Chapter 9
LOGAN
"S o," Logan said as he grabbed his plate and brought it up to the counter, where a trio of bar stools gave him options to perch while still talking to this beautiful girl. He sat down, propping his feet on the crossbar and leaning against the counter. "What brought you to metal?"
"Metal kicks ass," the girl, who'd introduced herself as Sabby, explained simply. "I mean, name one other genre that allows you to scream into a microphone and still be considered good?"
"Good point," Logan replied, knowing there was no finer truth in the world of music. Metal kicks ass. All others need not apply. "I dare anyone to name another genre where most bands are as famous for their instrument players as they are for their singers."
"Well, jazz I guess," Sabby said, smirking as Logan acknowledged her truth, "but that's because a good chunk of their stuff doesn't have lyrics. Oh, and name another genre that can have a band whose entire schtick is telling history stories in the form of a song?"
"Sabaton?" Logan asked, and Sabby's face lit up. "Of course I know who they are, they're epic as hell."
Sabby nodded, grinning. "Totally. Okay, so what brought you to metal... soldier?"
"It's the haircut that gives it away, huh?" Logan joked as he rubbed at his head. "I don't want to look like I'm fresh out of basic, but regulations are regulations. Though I might grow it out a little, see what I can get away with."
"And here you are," Sabby replied, looking him up and down with an appreciative gaze that made Logan's heart skip. "So what concerts have you been to?"
"Unfortunately only three," Logan said. "I managed to catch a few shows before joining up. Dragonforce and Lacuna Coil were amazing. Even managed to catch a base concert last Fourth of July, though nothing too special."
"Or worse, cleaning the toilets," Sabby joked, her eyes sparkling. "Though *you* helping me clean up wouldn't be so bad..."
Logan caught her meaning and felt warmth spread through his chest. This girl was something special.
"Don't forget Japan," Sabby added, steering the conversation back to music.
"How could I ignore Babymetal?" Logan asked, and Sabby's grin re-emerged. He liked it, and for the rest of the night he stayed on his stool, getting to know the purple-haired girl.
The more he got to know her, the more he liked what he found.
She was more than just spunky and sexy; she was intelligent, insightful, and funny, too.
While she didn't say anything directly, he quickly figured out that she had a family member who was in the military.
That wasn't surprising—he already knew from his time at Benning that many civilian workers on military bases were either former service members themselves or family of service members.
He didn't want to ask, mainly because he didn't want to find out that she was some Colonel's daughter. He wasn't ready for that level of baggage.
"Okay," he asked after she finished ringing up a charge for a lane, "top three pizza toppings. Go!"
"Too easy. Italian sausage, ham, and barbecue chicken," Sabby said before grinning. "Bet you were expecting I'd either say pepperoni, or I'd go all hippie chick on you and say something like tabouli and spinach on a cauliflower crust with vegan cheese?"
Logan shivered, and Sabby laughed. "Seriously passed a big hurdle on that one," he admitted. "Like, I get it when people need to avoid wheat, or if you've got an allergy to cheese. But if you can digest it, then just eat real pizza."
"What about veggie pizza?" Sabby countered. "Like, real pizza but with no meat?"
"Not my first choice, but I can dig it," Logan replied. "Margherita pizza, or just a cheese pizza can be good too. All depends on how it's made. Good cheese pizza's excellent. Bad cheese pizza is plastic and cardboard."
"And what do you think of artificial hair color?" Sabby asked. "I mean, I get it with you, the Army makes you keep your hair natural and short and all that. What do you think of mine?"
"Hey, it's badass and looks good on you," Logan told her, meaning every word. "You pull it off perfectly. It matches your whole vibe."
Sabby's replying grin encouraged him, and as the clock on the wall approached closing time, he decided to press his luck.
"Last call!" Sabby hollered out before coming over to him. "You want a last beer there, Logan?"
"Nah, I promised to stay more or less sober tonight," Logan confided. "But I did have a request."
"What's that?"
"Let me hang out after you guys close, maybe help you clean up?" he said. "There's gotta be some bags of trash around here that need to be taken out and all that."
"You must be a glutton for work," Sabby joked, but after a moment's consideration, nodded. "Why the hell not? Hey Jerry, you want to clock out a bit early tonight? Logan here said he'll take out the trash!"
"Hell yeah!" Jerry replied, flashing Logan a thumbs up. "Thanks man!"
"Don't sweat it," Logan replied, leaning back with a sense of accomplishment.
As he waited for the alley to close, he stayed out of Sabby's way and thought about what he was doing.
It had been a long time since he'd spent any time socially with a girl, and he had to admit to himself that he felt anxious.
But he found that with Sabby, being 'rusty' wasn't that much of a problem because he wasn't trying to pull a 'move. '
He genuinely wanted to get to know the girl better.
When the last customer was gone and the doors were locked, the two of them got to work, Logan on the vacuum cleaner while Sabby did the dry mop over the approach areas of the lanes before they both tackled the pool tables and cafe.
