18. Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Eighteen
IZZY
Lyla: So any update on the sexy single dad situation?
Me: Where do I start?
Me: I got a flat on my way home from the bar last night and ended up calling him...
Nicole: Yay! Did he come without question?
Me: Yup.
Mia: Told you. So there ya go. You got your answer. Now what are you going to do about it?
Me: Not so fast. It's more complicated than that.
Mia: How?
Nicole: Let her fill us in.
Me: He said the absolute sexiest things and then almost kissed me. But after he changed my tire, he told me to go home and walked away from me.
Me: Then I decided I didn't care. I was over his game. So this morning I basically told him that.
Mia: Attagirl!
Me: Yup.
Nicole: But?
Me: Ugh. But then he almost hugged me in front of my brother this afternoon and called me sweetheart.
Me: Like seriously, what do I do?
Mia: Screw him. And I don't mean literally.
Lyla: He called you sweetheart in front of Jay? Sounds to me like you have your answer. Now you need to decide if you like him enough to give him a chance.
Nicole: Have you seen or talked to him since then?
Me: No.
Nicole: I think it all depends on what he says when he gets home tonight.
Lyla: True. Keep us posted!
* * *
The last three hours crawled by. Probably because I was back to second-guessing where I stood with Logan. He made me so mad I could scream. But the minute he gripped my shoulder and went to pull me in for a hug, freaking stupid butterflies took off in my stomach.
And then he called me sweetheart again. In front of my brother. Like what the hell?
I made it super freaking clear this morning that I was done playing this hot and cold game with him. Did I jump to conclusions? Although I didn't think so after the way he walked away last night. Damn him and making me question everything again.
I finished up the girls’ bedtime routine and busied myself by cleaning up the kitchen. I held my breath when I heard the front door open and close. Drying my hands, I spun just in time to see him step into the kitchen.
We stood there, staring at each other. I could feel my heart beating in my chest, scared to move or say anything that would ruin whatever moment we were having. Because the way he looked at me—it stole my breath. And just like last night, I wanted more.
My breath hitched as he began moving toward me with a determination I could feel, and I made my feet move, meeting him halfway. His arms wrapped around my back as mine wound around his neck. Pulling me against him, he lifted me slightly off the ground and claimed my mouth.
Holy hell, could he kiss. His tongue demanded access, and he explored every inch of my mouth. My breaths came faster, and my core throbbed. Had I ever felt this turned on? This desperate?
His hands moved down and gripped me tight under my ass, lifting me up higher. I wrapped my legs around his waist, and felt his hard cock press into me. I moaned into his mouth as he backed me against the counter and rotated his hips.
Oh my God. That spurred him on, and he did it again, balancing me on the edge of the counter. His hands trailed up over my hips and slid beneath my shirt. His warm, rough hands along my skin sent a shiver racing down my spine.
My phone ringing from somewhere nearby penetrated through the lust-induced haze I was in. He slowed the kiss and pulled back. Our breaths came in pants as we stared at each other. There were questions in his eyes that I was sure matched my own.
What were we doing? What did this mean?
My phone began ringing again.
“You should probably get that.” His lips lifted into a smirk. “Unless you want to ignore it.”
Oh, I really wanted to ignore it. But I was pretty sure it was the third time it had gone off.
“Let me make sure it's nothing important.”
He nodded and stepped back, lowering me slowly to my feet.
I grabbed my phone, my brother's name flashing on the screen. I slid the answer button up and brought it to my ear. “What's up?”
“Mom fell down the stairs.”
“What?” I blinked. “Is she okay?”
“Dad thinks she broke her hip. They're at the hospital.” A door shutting came through the line. “I'm heading there now. Want me to swing by and pick you up?”
My siblings and I didn't grow up in Half Moon Lake. We grew up in a town about thirty minutes away, where my parents still lived. I glanced over at Logan. Did I want to leave right now? No, not really. Part of me really wanted to stay. But it was my mom. She'd been there every single time I needed something, no way I wouldn't be there for her. And since I couldn’t get an appointment to get a new tire until tomorrow, I didn’t want to drive my car that far.
“Sure. I'm still at Logan's. Can you pick me up here?”
Logan's eyebrows pulled together, and Jay scoffed. Maybe I didn't want to drive with him after all. I knew he was pissed when Logan called me sweetheart earlier. But if he wanted to have that conversation with me, I had no problem telling his ass off. Sometimes he treated me like I was still twelve and he needed to take care of me.
“Or I can drive myself.”
