"Shut up! Just shut up and leave me alone. I know what I'm doing. I'm not afraid to protect my territory."
In that second she reminded me way too much of my mom. I suppressed a shudder and shut up.
My silence only infuriated her. "Wipe that stupid 'I'm so happy,' smug look off your face. You think you have the world's best guy just because he showed up with a balloon? After he fooled you all those months by pretending to be someone else? After you moaned and moped because of Kelsie and Amber. He's a player. You're the dupe, Ellie. Not me."
I knew she was hurt and angry. But that didn't give her the right to attack me. I grabbed my jacket. "Don't lash out at me because you're unhappy." I slung my backpack over my shoulder.
"Coward! Where are you going?"
"Out until you calm down. You need some space. Maybe you'll get some perspective."
"Get out! Get out and leave me alone."
"Gladly."
Dan's cell phone buzzed in Bre's hand. While she was distracted by it, I made my escape. I refused to be party to her games. I paused at the door and looked back at her. Bre was smiling as she read the text.
"If he's cheating on you, dump him." I slid out before she could respond. The door shuddered behind me. I jumped as I heard the tinkling of broken glass. What had she thrown? I had visions of my best perfume biting it. I took a deep breath, hoping it wasn't something of mine but betting it had to be.
Outside, the sun was shining and the crocuses were coming up. As I walked toward The College Grind, the joy of being with Logan bubbled up, egged on by the sunshine and flowers and dreams of spring. Suddenly, I was smiling and walking with a bounce in my step that should have been there all along. This was powerful stuff—not even my mother or my roommate's tantrums could kill it.
I was grinning as I pulled my phone from my pocket and called Logan.
"Hey. I was just about to call you," he said in that low, sultry way he had. The sound of his voice was like the sunshine outside. It made me hot all over.
"Beat you to it." I put the heat I felt in my voice.
"Can I see you? I miss you already," he said. "And I have news." A cloud momentarily masked the husky sunshine of his voice. Like the news wasn't happy.
Happy news was all I wanted. Happy news and him. I hesitated. "I do, too."
"Good! We can share our news. I've been trying to study, but my head's not in it. I keep thinking of you." He lowered his voice. "And last night."
Okay, that really did curl my toes. I clenched my fingers and suppressed a sigh. I wanted him again. I smiled even larger, like I was a different person today than yesterday. I'd been thinking of last night, too. I couldn't keep it out of my mind.
"I'm on my way to The College Grind to study. Meet me there," I said.
"Not your room?" His voice was laced with innuendo and promise of more, too.
"Definitely not there. Bre kicked me out."
"Bitch. Is that your news? On the outs with the psycho roommate again. What now?"
"Man troubles. Or maybe I should say Dan troubles and sexting outside the relationship."
"Shit." Logan laughed. "Down with douchebag guys. Come crash at my place."
"Love to. But first I need coffee."
"I have coffee."
"With frothed milk and dark chocolate syrup."
"Shit, El. You know how to string a guy along. I'll meet you there and buy your damn coffee. And then you can come back to my place."
Fifteen minutes later, I was sitting at The College Grind sipping my mocha when Logan walked in. Like I would let him pay. He spotted me and flashed that smile that made my insides turn to mush and my knees go weak. When he reached my table, I jumped up and threw my arms around him like it had been way too long since I'd last touched him.
It was warm outside for almost April. He wore jeans and a T-shirt that showed off his fabulously toned arms. How had I scored a jock like him? As I smiled back at him, I traced one bicep with the tip of my fingernail, daring him to shiver beneath my touch.
He grinned back and wrapped his arms around my waist. "Tease." He tipped my chin up until our mouths met and the heat we felt went into our kiss.
The barista interrupted, calling out my name.
When Logan finally pulled away, I was dizzy with the taste of him, leaning on him for support. Breathless.
"Right on time," I said. I had ordered a mocha, trying to time it so it would greet him. "That's yours."
"I thought I was buying."
I grinned and walked with him, my arm around his waist, his around mine, as he picked up his coffee and took a sip. "Hot. Just the way I like it." The way he looked at me, he didn't just mean the coffee.
He led me to a nearby booth with a window that overlooked the sidewalk. We slid in side by side. I couldn't keep my gaze off him as he settled in with his coffee and spread his books in front of us.
