Chapter 4
CHAPTER
FOUR
LOGAN
The offseason always feels strange at first. The sudden quiet after months of nonstop practices, travel, games, and meetings feels almost too loud. Yet here I am, sweating through another lift with the guys because none of us knows how to sit still.
Finn racks his bar with a groan. “Remind me why the hell we’re up early when we could sleep in?”
Miles smirks and wipes sweat from his forehead. “Just because you can be lazy doesn’t mean you should.”
Finn flips him off, breathless. “You’re hilarious. I’m just saying, I think we’ve earned some late mornings.” He turns to me. “Come on, Logan. I know you’re on my side here.”
“I get both sides. Sleeping in is nice, not that Beatrice lets me do that much anyway. But today it wasn’t an option. We have a tee time.”
“Tee times can be made later,” Finn grumbles.
Miles finishes his last set and drops the bar to the floor, letting the clang echo through the gym. “Not when Miranda and I have dinner plans.”
“So you’re next, huh?” I ask Miles.
He doesn’t need me to explain. Falling in love fast is a common theme among this team. “It’s looking that way.” He smiles. “I just love being with her.”
Finn rolls his eyes. “And I love sleep.”
I hit him on the arm. “Then you went into the wrong profession, my man.”
“Isn’t that the truth?” He grins with a shake of his head.
The three of us fall back into our rhythm, rep after rep, punctuated only by the sound of the weights hitting the mats.
“You talk to Penny today?” Finn asks between sets. “She texted me at seven in the morning about some charity schedule for July.”
“Same,” I say. “She acts like the offseason doesn’t exist.”
Miles shrugs. “I’m wondering why no one has planned a summer getaway.”
“Does the team always do one?” I ask. “I thought that was just a bye week thing.”
“Bye week is an official team vacation,” Miles answers. “But don’t we usually end up on a trip or two in the summer?”
“I feel like one of the couples will plan a vacation, and the rest of us will tag along.” Finn laughs.
“True,” Miles says.
Finn looks at me. “Maybe this summer we should plan a single-guys-only vacation. Really go all out. I heard this team used to have epic bye weeks—tons of girls, nothing but partying.”
“It’s going to be a pretty pathetic gathering,” Miles cuts in.
I nod because I have to agree. Most of the team is coupled up at this point.
“Plus,” Miles continues, “Beckett planned everything. Now that he’s married with a kid, it’s different.”
“Right,” Finn says. “So it’s up to us—the younger players—to take over and plan the outings.” He drags a towel over his face.
“Sure. We’ll do that. But first, we have to make our tee time.” I toss my towel over my shoulder and head toward the locker room.
The water hits my back in a rush of heat and pressure. Muscles loosen instantly. I close my eyes, letting the spray hammer across my shoulders.
My mind drifts, uninvited, straight to her.
Tessa.
I didn’t mean to think about her again. Doing so is becoming a problem.
I know nothing about this woman but her name, yet she’s taken up permanent residence in my brain.
The memory of her voice, her lips pressing into that thin line, the way she held her wrist tight against her chest like she was guarding more than skin—none of it has faded.
Finn’s voice bounces off the tile. “You planning on standing in there until the hot water runs out?”
I snap, “Relax. I’m almost done.”
“Good,” he says. “Because we’re stopping for coffee on the way to the golf course, or I’ll be useless on the green.”
A few minutes later, we’re all dressed and heading out. Finn holds up a hand. “I know you love Starbucks, but can we go anywhere else? I can’t deal with the barista who keeps asking for my number.”
Miles pats him on the shoulder. “Imagine being so desirable. Must be exhausting.”
“Don’t mock my struggles,” Finn says.
“What about that place on Maple?” Miles suggests. “It’s a little mom-and-pop place. Been there a few times. Good coffee.”
“I’ve never been,” I say.
“You won’t be disappointed,” Miles replies.
“I’m game,” Finn says. “You driving, Logan?”
“Sure.”
The little coffee shop is a ten-minute drive away. It’s close, and I’m surprised I’ve never noticed it before. I park on the side of the street in front of the shop, and we head in. A bell chimes when I swing open the front door.
I almost trip over my own feet when I step inside and see her.
Shock rolls through me. The amount of time I’ve spent thinking about this woman is worrisome, yet I couldn’t stop.
I was in her presence for the briefest of minutes, yet I see her so vividly in my mind.
Now that she’s here, before me, I’m shocked at how detailed and accurate my memory is.
Everything from the hue of her hair to the shade of her light skin to the heart shape of her face is exactly as I’ve envisioned.
It’s actually her.
Tessa.
My pulse trips. She stands at the register, hair pulled back loosely with wisps escaping near her cheeks. She’s wearing an apron over a soft green T-shirt. She holds a mug in one hand, smiling gently as she hands it to a customer.
Her smile isn’t big. It’s quiet. Careful. But real.
I haven’t seen it before. Not directed at me, at least.
Finn steps ahead of me. “This place smells insane. I’m glad they have pastries. I’m starving and ordering everything.”
He has no idea my world just tilted.
Miles nudges me. “You good?”
“Yeah,” I say, but my voice comes out lower than normal. Finding my footing, I follow him to the counter.
When the customer leaves, she looks up.
Her eyes meet mine.
She freezes. Only for a second. But it’s enough. Her posture stiffens.
I lift my hand in a small wave. “Hey.”
She blinks. “Hi.”
It’s barely a whisper.
Finn leans in, resting his elbow on the counter, oblivious. “Hi, yes, hello. How are you doing today?”
Tessa’s gaze flicks to him. She doesn’t answer. Her eyes dart to mine before dropping straight down to the register. “What can I get for you?”
Miles steps forward. “I’ll take a large cold brew.”
