Chapter 27 #2
I smile, licking my lips as I turn around.
Since we finally have a moment alone, I make no attempt to hide my perusal and eye fuck the hell out of him.
Logan’s muscular arms are gripping the doorframe above us, tattoos peeking out of his fitted black tee.
The worn jeans stretched over his powerful thighs are giving me all sorts of visuals of what they’re capable of when he’s naked.
I breathe in his sexy cologne, sighing as I get a little dizzy with euphoria.
I’m weighing the odds of getting caught if I pull him into the pantry for a quickie.
They’re not good, but if the look in Logan’s eyes is any indication, he’s about to risk it just like I am. My vagina’s such a whore.
Sure, Rosa. It’s just your vag.
What was his question again?
“I came to offer my freight services.” Logan looks over his shoulder before whispering, “But now all I can think about is planting your ass next to the Cheerios, lifting up your dress, and eating you out until you’re coming apart on my tongue.”
Yes, please.
“That doesn’t sound very sanitary,” I tease. “What if someone wants cereal for breakfast?”
“I’ll replace the box,” he deadpans.
Logan’s eyes zero in on my pert nipples. “Get in the closet, Rosie. I—”
We pull apart comically fast when the front door opens, and I do some kind of weird ‘I don’t know what to do with my hands’ dance.
I quickly grab three bags of chips, shoving them into his arms. “Take these!” I whisper-shout.
I turn around to grab the ketchup and…
Ooh! Cheddar and sour cream Ruffles! I haven’t had those in forever!
I grab a bag, along with some Goldfish crackers for the kids. Now that we’ve sufficiently covered our asses, I head out of the pantry.
Shit! Ketchup!
Doubling back and grabbing a bottle, I kick the door shut with it tucked under my arm and follow Logan toward the kitchen. We’re smiling at each other like doofuses, arms loaded with snacks, when Logan halts mid-step, his throat flexing around a hard swallow.
“Hey, man,” he says to my brother. “You just get here?”
My brother’s dark eyes are bouncing back and forth between me and his best friend. His jaw’s tight. His nostrils flare, and his fists are clenched so tightly, his knuckles are white. Ryan’s madder than I’ve ever seen him, and I can only think of one reason for that.
He knows.
Logan seems to come to the same conclusion, because he gently nudges me to the side and steps closer to Ryan.
“Let’s go for a walk, Ry.”
Crack.
The sickening smack of knuckles meeting flesh splits the air. Logan jerks back, head snapping to the side. The chips fall to the floor as he presses an open palm against the wall to catch his balance.
“Why the fuck would I want to go anywhere with you, you lying piece of shit?!” Ryan doesn’t lower his fists.
I try stepping forward, but Logan damn near clotheslines me to prevent me from getting close to the angry guy.
“I deserved that.” Logan’s fingers press against the quickly forming bruise on his eye. “But that’s your only free shot.”
My brother scoffs. “You think I’m scared of you?”
“I didn’t say I wanted to hit you,” Logan clarifies. “But I will take you down to the ground if I need to.”
“I’d like to see you try,” Ryan sneers.
“What the hell is wrong with you?!” I yell, stretching to the side behind Logan’s back.
Ryan’s furious gaze snaps to me. “I think you know exactly what’s wrong with me, Rosa. What the fuck were you thinking?”
“Leave her out of this.” Logan looks to me out of the corner of his eye. “Rosie, why don’t you go—”
I dump my pantry haul on the kitchen island. “Save your breath. I’m not going anywhere while this jackass is behaving like this.”
“Oh, that’s rich.” Ry shakes out his fists. “Take a look in a mirror, Rosa. Your judgment clearly hasn’t been the best lately.”
Oh, no he didn’t.
Logan predicts my lunge and grabs me around the waist to stop it. “Settle down, Rosie. I am not letting you get hurt in the crossfire.” He turns to Ryan. “Leave her out of this. If you’re pissed, you take it out on me.”
My brother still looks like he’s ready to throw down, so I’m smart enough to withdraw. I don’t feel like getting accidentally clocked in the face if these two start going at it again.
“Asshole,” I mutter, leaning back against the counter, crossing my arms with a huff. “That was for you, Ryan, in case it wasn’t clear.”
He flips me off, so I return the gesture with both hands.
“How long?” Ryan seethes. “How long have you been fucking my sister behind my back?!”
