Chapter Twenty-Four – Reese
Sometimes I go back and watch the footage from Logan’s house. I was there in spirit that night, when he brought her home and gave her a one-on-one performance of Soulfire. I was also there in spirit when they took things to the bedroom.
Watching them together was different at first, but as time wore on and I watched it again and again, I do feel as though I made the right choice.
Logan, to everyone’s shock and awe, is turning himself around.
Even though the cameras aren’t exactly crystal clear, I could see it in his eyes, hear it in his voice. He really does love her.
He won’t hurt her again, nor will he disappoint me.
Tonight marks three weeks since Wren and Logan have rekindled their relationship—although, to be honest, the first time they were together, there was no relationship to be had, so I use the word rekindle lightly. Three weeks since Logan brought her home. Just three weeks.
It’s no time at all, really, but simultaneously, it is. It’s more than enough time.
Tonight is a special night. Not only has it been three weeks, but it’s also the first time Wren is having me over her place.
Me and Logan, together. I don’t know how it’s going to be; he and I haven’t exactly had any more heart-to-hearts after he emerged from my maze, so it’ll be an interesting night.
But of course, it’s not the only interesting part of the night.
While I shower and get ready, I check the live feed on my computer screen every now and then. Chad Brayton, AKA the asshole who hit Wren with his car and then parked the vehicle and covered it in an effort to hide it from the world, sits in a locked room with no way out.
He went through my maze, you see, only he wound up in a dead-end.
He wasn’t as lucky or as smart as Logan, and to pay for his mistakes, he’ll starve in that room.
He sits, huddled in the corner, his legs against his chest, and his head turned to the side.
He looks just like any other upper-year college student, if a little dirtier after being in that room for a day and a half.
Hmm. I suppose the dehydration will get him before the hunger. Either way, it’s not going to be a pleasant feeling, and still it’s far better than he deserves for doing what he did.
Some people think they can get away with anything.
Too bad they never realize that, eventually, someone will come for them.
Something will happen, and the truth will come to light.
The only thing that could possibly be a shield in a situation like that is money, and Chad Brayton has none to speak of.
He’s an average, everyday fifth-year senior who probably thought he’d continue to skate through life. Not on my watch. The police might have given up, but I never did, and I kept watch over him until the perfect moment.
That moment was this past Thursday night at two in the morning, once he and his roomies were asleep.
I promised Wren no more mazes, but this was one I could not let be.
I simply could not let it go. The accident could’ve been much worse, and then where would we have been?
Wren could’ve died—and that is not something I could ever forgive.
Fuck live and let live. Chad deserved no less than a dead-end where he could wither away while pondering his screw ups.
I don’t enjoy the prospect of keeping a secret like this from Wren, but while she is lured in by the darkness, she still has a gentle heart. In a way, I figure I’m protecting her. She might not thank me for it, but it’s something I have to do.
Six o’clock rolls around, and it’s time to leave and head over to Wren’s.
I lock my computer screen and head downstairs to get going.
I’m in a much better mood than I’ve been in in…
well, a long, long time. Things are finally starting to look up, new routines and habits are being created.
I thought it might be a challenge to share Wren with Logan, but so far he’s proving himself worthy of his second chance.
We’ll see how it is tonight, when we’re both with her.
He made the comment that it wouldn’t be the first time he’s shared a girl before.
Obviously, being who he is, he does have experiences I don’t, which was part of the reason why I watched the footage of their passionate night together so often—to try to get me used to it.
I think it worked. In fact, it’s been impossible to not sit there and watch the footage without my cock coming to life.
Things are changing, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. If Logan and I have to continually play nice for Wren, then that’s what we’ll do.
Once I reach Wren’s place, I pull into the driveway and park behind Logan’s car.
He must’ve gotten here early; maybe he wanted to beat me to Wren or something.
It’s fine. Tonight isn’t about one-upping the other.
Tonight is simply about seeing if we can play nice together and be in the same room as each other, or if we need to continue seeing Wren separately.
