Chapter 6
SIX
Elizabeth
I haven’t slept this good in months, I think to myself while my mind is on the brink of consciousness. My thoughts are sluggish but incredibly happy.
I blindly tap behind me on the bed, in search for Logan. All I find though is empty air. The sheet feels cold under my touch, which means he’s been up for a while.
I finally make an effort to open my eyes, cracking one open, then the other, relieved to see that it’s still a little dark outside, so I’m not in danger of going blind from the sunshine.
Memories from last night suddenly invade my brain, and I can’t wipe the happy grin off my face.
The things Logan did to my body all night long should be studied.
I never imagined that it would be this good again, while I worried that maybe what I remembered from before was just an exaggeration of how I thought things had been between us.
I take a moment to stretch my body, enjoying the light breeze hitting my bare skin when the sheet covering me slips to under my breasts.
My face breaks into a grin when I hear Logan moving around in a different part of the house.
My stomach does a somersault, but I can’t tell if it is because of excitement or nervousness.
Now that I have to face Logan on the morning after, I’m not quite sure how I should react.
We never got to talk last night, even though, that was the main reason why he brought me to his house.
That last thought is sobering. I hate how insecure it makes me feel.
That is not me as a person, despite the fact that I am a bit shy at times.
As my best friend, Mona, would put it, I’ve always had the confidence of ten people put together.
However, the events from the last six months have done quite a number on me, leading me to question everything.
I sit up in bed and look around for a moment, unsure of what my next steps should be. But it’s still dark out, and I don’t want to have to think so early in the morning.
Deciding that worrying about things can come later, I get out of bed. The small pile of clothes on the floor trip me almost instantaneously, and I let out a snort when I am about to fall over. Thankfully, I manage to regain my balance before anything more serious happens.
On the short walk to the attached bathroom, I take a quick sniff of my armpits.
A shower would be welcome, but I am too eager to go find Logan, so I decide that a quick wash with soap and water will do the trick for now.
After, I use the toilet, I wash my hands, and I also manage to sort of brush my teeth by putting some toothpaste on my finger.
I feel silly doing that, especially since I am still completely naked.
Spitting the toothpaste into the sink, I rush back to the bedroom.
I feel tempted to walk out of here without any clothes on, just to see Logan’s reaction, but then change my mind.
Instead, I bend down and pick up the T-shirt he was wearing last night, along with the skimpy underwear I wore yesterday.
I put both of them on before pulling my shoulders back, ready to get out and face the world.
Once in the hallway outside the bedroom door, I feel a bit disoriented. I glance around, taking in the couple of doors across from where I’m standing, then start walking down the only obvious way out.
I blink in surprise when I turn the corner and end up in a very spacious living room. It has a glass wall with French doors that lead to the outside. Beyond that, I notice a pool, with lounge chairs placed around it.
“It looks a lot better when the sun is out.” Logan’s voice startles me from behind.
“I know nothing about being a homeowner, so I wasn’t going to buy a house,” he continues.
“But someone sent me the listing for this one. It’s not in the fanciest neighborhood, but…
” He shrugs and lifts the corner of his mouth in the beginning of a smile. “It’s mine.”
I move from one leg to the other, the fingers from my left hand fidgeting with the material of the T-shirt I have on. Logan’s T-shirt…
“I’m happy for you.”
The way his eyes drop to my bare feet before running up the length of my body gives me the shivers.
When they reach my breasts, I fight the urge to place both hands over them in an effort to cover my now protruding nipples.
But then, I decide that it won’t hurt for him to know how much he affects me and my body.
Logan, as if he can read my mind, licks his lips while his hands clench and relax in a repetitive motion. I am waiting for him to just grab me and ravish me, just like last night.
“There’s nothing I want more than to take you back to bed right now,” he murmurs.
“What’s stopping you?” I am surprised by how hoarse my voice comes out.
Logan sighs and checks the watch on his wrist.
“I have to be at the arena no later than seven-thirty,” he tells me. “And I have to do a quick warm-up before then. Also…”
He hesitates for a second. The excitement from only seconds ago is barely visible anymore.
“I got us breakfast,” he says. “And you don’t have to leave after,” he assures me. “Stay for as long as you want.”