“No, I'm on my way. Be there in a few.”
“Okay.” I ended the call and put my phone down, taking in Logan's concerned expression. “My mom fell down the stairs.”
“Shit.” Logan closed the space between us and pulled me back into his chest, wrapping his arms tight around my back. “Was that Jay?”
I nodded. “Yeah. He's coming to pick me up.”
“I heard.” He sighed. “Wish I could drive you.”
I smiled, listening to his heart beat, the sentiment of his words meaning just as much as the words themselves. “I know.”
I melted into his hold, not wanting our moment to end. But when my phone chimed with a notification, I reluctantly pulled away and gathered my stuff.
“I'll see you tomorrow morning.” I took a step toward him and reached up. Using my thumb, I wiped my lip gloss from under his bottom lip.
He caught my hand and pressed his lips to the inside of my palm. And damn, the butterflies were back.
“Text me when you get home tonight.”
I started to shake my head, but he gripped my chin with his finger and thumb.
“Need to know you got home safe and how your mom's doing.”
When I nodded, he leaned forward and brushed his lips gently against mine. My phone chimed again.
I pulled away with a roll of my eyes. “I'd better go.”
He followed me and stood in the doorway as I made my way down the sidewalk to Jay's car. I sent him a wave and a smile before sliding into the passenger seat.
I waited patiently for my brother's lecture. Or disapproval. Or both.
“Please tell me nothing's going on between you and Logan.”
I sighed and tried not to sound like a petulant child. “That's not really any of your business.” He knew my track record for shitty boyfriends, and had given me plenty of lectures. Logan was the complete opposite. A good guy. So I couldn't help but wonder what his issue was.
“He's too old for you.”
Ah, here we go. He was leading with that? Really?
“Seriously?” I chuckled. “Um, couldn't I say the same for you and Sarah? She's what, like eight years older than you?”
He glanced over with raised eyebrows. “That's not the same.”
“How so?” I crossed my arms over my chest. “Because I'm a girl?” Double standard much?
“No. I—” He shook his head. “Because you're only twenty-one.”
“Okay, and you were twenty-five when you met Sarah.”
“He's divorced and has two kids.”
I rolled my eyes. “And Sarah was a single mom with a baby.”
The silence grew in the car until I felt tears form behind my eyes. Of all the people in my life, I wanted my big brother to be proud of me. He’d always taken care of me, sacrificed so much to do so, and now I was trying to take care of myself. To show him I could do it.
I wanted him to finally look at me as mature and grown-up. But the last couple of years, that felt more and more unattainable. Like, no matter what I did, he would only ever see me as his impulsive twelve-year-old little sister.
“You know, you could just be happy for me.” I sniffed.
“Jesus,” he mumbled. “Izzy, I'm trying to look out for you.” A deep sigh escaped him. “Do you really think getting tied down with a family right now is what's best for you?”
I whipped my gaze over to him. “I'm not entirely sure what's best for me right now. But what I do know is it's up to me to figure that out, don't you think?” I huffed and sagged back into the seat. “What would you have said to me if I said this to you when you started things with Sarah?”
He glanced over, studying me. “I would have told you to shut it.”
“Right.”
He was silent for the next several minutes, and I could practically feel him processing his reaction. “You really like him?”
My lips lifted into a smile. “I do.” I chuckled. “Can I tell you a story?”
He knew better than anyone that my exes were self-centered pricks who would do nothing for me that didn't benefit themselves. So when he nodded, I gave him the SparkNotes version of what happened the night before. Getting the flat and calling Logan. Him coming to help me without a single question. I left off the things he said to me about how I affected him. I doubted my brother wanted those details.
“Hmm,” he said, a smirk tugging at his lips. “He didn't even ask if you called me first?”
I shook my head. “Nope. And when I said maybe I should have, he acted like the idea offended him. Like, why would I call anyone but him?”
He was quiet again for far too long before finally speaking again. “You could lose the nanny gig if it doesn't work out.”
That thought sent my stomach plummeting. But I was aware that was a risk. “Isn't there some famous quote that says the greatest failure is not to try?”
With a chuckle, he shook his head, and after a moment, he said, “You know I'll kick his ass if he breaks your heart.”
“Jay,” I began, searching for the right words. I appreciated the sentiment, but I needed him to understand something. “I'm not your baby sister who needs protecting anymore.”
He scoffed, and I rolled my eyes. Maybe that was asking too much from him tonight. To him, I might always be the baby sister who needs him.