Chapter 30 - Logan
LOGAN
The cabin haunts me like a never-ending fever dream.
It started as a stupid joke about getting too old to fuck around in nasty motels or on base. I may have added something about the immense joy I find in making Max scream—or cry—which isn’t optimal combined with a lack of privacy.
So, like the sneaky fucker he is, he waited for a night I had a glass—or four, too many.
Those nights are like Christmas and his birthday combined for Max.
Nights when I’m so wasted I let him sit on my lap, even when we’re at our favorite bar.
I scan the other patrons for dumb looks, and the moment my knuckles are covered in some bigot’s blood, it’s my little Christmas.
That night, I was already seeing double, and then Max held his phone under my nose, babbling something about a cabin deep in the woods. He explained that it could be—and I quote him: Our own fuck dungeon, perfect for bringing a girl over.
I wasn’t in a state where I could have argued about it, and the moment Max said he’d pay eighty percent of the price, I didn’t want to argue about it. No way I would have complained about a basically free house.
The only girl we ever brought to the cabin was Ruby. Together with Sam, obviously.
Max found a plethora of reasons why we couldn’t take any of our flings there.
She’s a bit annoying, don’t you think?
I don’t like the way she says okay.
There’s a hint of patchouli in her perfume, and it gives me a headache.
Mercury is in retrograde, or whatever shit this man comes up with.
Deep down, I was thankful that he was so picky despite not being able to pinpoint exactly why.
The cabin is our little hideout. Too intimate to share it with a stranger. Ironic since this had been the main selling point.
And as much as I hate to admit it, bringing Lily feels right. A lot of things just feel right with her, and the realization plagues me. Someone like me doesn’t get to experience things that feel right. Not for long, at least.
One of Max’s friends is already waiting for us as we leave the plane, standing in front of Max’s pickup.
Sometimes, I think he picks his hobbies by the amount of money they swallow. He has cars scattered all over the country as if he's trying to start his own car rental service. Unfortunately, he buys them based on their ‘potential’. They are death traps. Loud, rusty, death traps.
When I asked him about it, he started telling me about how he used to work on old trucks together with his dad and uncle. That conversation had a fast ending. Dads—another point on the long list of things we don’t talk about.
“I changed the ignition coils for you, so hopefully no incidents this time,” Jack says, laughing as he throws Max the keys.
Turning to Lily, I ignore her pale face and her wobbly legs.
“I hope you’re prepared for a longer walk,” I say, taking her bag to throw it into the truck bed along with Max’s and my stuff.
We didn’t bring much since we already have a ton of shit at the cabin. It’s basically a fully stocked house with a washing machine and one of those big-ass freezers that could store a corpse. Not that I’ve tried it yet.
It’s filled with food, and I’m sure Max already got Mrs. Worthington or one of our other neighbors to bring over loads of groceries. While I prefer to mind my own business, the golden retriever befriends literally everyone.
“I’m driving,” I say, snatching the keys out of Max’s hand.
“As usual.”
He sighs but uses the opportunity to put his arm around Lily’s waist. He helps her into the truck, and upon remembering that his fucking car doesn’t have a back row, I’m tempted to kick a dent in the damn thing.
In an ideal world, I would tell Max to snuggle up in the truck bed. In this world, we are all going to sit in the front, squeezed together.
One sneeze attack caused by Max’s goddamn vanilla scented air freshener later, I start the engine. Lily giggles after Max whispers something in her ear, and I don’t know what to make of the sensation her laughter evokes inside of me.
An hour later, we arrive at the beaten path that leads to the cabin. Quiet and secluded, the house came with a ton of land and access to a decent-sized lake.
I reduce speed, not wanting to be responsible for the next round of repairs. But even as I drive down the path at walking speed, all three of us shake in our seats.
“Max, please don’t tell me you’ve rented this. I can’t afford my part—“ Lily says as I park the car in front of our cabin.
Sure, just ignore me.
“It’s ours, baby.” Max gleams, jumping out of the truck before he helps Lily down. “You can come here whenever you want. What’s mine is yours, too.”
The twenty percent I paid are apparently not enough to make me an official homeowner. Either that or making decisions over my head is suddenly the new normal.
Max leads Lily over to the house, leaving me at the truck together with the rest of the luggage. Rolling my eyes, I light up a cigarette and focus on the chirping birds instead of the lingering desire to find an axe and smash the fucking cabin to pieces.