I nod in understanding, wondering what I should do.
“Unless you have to be at work,” he continues, and my eyes grow big.
“Oh my freakin’ God,” I gasp. “I do have to be at work!”
I can’t believe I forgot about that. This is my first serious job, and I forgot I have a schedule to follow there only a couple of weeks into it.
Logan seems amused by my predicament. “What time?”
I press my hands to my face, trying my hardest to think. I don’t even have my car here. How am I going to get to my apartment? I need clean clothes and a shower.
“What time what?”
“What time do you have to be at work?” he clarifies his question, and now I feel dumb for even asking.
“Oh, eight.” I drop the hands from my face and sigh. “I have to be at work at eight.”
“There’s plenty of time then,” he smiles at me. “Come on.” He grabs me by the hand and starts walking back toward what I see is the kitchen. “We’ll talk while we eat.”
“I’m not really hungry,” I say. My stomach chooses that exact moment to grumble, making it sound like I haven’t seen food in weeks.
Logan shakes his head at me and chuckles. “Indulge me though, since I made the effort.”
I glance at the island sitting in the middle of the kitchen, noticing the spread he has on there. There’s fresh fruit, bacon and eggs, avocado and toast.
“It smells amazing,” I concede. “But I have to figure out how to get back to my car, and then…”
I don’t have time to finish my sentence when he steps closer to me. He places both hands on each side of my head and pulls me up until our mouths are at the same level. Without another word, he slams his lips onto mine.
I should probably push him away, remind him one more time that I need to go, but instead, I open for him, moaning in pleasure as his tongue invades all my senses. With my eyes closed, I reach up and wrap my fingers around his wrists, desperate for anything that he has to give me.
Suddenly, he ends the kiss just as abruptly as he started it.
“I have no idea why,” he grins at me, “but when you are around, I can’t think clearly unless I have my mouth on you. And I really can’t risk being late…”
“Totally get it,” I stop him. “And I can’t believe these words are about to come out of my mouth either, but I’ll be late for work if you don’t take me back to my car early enough. I don’t want to lose my job over something that’s an easy fix. I jumped through a lot of hoops to get it,” I joke.
My amusement gets dampened by the suddenly serious look on his face.
“Come sit.” He pulls me to one of the high chairs at the island, then waits for me to get comfortable. I let out a little shiver when my skin comes into contact with the cold seat, grateful that I thought of putting my underwear on before walking out of the bedroom.
“It feels like you’re about to give me bad news,” I tease him. Well, it’s actually only half teasing because I do get this weird gut feeling that something terrible is about to happen.
Logan sighs before sitting down next to me.
Without words, he fills up my plate with all the things he knows I like.
It is a reminder of the time we spent together before.
It is also comforting to see that he didn’t forget anything about me.
And he obviously still wants me if last night is anything to go by.
Although now that I think about it, he not once told me that he still loved me.
My heart rate speeds up now, blood rushing through my veins and slamming against my ribs in a painful way.
“Are you about to break up with me?” I force myself to ask. “It would be a really shitty thing of you to do,” I continue before he has time to react. “You should’ve never brought me here last night if that was your plan.”
Food now forgotten, Logan turns in his chair until he can look at me. He spins my seat around so that we can be face to face, with his knees blocking me in on each side.
“For the last six months,” he starts, “I didn’t even know we were still together.”
My eyes fill with instant tears. “That’s fair,” I mumble. “But still…”
“But I already told you last night about how happy I was that you were here, didn’t I?”
I swallow hard and nod in confirmation. He did tell me, and he especially showed me.
“With that said…” His hands tighten on my legs. “I’m sure you remember the reason why I was traded to the Aces to begin with.”
I sniffle and roll my eyes at the reminder. “Fraternizing with the staff. That was the stupidest thing. You could’ve sued, you know,” I tell him. “I was not ever employed by my father’s organization.”
Logan lets out a deep laugh at that, like he is surprised that I would be this blood thirsty.
“It never crossed my mind to sue them,” he admits. “But I was desperate not to lose my spot on that team.”
I get sad at hearing that. I hate that I was the reason why he did lose his spot.