Logan lifts his chin. “We’ve been together a little over a month.”
Confused chatter erupts from the family members now spilling into the house. My mom and dad push their way to the front, both looking equally concerned and exasperated.
“Boys, what’s going on?” my dad asks, his deep voice cutting through the noise.
Ryan doesn’t take his eyes off Logan. “Didn’t you know, Dad? Apparently, Logan’s decided Rosa is his new plaything.”
A collective gasp.
My dad’s mouth falls open, as if he’s shocked by his son’s audacity.
Join the club, Pops.
Sylvie, standing behind my parents, grumbles, “Oh, hell no. Lemme at him.” There’s a bit of a tussle as Hudson holds her back, whispering in her ear.
Logan stiffens. “That’s not fair, Ry, and that’s certainly not true.”
“Really?” Ryan scoffs. “Okay, Mr.-I-Invented-A-Hookup-App.”
Logan’s jaw tightens. “That has nothing to do with this. And good to know you’ve been judging me this whole time for it.”
“That was a cheap shot, Ryan,” I seethe. “And you are in no position to judge Logan on anything!”
Ryan steps closer, nostrils flaring. “I told you to stay the hell away from her. Many, many times! Rosalie’s not someone you can just screw around with. She’s my sister! And she just broke off her engagement! You’re taking advantage of her vulnerability, dickhead.”
“Jesus, man. Give me a little more credit than that. I am not taking advantage of Rosie! I’m in love with her, you dipshit!” Logan shouts, his voice thick with emotion.
I suck in a breath. I’m pretty sure the rest of the room is collectively holding theirs.
Well, okay then. I guess we’re just throwing it all out there at once.
Logan pinches the bridge of his nose. “I’ve been in love with her for half my life, Ry! I just didn’t do anything about it until I knew she was interested.”
More gasps. More murmurs. Somewhere in the back, an “Awwww” floats through the tension.
Ryan’s scowl deepens, though something in his expression wavers. “You sure as hell did something about it that one New Year’s Eve.”
Logan rolls his eyes. “Will you get over that already? It was almost a decade ago!”
My mom’s brows lift. “What is he talking about, Rosa?”
I groan, rubbing my temples. “Not now, Mom.”
Ryan turns back to me. “And you? What the hell were you thinking? Of all the people in the world, you had to pick my best friend as your rebound guy? And then get photographed making out with him in public? Do you have any idea the kind of scrutiny you’re subjecting yourself to, Rosa?
The catty keyboard warriors are having a field day with this!
Have you seen the shit they’re saying about you? ”
Awesome. He’s clearly scrolled through the comments.
“Did you forget what I do for a living?” I glare at him.
“Of course I know. But you know what? I don’t care, because I don’t give a shit what some stranger thinks of me, and neither does Logan.
The only people’s opinions who matter are the ones standing in this house watching you throw a goddamn hissy fit! ”
“Hissy fit, my ass,” he mutters.
I throw my hands up, exasperated. “Read the freaking room, Ryan! Notice how nobody else seems surprised Logan and I are together? I’d bet that’s because they’ve seen this coming for years, just like Mom and Sylvie did.”
Lots of nods from my family, backing me up.
“I did see it coming!” Ryan shouts. “But you know why I kept trying to stop it? Because there’s no way this can end well.”
“Fuck that,” Logan growls. “You don’t know that.”
“You wanna talk about what I do know?” Ryan’s glare falls to Logan’s hand.
“The reason you got that tattoo. I knew the second I saw it, but considering she was engaged to another man at the time, I figured it was your way of making peace with it, or whatever. I’m not as clueless as you seem to fucking think. ”
Wait…what? The reason behind which tattoo?
Logan’s fist flexes, the shock evident on his face.
My hand flies to my mouth as I stare at the giant rose inked on the top of Logan’s left hand.
“Logan…” I’m all choked up. I can barely get the word out.
I think back to the first time I saw that tattoo. It was about a year ago, shortly after Julian and I got engaged. What did Ryan mean when he said he figured Logan was making peace with it? My mom told me Logan was heartbroken when he learned about my engagement. Did he get that tattoo for me?
Logan gives me a crooked smile and a shrug, like it’s no big deal he branded his love for me in a spot where the entire world would see it every day.
Sylvie catches my eye across the room and mouths, “Damn, girl.”
My brother rolls his eyes. “Can we get back to the issue at hand? Like how, oh, I don’t know…my best friend and my sister have been sneaking around behind my back and lying to my face about it?”