How did this even happen? I am the one who leads; I am the reason they can live their dumb, happy couple fantasy, and now I am third-wheeling?
No.
Fucking.
Way.
After finishing my cigarette in a few long drags, I put it out against the sole of my boot and shove the crumpled-up butt in the plastic wrap covering the package.
You can’t just throw them away, Logan, that’s bad for the environment.
The fact that I am doing what the dumbass says, even now that he’s not around because he’s busy with his new favorite toy, ruins my mood some more.
“Get your fucking shit out of the truck. I’m not your servant,” I bark out as I enter the house, slamming the heavy wooden door shut behind me.
“And you,” I say, pointing at Lily. Max cocks his head to the side and puts his arms around her, almost protectively. “You’re sleeping in my room.”
“But—” Lily stammers, squeezing Max’s hand.
“That was an order, not a suggestion.”
“No,” Max says, stepping in front of her. “I won the right to share a bed with her.”
“That was at Ruby’s.” I take a few steps, coming closer until Max and I are standing face to face.
“Remember what I said about overstepping your boundaries, Vaughn? Cause it doesn’t seem like you do.”
“I’ll gladly hand you your ass again,” he says. “Lily, go over to the living room and start the Xbox.”
“Oh no,” I say, a smile spreading on my face. “We are going to settle this my way. Like men.”
Max exhales sharply, his eyes narrowing as his minty breath hits my lips.
“Lily, over here,” I say, and they both follow me out as I walk over to the backdoor and out into the garden.
Since Max took me furniture shopping and I found out how expensive all of this shit is, I prefer to spar outside. Another benefit is that no one has to wipe up blood after.
Upon reaching the small clearing, Max takes off his jacket. And after a moment of consideration, also his shirt.
“Seriously?”
I raise my eyebrows, and Max grins as he hands Lily his stuff.
“Seriously.”
Lily seems a bit overwhelmed as I throw her my jacket before I get in a fighting stance in front of Max.
“Same rules as always. You tap out or lose consciousness; you lose. No weapons, no biting. No. Biting.”
Max’s first blow comes so fast that I lose my footing for a second.
“Nasty fucker,” I snarl, stalking over to him.
He’s a damn good fighter, but I know his weak spot. His ego. So, when Mr. Wrestlemania turns his head to make sure Lily is watching, I slam my fist into his stomach and wipe the cocky grin off of his face.
He stumbles and tries to regain his defense, but I am faster. Before he can react, I’m behind him, my arm tight around his neck. With a strangled laugh, I make him face Lily.
“Are you sure you want to sleep in a room with him? Be honest, sweetheart, you can’t really think that this guy right here could defend you against anything bigger than a raccoon—“
My words turn into a breathless groan as Max slams his elbow back with so much force that my organs cry out for help.
“I can keep her safe,” he snarls, slipping out of my grip.
He lodges his leg between mine to get me to trip, but fails. Instead, a well-placed blow to his cheek combined with him missing my foot when he takes a step back is enough to make him land on his ass.
There’s a hint of fury in his gaze when he scrambles back, something I am absolutely not used to. Max tries to get up, but my foot on his crotch stops him from moving further.
Lily clears her throat. “Guys, don’t you think it’s enough?”
“No,” we both snap back at the same time.
I press my boot down harder, and Max’s pained grunts are like music to my ears.
“Go on, tap out, sunshine.”
“Thought this was supposed to be a fight,” he says, lifting his hips. “Could’ve just said you wanted to fuck,” he teases, yelping when I step down hard.
A flush creeps up his chest, a sweaty sheen covering his toned body—and all I can think about is sinking my teeth into his flesh like a starved animal.
“New rule,” I force out through gritted teeth. “You’re on the ground for more than ten seconds; you lose.”
Max claws at my calf, but I’m not budging.
“Eight… Nine… Ten. Well, don’t be a sore loser.”
When I remove my foot, there’s a pretty boot print showing on the front of Max’s jeans, right where his half-chub is straining the denim.
He gets up, adjusting his cock while he looks at me with a grin that can’t mean anything good.
“I’ve never been a sore loser, Logan. You won, fair and square, right? So she’s going to sleep in your room. Just like me.”
He pats my shoulder, leaving me fuming as Lily hands him his shirt.
“You can’t—“ I mumble, wiping away the blood dripping from my lip.
“New rule,” Max says, putting his arm around Lily’s shoulder. “Since we’re playing dirty now.”