Chapter 17
LOGAN
S abby was waiting for Logan outside the alley when he pulled up in his truck. He shifted into park and got out, unable to resist the urge to show off a little as he took in her appearance.
He'd debated what to wear, but she'd said casual. So, he'd showered and shaved before changing into full-length jeans while keeping his Miami t-shirt. He looked ready for a casual evening out, not a formal date.
And Sabby? She looked gorgeous. Her hair was loose, the purple and silver halves framing her beautiful face and complementing the glasses she wore, which added both cuteness and an edge of attitude to her look.
She'd replaced the bowling alley shirt with a scoop-neck silvery-gray top that accentuated her curves without being overtly sexual. Logan felt a slight stirring in his jeans and was glad he'd chosen a looser pair.
"My lady," Logan greeted her, bowing slightly as he opened the passenger door. "Your chariot, poor as it may be, awaits."
Sabby giggled and climbed in, pushing her skirt down modestly even as Logan averted his eyes. He went around and settled behind the wheel, taking a moment to admire her. "Wow. Really. And I like the glasses. Surprising, but totally you."
"Thanks," Sabby said, blushing lightly. "I normally wear contacts, but I forgot to put in my refill order, so I'm stuck with frames for a few days. So what would you like to do?"
Logan shrugged, shifting in his seat. How was she getting under his skin so easily? Throughout his preparations, he'd been so focused on seeing her that he hadn't planned any activities.
"I was hoping you might have suggestions. I haven't explored much beyond Walmart for necessities and getting my phone set up. What's fun in Blackstone, Virginia?"
"Ugh, not much," Sabby laughed. "There's a hardcore gym, and plenty of barbecue places. Not ideal date spots though."
"Music not to your taste?" Logan asked. "Or are you vegetarian?"
"Hell no! I love a good burger," Sabby assured him, and Logan breathed an internal sigh of relief.
Although truthfully, he would have happily tried vegetarian food to spend time with her.
"But the atmosphere in those places isn't my style.
There's a pizza place... but after a week at the bowling alley, I'm all pizza'd out.
I had to take leftovers home twice this week. "
"I understand that," Logan replied. Growing up, he'd also hated wasting food. "What else is there?"
"Well, I'm a bit old for 'parking,' which is what local kids call it when they, you know..."
"Grab food and drinks, find somewhere secluded and hook up?" Logan suggested, and Sabby nodded. "Yeah, we called it 'watching the gulf' back home, as if the Gulf of Mexico was going somewhere."
Sabby laughed. "Exactly. So what about, and it's okay if you don't want to, but the local high school has a home game tonight. Want to check it out?"
"Would they mind outside food?" Logan asked.
Sabby shook her head.
"Good, because if you're not in the mood for pizza, I'm definitely not feeling snack-shack hot dogs."
After a quick stop at a barbecue drive-through, they found themselves in the stands watching the Blackstone High Cougars face the Gallion Royals.
The home stands were less than half full, with more spectators on the visitors' side.
"Guess BHS isn't known for football. Not the Friday night hotspot for teens, I take it? "
"Nope. The Cougs generally suck," Sabby confirmed. "But it gives us something to watch while we talk. We can even learn the fight song if you want."
On the field, a Cougar in blue and red got thrown for a five-yard loss by a Royal in white and purple. Logan shook his head. "Doesn't look like we'll need it much. So tell me, how does a rock and roll suburban girl like you end up somewhere this rural?"
Sabby laughed and leaned back against the bleacher behind her, making her legs look surprisingly long despite her height. "You'll laugh, but I was quite the rebel in high school. This is actually my first football game ever."
"Really?" Logan asked, and Sabby nodded. "I did track in spring and club rugby in summer. I couldn't see myself getting crushed like those football guys."
"What do you mean?" Sabby asked. "Were they bad?"
"They were in a tough spot. We were the smallest school in our district, and down in Florida, football is life for some guys.
Scholarships, dreams of going pro... it was intense.
Most of us at my school were into other things.
I saw what those guys went through, and it wasn't for me.
But there was a club rugby team in town, and that was plenty rough enough. "
"I've seen rugby. Looks like playground murder ball," Sabby said.
Logan laughed.
"Yes?"