“Gee, I wonder why,” I mutter. “Clearly, you’ve taken the news so well.”
Logan walks over to me, extending his hand.
When I take it, he pulls me in front of him, placing his hands on my shoulders.
Ryan’s jaw clenches right before his face falls, reading the intention behind his gesture.
Logan’s clearly communicating which side he’ll take if Ryan forces him to choose, and it won’t be my brother’s.
“Ryan, if you truly believe I’d ever hurt her, you don’t know me at all.
” Logan’s voice has lost its power. There’s a sadness in it that makes my chest ache.
“Rosie’s the only woman I’ve ever loved, and I think deep down, you’ve always known that.
But the time for willful blindness is over, man, because I’m not giving her up. I can’t.”
I sigh, briefly closing my eyes as I lean back against his solid chest. “Ryan, I love you, but Logan’s right. You’re just going to have to find some way to accept this because it’s not going away. Logan isn’t a rebound. He’s my forever. He always has been.”
Another wave of gasps and excited murmurs.
Logan’s heavy arms hook around my front as he pulls me into a hug, nuzzling the spot right behind my ear.
Ryan clenches his jaw, looking around the room, realizing he has no allies in this. The entire room waits on bated breath as he decides which path to take.
Less than a minute later, he huffs, turning to our mom. “Sorry to disrupt the party, Mom. Happy birthday, but I can’t deal with this shit right now. I need to get out of here.”
My mom pulls Ryan into a hug, whispering something in his ear before he turns sharply on his heels and storms out the door. A beat later, the screech of truck tires echoes through the quiet street.
My parents exchange glances, then start shooing people back outside, recognizing Logan and I need some privacy.
When we’re alone, Logan exhales, turning me toward him. “So, I’m your forever, huh?”
I smile, glancing down at his left hand, tracing the blooms inked into the surface. “You really got this…for me?”
He swallows with a nod. “Yeah, Rosie. I did.”
“After Julian and I got engaged?” I frown. “But why?”
The gold flecks in his eyes glitter as he notices how glassy mine have become. “I guess it was my way of ensuring I’d always have a piece of you with me, even though you could never be mine.”
Oh my god, you heartbreakingly romantic man.
“I love you.” I trace the closely cropped hairs of his beard, never breaking our gaze. “I’m sorry it took me so long to figure my shit out, but I’m so thankful we’re here now.”
“Me, too, Rosie.” A mischievous smile spreads across his lips. “But now that you’ve thrown out the whole ‘forever’ thing…I’m a little concerned. That’s a long-ass time to be stuck with you. I dunno if I’m up for it.”
I giggle, rising on my toes and clasping my hands behind his neck. “Too bad, Edwards. No turning back now.”
He pretends to think about it before smacking a hard kiss on my lips. “Okay, fine. I guess I’ll learn to live with it.”
I stick my tongue out. “Good. Because I’m not giving you up either.”
I swear the green in his eyes just brightened. “I sorta got that with the whole ‘he’s my forever’ thing.”
I place a soft kiss on the corner of his mouth. “You know Ryan’s going to come around, right? He’s just hurt that we lied to him.”
“I know.” He catches a rogue tear with his thumb. “Are you okay after all that?”
“I’ll be fine. Honestly, I think it could’ve been a lot worse.” I carefully prod the area around his eye. “I can’t believe he actually punched you. We should put some ice on that.”
“Eh.” Logan shrugs. “I probably would’ve done the same if I were in his shoes. I think he’ll be more understanding once I have the chance to explain why we hid it from them.”
I press my ear against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. “Well…as far as relationship announcements go, that sure was a dramatic way to go about it.”
His torso shakes with laughter. “Yeah, that was something all right.”
I lift my chin. “But honestly? It’s pretty on brand with this circus of a family. Are you sure you’re ready for this?”
“Bring it on, Morales.” He kisses my forehead and palms my butt with both hands. “Speaking of your family, has your mom given you the special box yet?”
I groan, burying my face in his chest. “Why are you like this?”
“You wouldn’t have me any other way.” He squeezes me a little tighter. “One of the many reasons why we’re perfect for each other, Pip.”
I smile, knowing he’s right. The future may be uncertain, but the one thing that isn’t? Logan and I are in this together. And I can guarantee this billionaire won’t be a bachelor for much longer.