’m also horny.”
“I literally just sucked you off.”
“Andyoujust inferred that you no longer need all your hookups because of?—”