"The way we played it, absolutely," he admitted. "The serious guys, the Europeans and Aussies play with technique and strategy. The Fort Myers Vikings? Not so much. But we had fun."
"That I understand," Sabby said. "Same reason I rebelled. I was all about having fun and refused to listen to parents, teachers, any adult. Only my big sister could sometimes talk sense into me. The final straw came when I got arrested right after turning eighteen."
"Arrested? For what?" Logan asked curiously. "You don't seem that rebellious."
"I've matured a lot. I got caught sneaking into a 21-plus club with a fake ID," Sabby admitted.
"They had a band I wanted to see. Even then, metal was everything to me.
It was going great until some guy grabbed my ass, so I punched him.
Looking back, it wasn't my finest move, especially since I'd swiped my dad's debit card to pay for everything. "
"Ouch."
"So they kicked me out of the house," Sabby continued, taking a deep breath. The pain was evident on her face, and Logan felt both a desire to comfort her and gratitude that she trusted him with this story. "Going into my last semester of high school, I was homeless."
"That's completely messed up," Logan said. "How did you recover?"
Sabby smiled softly. "Luckily my sister took me in, but with conditions. First, I had to get my act together. Instead of transferring to Blackstone High, I earned my GED. It limited my scholarship options at first, but I've done well in college."
"I'm not surprised," Logan said, explaining when Sabby looked curious. "Our conversation the other night showed me you're clearly smart."
"Thanks. You and my sister are among the few who've said that," Sabby said. "She also made me get a job, which I actually enjoyed since it got me out of the house. I've discovered I have a pretty good domestic side, but doing that all day would drive me crazy."
Sabby paused, then changed direction. "What about you? Rugby player one day, Miami the next. Why?"
"I wanted city life, and well... Miami," Logan admitted with a sweeping gesture.
"It was a decision made more with testosterone than brains.
I studied math, but wasn't particularly passionate about it.
I missed sports and physical activity, and mathematics isn't exactly that kind of degree.
I wasn't the best student either, enjoying social life too much to get into a good master's program. "
"So I decided to do a hitch in the Army to pay for my schooling.
I figure the time will give me clarity. Maybe I'll find a way to combine math with something more physical.
Worst case, I can get the military to pay for a master's in education and become a high school math teacher.
Coaching rugby..." he smiled, "I always loved helping younger players learn the game. "
Sabby chuckled. "As long as they let you play metal during practice."
"Oh, I wouldn't take a job without that guarantee," Logan said with mock seriousness before laughing. "So your sister reformed you?"
"She's been amazing," Sabby said, giving him a meaningful look. "Jessica's probably the most important person in my life now, and we take care of each other."
"She's in uniform?" Logan asked.
Sabby looked surprised.
He tilted his head, puzzled. "No? Sorry if I assumed wrong."
"No... Jessica is in uniform," Sabby confirmed. "She doesn't tell me much about her work, but she's always there for me. I help her out too. I'm not exactly a house-sister, but I handle most of the laundry. Like I said, strong domestic genes."
Logan laughed. "That's cool. I didn't know the Army arranged things that way, though maybe the National Guard works differently. Did she help you get the bowling alley job?"
Sabby opened her mouth, then closed it, smiling slightly. "Sort of. She heard through the grapevine about an opening, and the manager did her a favor with the interview. But I'm actually the only service-connected person working there."
"Really? At Benning, it seemed like everyone was either military or connected somehow. Fort Pickett must be smaller."
"Much smaller," Sabby confirmed. "Being a National Guard base with all those other programs, they've created a good relationship with the local community. You're getting a feel for that, aren't you?"
"I suppose so," Logan said. "Like my team leader says, we play our games, they play theirs, and everyone gets along. What about you? Do you see yourself staying here long-term?"
"Probably not much longer," Sabby said with a hint of sadness.
"I've got about a year left of graphic design school, then I'll have to decide.
I'm only a dependent of my sister while I'm a student, and after that, things get complicated.
Her chain of command has been understanding, but they can't overlook me not being a dependent anymore. Oh, look! Touchdown!"
It was indeed a touchdown, and they cheered together as Blackstone played hard. The final score was twelve to ten after Blackstone missed both extra points, but Logan's excitement peaked when Sabby took his hand as they descended the bleachers.