"Yeah, I'm a shift manager," Sabby explained as they worked. "It's part of MWR—Morale, Welfare, and Recreation—but basically, we run ourselves. Commander only pops in if something's gone wrong."
They finished up, tying up the garbage last, carrying the four big bags over to the back door. "Here," Logan said, picking up all four bags. "Now, you've got the keys? I'd hate to get locked out."
Sabby patted the pocket on her skirt. "Don't worry, I'll be right here just in case. Then I can finish shutting everything down and get home."
She said it in a way that had Logan wishing he could ask her if she wouldn't mind spending the rest of the night somewhere, but he also knew that asking a girl to go walking down a deserted military base road because he was stuck on post was a bad idea.
Instead, he used his back to push open the door and walked outside.
After roughly four hours in the air-conditioned alley, the warm and humid air hit him like a wet blanket. It didn't bother him much; growing up in Florida had prepared him for this kind of weather.
As he slammed the plastic lid of the dumpster closed, he saw a car, with the leader of the guys who'd been harassing Sabby leaning against the back bumper, finishing off a beer. "Hey boy!"
Logan instantly recognized the tone. Nothing good ever followed when a Southerner said 'boy' like that. Not wanting trouble, Logan held his hands up and turned back towards the door. "I've got no beef with you, man. Let's just finish the night and go home, what do you say?"
"I say," the guy said, pushing off the bumper and approaching, "that you're a cocky fuck who don't know nothin' about respect!"
Logan didn't want to run for the door, but he did walk faster, just not fast enough.
The guy threw the bottle in his hand, where it exploded off the side of the building in front of Logan.
He stopped, turning to the man as he came up closer, clearly itching for a fight. "This isn't how you get respect, man."
"Fuck you!" the guy yelled, throwing a punch.
It was a looping haymaker, delivered by a man who was at least half-drunk. Logan saw it coming easily and sidestepped, deflecting the punch. The man stumbled forward, off-balance. Not wanting the situation to escalate, Logan pushed him away firmly.
"Back off," Logan warned. "This isn't worth it."
The guy wasn't listening. He charged again, and this time Logan had no choice. He struck once, hard enough to wind the man and send him to his knees.
"Now stay down," Logan said firmly, his voice controlled despite the adrenaline coursing through him.
A sound behind him caught his attention and he turned to see Sabby outside, staring at him with wide eyes—not with fear, but with something else. Gratitude? Awe? Logan didn't know, but the intensity of her gaze sent a jolt through him.
"Logan—" she started.
"Behind you!" Sabby yelled suddenly, and Logan moved instinctively, turning to face a second attacker he hadn't noticed. The man stumbled back, surprised by Logan's quick reaction.
"Get out of here," Logan said firmly to both men. "This isn't going to end well for anyone."
The second man helped his friend up, muttering curses but clearly deciding the fight wasn't worth it. They retreated to their car, and Logan let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.
"Jesus, get in here!" Sabby said, grabbing Logan and pulling him into the alley. As soon as the door was closed behind them, she pushed him in the chest. "What was that?"
"Those guys were looking for trouble," Logan explained, his heart still pounding. "I tried to avoid it."
"Logan, the guy you pushed away, I saw his ID earlier," Sabby whispered as she checked the door to make sure the latch was secure.
She threw the lock, and ran to the front where she double-checked those doors as well before coming back.
"That guy's a lieutenant! And don't tell me you're an officer, Logan.
I've got a radar for rank. You're enlisted, and. .."
"And rank or not, Lieutenant Drunk-Ass threw the first punch," Logan said calmly.
Hearing Sabby's concern, he could feel another emotion swell up inside him.
"That's just wrong, especially with the way he was treating you tonight.
Bullying is wrong, Sabby. And to make fun of someone as beautiful as you? Doubly wrong."
Silence stretched out between them for a few seconds. Logan was well aware of what he'd just said, and he wasn't going to take back his words. Sabby was beautiful in a way he hadn't thought a woman beautiful in a very long time.
"You really think I'm beautiful?" Sabby asked finally, her voice a whisper.
Logan stepped forward, his hand gently cupping her face. "You're the most beautiful woman I've seen in a long time," he said softly. "And I'm not just talking about how you look."
He lowered his lips to hers, and in a moment of joy, she kissed him back. Her blood-red lips tasted of cherries, and the sweetness of it nearly overwhelmed him. Their lips pressed together as the kiss deepened, becoming more urgent, more passionate.
When they finally broke apart, they were both breathing hard. Logan rested his forehead against hers.
"God, Sabby, I want you so badly," he whispered, his voice rough with desire. "It's been so long... I don't know if I can hold back."
She looked up at him, her eyes dark with matching desire. "Then don't," she said, biting her lip. "Not the countertop, though," she added with a smile. "The pool table should be much more comfortable."
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