I head to the front door and step inside. The door is unlocked, allowing me free entry, and the scene I walk into is one involving Sloane, Logan, and Wren—the former two of which are having what looks to be a conversation full of warning.
You know, threats.
Sloane finishes what she’s saying, “Just keep that in mind, buddy.” She turns away from Logan as Wren bites her lip to hide a chuckle, and she spots me near the door.
“Ah, the cute professor. Come in, come in. I was just telling Logan here that if he hurts a hair on Wren’s head I’ll skin him alive. ”
“Reese,” I say, although we did meet before in the hospital a few times. It’s been a while since then, though. I slip off my shoes and my jacket and add, “An interesting threat.”
“I’m an interesting girl,” she says with a shrug.
Logan, meanwhile, huffs and puffs, “You going to threaten him too, or am I the only lucky one here?” He watches with a narrowed stare as Sloane shrugs and turns to head toward the stairwell farther down the hall. “Guess it’s just me, then.”
“Elias and I will stay in my room tonight,” she says once she reaches the bottom step, loud enough for all of us to hear. “You three can have the run of the house.” This next part is spoken to Wren only: “Have fun.”
She disappears up the stairs, and Wren waits a few seconds before coming to greet me. The smile she gives me is soft and gentle, and the “Hey” that accompanies the hug as she wraps her arms around me warms me in all the right places.
“Hey,” I say, returning the hug, and all the while Logan still stands a few feet away, his arms folded over his chest.
Wren pulls herself off me, and Logan mutters, “Why the fuck does she hate me so much? What did you tell her about me? You know, the first time I ever met her, before I even knew who the fuck she was, she was threatening me.” He frowns.
“And she totally fucking meant it, too. I’ll never forget that shit. ”
Laughing it off, Wren leads us into the living room, where both Logan and I sit on the couch on opposite sides of her. “Sloane is just protective of me,” she says. “She wants to make sure neither of you will hurt me after everything that happened with my ex.”
“Well, she didn’t threaten him,” Logan says, pointing at me. “So what the fuck?”
“Maybe if you wouldn’t have abandoned me last semester, she wouldn’t be so full of threats,” she says with a shrug.
“Bullshit. Like I said, the first thing out of her mouth was a threat—”
I decide to say, “As fun as it is talking about Wren’s roommate and her disdain for you, Logan, maybe we should decide what we’d like to have for dinner.
We could get something delivered. Pizza?
” There are a dozen pizza joints in the nearby vicinity, along with many other restaurants we could get delivered.
“Pizza sounds good,” Wren says, and when she looks at Logan, he mutters something about always being down for pizza.
We decide on a place, although none of us could agree on toppings.
Wren is a plain cheese kind of girl, while Logan prefers pepperoni.
I, on the other hand, like to have banana peppers and black olives on mine.
In the end, we each get our own personal pizza even though I’m fairly certain it’ll end up being way too much food.
That’s all right. Better to have more and not need it than not have enough.
Wren, ever the gracious and semi-awkward host of the night, offers to get us some drinks from the kitchen. Water, an assortment of pop, and orange juice is our selection. Logan goes for water while I go for whatever pop she’s going to have.
As she gets up to bring them to us, I now have an uninterrupted line of sight to Logan, and I lean my head back on the couch and look at him.
He stares hard straight ahead, at the TV across from us that isn’t playing anything yet.
It’s like he’s trying his damnedest not to glance at me, like if he doesn’t look at me, I’m not real.
Unfortunately, it’s too late for that now.
“How are you doing, Logan?” I ask him, making him look at me.
“Better than I was,” he says. “But I’m betting you knew that already.”
I shrug, not bothering to deny it. Why would I? He must know I keep a very close eye on him, for Wren’s sake. He’s not off the leash completely. “I’m just glad you’re here, that we’re both adult enough to try this out for Wren.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you’re fucking thrilled.”
“The song you wrote her was very good,” I compliment him, and it’s clearly not something he’s expecting, because the expression on his face after that is one of confusion and then annoyance. “Soulfire, was it? Cool title.”
Logan keeps his voice low when he says, “You know, you might not hear this enough, but you’re kind of creepy.”