Finn orders next, launching into his very specific preference list. She types everything quietly, hands steady, but her shoulders are a little too high. “We’ll take three of every scone you have,” he adds at the end of his drink order.
“Um, we don’t have three of every flavor left, and we’re out of blueberry,” she says softly.
Finn waves his hand in front of him. “No worries, just ring up all the scones you have left and throw in a few muffins too. We’re not picky.”
She nods.
Then it’s my turn, and oddly enough, I feel nervous.
“What can I get you?” She swallows hard. Her eyes focus somewhere near my chin before they drop back down to the register.
Okay, so she’s definitely nervous around me. What I can’t figure out is if it’s a good or bad nervous. A little flirting will answer that question for me.
I lean a little closer, giving her room to step back if she needs to. “Dealer’s choice.”
She looks up, startled. “I’m sorry?”
“Make me whatever you’d drink,” I say. “I trust your taste.”
Her throat moves in a small swallow. “You… want me to choose?”
“Yeah,” I say. “Surprise me.”
A faint flush crawls up her neck, but she nods. “Okay.”
Tessa gives us the total, and I pay, leaving her a generous tip. She turns and heads to the back counter, where she starts making our drinks. Every so often, I catch her glancing my way. Her hand trembles once when she reaches for a syrup bottle, but she steadies herself fast.
She definitely remembers me from the other day. That much is clear. What’s a little muddier is what she’s feeling. It doesn’t feel like excitement or giddiness. It seems like something heavier.
Finn sighs. “I can’t wait to eat my scones. They smell heavenly. You can tell they bake them fresh here. We should come here more often. You know the other place isn’t baking their pastries in-house.” He pauses. “Don’t worry. I’ll share some with you guys.”
Miles chuckles. “Given that Logan paid for them, yeah, I’m thinking you will.”
She returns with our drinks and sets each one down carefully. Mine last.
“This is a honey cinnamon oat latte,” she says, voice soft. “It’s my favorite.”
I smile. “Then it’s going to be good.”
She gives a tiny nod and steps back.
“Thank you,” I say.
Her eyes meet mine for half a heartbeat. Something flickers there—recognition, fear, maybe curiosity.
“You’re welcome,” she answers as she hands Finn two paper bags full of baked goods.
Miles grabs his drink and a handful of napkins. Finn hugs the bags of scones and muffins to his chest with one arm and tips his coffee toward Tessa. “Thanks again.”
Coffee cup in hand, I linger a second longer. “See you around, Tessa,” I say quietly.
She startles again. It’s so subtle that most people wouldn’t notice. But I do. She grips the edge of the counter.
“Have a good day,” she murmurs.
I follow the guys outside, but every step feels heavier.
“Okay,” Finn says, climbing into the SUV. “Well, that was a bust.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, sliding into the driver’s seat.
“That barista was totally into you.”
Miles reaches from the back seat and places his hand on Finn’s shoulder. “Why do you sound so bummed? Wasn’t the point of coming here not to get hit on by a barista?”
“Well, yeah, the other one. This one was smoking hot. That’s a different story.” Finn sets his coffee into the cup holder and opens the bag of scones.
“Doesn’t matter. She has a boyfriend,” I say.
“How do you know?” Finn asks.
“I met her at the fan signing. She had me sign a jersey for him… Preston.” His name sounds foul coming from my mouth. “So whatever that was, it wasn’t her liking me.”
Miles catches my stare in the rearview mirror. “I wouldn’t be too sure about that.”
I steal a glance into the shop window before pulling out into the street. Tessa is already helping the next customer, eyes lowered, smile practiced.
“I don’t know,” I say. I take a sip of the latte. It’s perfect. Sweet, warm, with just enough spice. “Plus, didn’t you notice she was scared?”
Miles frowns. “Of you? I don’t think so. Nervous, maybe.”
Finn looks back at the shop, a smile on his face. “What woman isn’t nervous around the great Logan Wright? What’s that slogan that one blonde from last year tried to make go viral… When you’re Wright, you can’t go wrong.”
They both laugh.
I shake my head. “Something like that. Thank God it didn’t stick.”
“I don’t know. I just saw a video edit of you on TikTok with that caption the other day,” Miles says.
I roll my eyes. “Probably the same girl. You remember how that started, right? Max and I interviewed her for the nanny position for baby Caroline.”
“That’s right.” Miles nods. “Thankfully, he went with Delaney. Seems like they were meant to be.”
“Yeah, the blonde was never a serious candidate. She was just there in hopes we’d make some TikTok videos with her. I’m glad she’s moved her attention elsewhere.”
“Whatever.” Finn punches me in the arm. “You loved the attention.”
“There’s a fine line between women wanting me because of the extra attention I’m getting and women being turned off because they think I’m a cocky bastard. With all the edits of me circling social media, I was dangerously close to the latter,” I say.
“Eh, maybe,” Finn mumbles. “But I kinda doubt it. Cocky bastard or not, women will want you.”
“I agree,” Miles says.
“Anyway, when I saw Tessa…”
Finn cuts me off. “Who’s Tessa?”
“The barista,” Miles and I answer in unison.
“Got it, continue.” Finn throws a scone into his mouth.
“As I was saying, when I saw her at the signing, she had a bruise on her arm, and she was acting all nervous there too.”
The car goes quiet.
Miles leans back in his seat. “You think someone’s hurting her?”
“I don’t know,” I say. “But yeah. Maybe.”
Finn’s expression shifts. The humor drains out of his face. “What are you going to do?”
I look for the coffee shop in my rearview mirror and think about the girl inside who made me her favorite drink and then backed away like she wasn’t allowed to take up space.
“I don’t know yet,” I say. “But I’m definitely going to be drinking more coffee.”