“Things worked out for the best though,” he continues talking. “I got this new contract with the Aces. I live in a more affordable area and will be able to save more money for my retirement. And I am in a better position on the team than I was before.”
I nod along to everything he tells me. I’m not sure where he’s going with it, but I am hopeful that he wants to include me in his plans for the future. If not, me chasing him down here was for nothing.
Suddenly, I have a lightbulb moment.
“I checked the team policy,” I tell him with excitement. “They do not have a fraternizing with the staff rule for the players.” I am ready to bounce out of my seat at this point. “We don’t have to hide like we did before!”
The worry I see etched in Logan’s eyes is not of any comfort. He looks like he is about to give me the worst news, and I don’t understand why that would be. Unless…
“You don’t want me anymore,” I whisper, feeling completely shattered at the realization.
This is worse than last night when I felt rejected at the bar. I walked out, ready to accept that I had made a mistake, and that me following Logan to Austin was just stupid on my part.
But then, he went and gave me hope when he followed me out. Then, he kissed me with all the passion I’d be dreaming about. He brought me to his new home, and he worshiped my body all night long. I thought we were both in.
“Baby…”
Logan runs his hands up and down my bare legs. A few minutes ago, I would’ve been all brazen and opened my thighs, invite him to do all sorts of dirty things to me.
Now, I just feel ashamed by everything. I hate the pity I see in Logan’s eyes. This is the worst time of my life, worse than when we got caught by my father in New York.
“I can tell that you have no idea why I’m worried,” Logan tells me. “And if I’m reading your face correctly, you have all sorts of crazy things running through your head.”
I push his hands away and stand up. Without another word to him, I make my way back to the bedroom we shared last night.
I march right up to where my clothes are still in a small pile on the floor.
When I notice how wrinkled my pants are, I wince in distress.
I have no idea how to get those out, but hopefully they’ll come out when I get them washed.
I pull them up my legs and tuck in Logan’s T-shirt that I’m still wearing. The bra and top I wore last night are both balled in my hand, and I shove them in my bag. Thank God that at least I brought it with me.
When I give the room another glance to make sure I’m not forgetting anything, I notice Logan standing in the doorway. He is leaning against the doorjamb, and I swear he has an amused look on his face.
“You are very dramatic,” he informs me. The corner of his mouth lifts into a grin. I hate myself for loving how cute he is when he does that. I also hate the fact that I’ve been dreaming about him smiling at me just like this ever since I last saw him in New York.
“Well, excuse me for wanting to leave a situation that I find uncomfortable,” I tell him, arms crossed over my chest.
Logan snorts. “Except that you still need me to drive you back to the pub so you can get your car. And if we don’t talk here before we take off, we’ll have to talk in the truck. You’ll have nowhere to hide there, unless you choose to jump out of a moving vehicle.”
I frown at him in annoyance. “I can do that.”
Logan gives me a mock frown in return. “I have child lock on the doors. Since you’re acting like a child, I’ll make sure it’s activated.”
I roll my eyes at him as I try to fight back a smile.
“What do you want to tell me?” I finally concede but then want to take it back instantly when he sighs.
“I wanted to tell you that while I don’t have a fraternizing with the staff policy on my contract, and I am technically free to date whomever I choose…”
He pauses for dramatic effect, making me want to slap him so he’d tell me already what he has to tell me.
“You do.”
I frown at that. “I do what?”
“There’s a rule that the staff can’t fraternize with the players. You could lose your job if you got caught.”
“What?” I place both hands on my hips. “I’m sure they would’ve told me that.”
“They probably did during orientation,” Logan tells me.
“No,” I shake my head at him.
“Yes,” he nods in response, making the situation a little funny.
“So now what?” I ask.
Logan watches me carefully. “Can you afford to lose your job?”
I try to think. All the money I had before came from my father. When I left, I only took enough not to raise any suspicions, especially since I didn’t want him to know where I was going. But it’s not enough to live off for long.
“I kind of do,” I tell Logan.
“Then we can’t tell anyone about us,” he declares.
I stare at him, shocked to realize we are about to repeat the history we had in New York.
“It’s a secret?” I make sure to double check.
“Secret,” he confirms.
I continue staring at him in disbelief. “This sucks.”