"Now we can claim we're studying." He slid one arm around me and wrapped his other hand around his coffee, resting it on the table.
I was ecstatic to be with him again. Everything about him, even the simple squareness of his hand, thrilled me.
He looked at me over his cup as he took a sip. "What's your news?"
"Jumping right in?" I said.
"I have the feeling this isn't good news. Let's get it over with and get on to the good stuff."
I didn't want to ruin the mood. Silently cursing my mother, I spilled it. "My mom is coming to Mom's Weekend." I watched his reaction closely.
He shrugged. "That's funny—that's my news."
"That my mom is coming for Mom's Weekend?" I teased, knowing he meant his.
A guilty look crossed his face. "Yeah—that, too."
"Wait a minute—too? You know about my mom already?" My heart started racing and I went cold.
He nodded slowly and stared at his cup before meeting my eyes. "She called and told me earlier today. Right after she talked to you. I didn't want to tell you over the phone."
I took a deep breath and shook my head, dumbfounded and furious with her. "She told you before I could?"
"Don't look like that, El." He let go of his coffee and grabbed my thigh, squeezing it like he wouldn't let me go. "It's good she trusts me. Between the two of us, we can stop her from making any trouble."
I shook my head. "I don't like this, Logan." I rushed on. "I would have called you immediately after she did, but Bre walked in. That's another story."
"Don't freak, El. I'm not like Austin."
No, he wasn't like Austin. He was much hotter. Much more honest. And so much more vulnerable. "What did Mom say?"
"That she'd done an end-around on me and somehow got to you. I'm sorry, El. What happened?"
I told him about our conversation.
He shook his head. "Evil."
"You're telling me." I paused, studying him, feeling like he knew more than he was sharing and hating myself for the thought. "I'm going to keep her so busy she'll have no time to get into trouble or bother you and your mom."
"She wants to meet Mom," he said. "And Caleb and Dad are coming, too."
"Caleb and your dad? Why?"
Logan sighed. "Dad is always here for the first part of Mom's Weekend. He's on the College of Business advisory board. They always meet that weekend and judge the business plan competition. I guess so the business majors can show off for their moms."
"And Caleb?"
"Pulled a hamstring and wants to join in the family fun."
He stared at me, but he couldn't mask the guilt and pain in his eyes. "There's something else—the court set a date for my testimony. Tuesday, the week after Mom's Weekend."
My eyes went wide. "Oh, Logan." I stroked his cheek, resting my hand against it, unable to pull away. I wanted to take all his hurt away, but I didn't know how to help him. I knew the trial was starting the week after Mom's Weekend. It was all over the campus news. But I hadn't known what day Logan was scheduled.
I got it now—his mom was coming to support him. His dad Harlan
was probably coming to town to talk Logan out of testifying at the last minute. I had no idea why Caleb was coming, except to show off and score with college girls.
"I'll be there." I didn't mean to sound so fierce. "Nothing will keep me away. And if Harlan tries to pull any of his usual crap, I'll—"
Logan grinned and touched my lips with his finger, cutting me off. "I love it when you go all protective on me. But I can handle my dad."
Could he? I kissed his finger and pulled it away, leaning up to kiss him and let him know that nothing would scare me away.
"Ellie? Logan?"
Chapter Five
I jumped, startled, and pulled away from Logan. My dad stood at the edge of our table, peering down on us with a puzzled, worried look.
I'd been so absorbed I hadn't heard him come in. He loved The College Grind. I hadn't been thinking. I should have picked someplace safer and kept things between Logan and me quiet until I could tell Jason we were back together. But I really hadn't thought Jason would be on campus on the weekend.
Jason. I still had a hard time calling him Dad. He liked Logan. But he was my dad through and through. He didn't like guys breaking his little girl's heart. And he knew Logan's past, which would give any decent dad a reason for concern.
My cheeks flamed, as much from guilt as anything. I crossed my fingers, hoping Jason wasn't as sharp as Mom and couldn't read my recent loss of virginity on my face or in the tone of my voice like she could. I was an adult and had waited way longer than anyone I knew to have sex. But dads were dads. They were supposed to chase guys away.
