I didn’t want to say those words unless I was absolutely sure. Unless I knew without a shadow of a doubt that this wasn’t just a rebound or a desperate reach for comfort after everything that had been taken from me.
I shook my head and let out a soft laugh, more to myself than anything.
The absurdity of it all. I’d just slept with Logan.
My childhood friend.
“I didn’t know what I said was funny,” Logan said with a smirk, watching me closely.
“It’s not that. You’re right, taking it slow is probably the best thing for me right now,” I said. Then I gave him a sideways grin. “But for the record, I have absolutely no problem doing what we did last night again. And again. And again.”
Logan’s lips curled into a mischievous smile as he bit down on his bottom lip.
I let out another laugh. “I was just thinking… what the hell would Boone say?”
Logan’s eyes widened in mock-terror. “Why would you even tell him?”
“Relax,” I said, giggling. “I’m not telling him now or anytime soon. But still… it’s something to think about. You think he’d be mad?”
Logan ran his fingers along the drawstring of his sweatpants, considering it.
“I’d like to think no. I’d like to believe he’d think I’m good enough for you. But I can’t say for sure.”
I swallowed hard, my heart softening. “Logan… it’s me who wonders if I’m worthy ofyou, of your attention.”
His eyes sharpened with conviction as he reached out and cupped my cheeks in his hands.
“No,” he said firmly. “Don’t ever think that. Not for a second.” His gaze danced between my eyes, intense and sincere. “Don’t let that doubt in. Not here. This is a new chapter, new beginnings. And we both know we’re worthy of great love. Monumental love.”
He leaned in and kissed me, slow and purposeful, and then pulled away just enough to look me in the eyes again.
“Let’s just live in the moment, Ace.”
I smiled, warmth blooming in my chest. “Does the moment include kisses and sex?”
Logan grinned. “Of course it does.”
“So… are we keeping this to ourselves for now?” I asked, my voice softer than I intended. “Like, are we not going to kiss in public? What are the lines here?”
I didn’t want to assume or set boundaries for us. I wanted to hear it from him, whathewanted.
Logan smiled, easy and sure. “I say we do whatever we want. If I feel like holding your hand, I hope you’d be down forthat. And a kiss here and there?” He leaned a little closer, eyes flickering to my lips. “That sounds like heaven to me.”
My stomach flipped. Not from nerves, exactly, but from the thought of beingseen. Of whispers circling through town, making their way back to the wrong ears. Judging ears.
But then I breathed in slowly, pushing back the fear and trying—really trying—to focus on whatIwanted, not what Faircloud might say.
This town had taken so much from me. If I was going to heal here, I needed to stop letting other people’s opinions run my life.
They didn’t walk in my shoes.
So why was I still walking for them?
“I like that plan,” I said, a smile curling at the corners of my mouth as I leaned in and kissed Logan again. Soft and sure.
When I pulled back, I picked up my tray and dove into my breakfast, heart a little lighter.
For the first time in a long while, I felt like I was choosing myself.