"Dad!" I tried to gauge Jason's reaction to seeing Logan and me together.
Jason had been the one who helped Logan put his life back together after Logan's baseball career-ending injury and rape by Dr. Rogers.
Logan thought of Jason like a second big brother and mentor. Or he had until I came on the scene and put a wedge between them. Unintentionally. Jason had been boss to both of us until my secret that I was his daughter was revealed. Then I had to transfer to another department because the university had a policy against family working for family. Logan quit the IT job he loved working for Jason, feeling betrayed by both of us.
Jason and his wife—my stepmom, Lyssa—had spent the months since Christmas trying to get me out of my funk and mold the lump of hurting jelly that had been me back into some semblance of a person. And now here were we. Worry etched his face. Jason was easy to read—he knew how much I loved Logan. He hoped this was good, but he feared the worst, that I was back on the rollercoaster again.
Jason didn't wait for an invitation. He slid into the bench seat across from us. "This is new." His tone was neutral and firm and a complete statement of fact.
"Very," I said, trying to match Jason's calm as I beamed at Logan. "We just got back together last night." I squeezed Logan's hand.
Jason arched a brow and stared at Logan. "You know what I do to guys who break my daughter's heart? I make their cyber life miserable. Just saying."
Logan broke into a grin.
Jason shook his head. "You think I'm joking. Treat her right, Walker. Be the man I know you can be."
"Yes, sir."
Jason grinned. It was hard to tell if he had accepted the situation so easily. Or if he was simply resigned to the fact that Logan and I being together was inevitable. I knew he liked Logan. And I knew he had reservations about Logan as the guy for me. I decided to tread carefully.
"I haven't seen you around," Jason said to Logan, which was the understatement of the century. He hadn't seen Logan at all since Logan resigned from the IT department that Jason headed. Even though Jason had made an effort. "I hope I'll be seeing more of you now." It was almost a command. Jason leaned back in his chair. "We're short staffed. I know it's only for a few months, but I could use you."
Jason was offering the proverbial olive branch. Or maybe he was looking for a way to keep an eye on Logan and exert some control.
Next to me, Logan stiffened. "Really?"
"You're the best IT tech we've ever had. So yeah, really."
Logan had loved that job. He turned to me for confirmation—should he take it? I shrugged, letting him know it was his decision, but I was okay with it.
"Then yeah." Logan broke into a grin.
"Good. Then things can go back to normal. Finally," Jason said. "Come in tomorrow. We need you right away."
Logan nodded and relaxed. "Anything you say, boss."
I relaxed, too, and felt the weight of coming between them ease off my shoulders. Everything was working out. Everything would be okay.
Jason and Logan had been so close. Now that Logan was heading into the trial, he needed Jason's support. Maybe that was what Jason was thinking, too. My dad was great that way.
"Brad Lang from graduate school admissions contacted me the other day about your application," Jason said. "He had a few questions about the recommendation I gave you last fall and the work you've done for me. I reinforced my glowing praise." Jason paused. "Brad said he's still waiting for you to schedule your interview. They'll be making their offers soon."
My heart pounded. I turned to Logan, wide-eyed. "You never mentioned—"
Logan shook his head to warn me off, then looked down at his coffee as he spoke. "I haven't made a decision. Other things on my mind. Other appointments to worry about."
He meant the trial. We all knew he did. I was stunned and didn't know whether to be ecstatic and hopeful that he'd go to graduate school and be here for my senior year. That our relationship might really have a chance to grow. Or if I should be totally depressed that I'd been out of the loop with him. That he hadn't confided in me. That he'd struggled alone all this time. His roommates Collin and Zave had never mentioned anything other than Logan applying for jobs out of state. The thought of a long-distance relationship made me nauseated. I couldn't think of one that had worked out in the end. I'd been trying to push the thought from my mind.
"Whatever you decide," Jason said, easily, "I'm here for you and ready to help in any way I can."
Logan nodded and lapsed into silence.
Jason became conversational. "Is your mom coming for Mom's Weekend?" he asked Logan.
Logan sighed. "Yeah."
Jason laughed. "Don't sound so excited."
Logan rolled his eyes. "I've told you about Mom. She can be a handful."
"Afraid she'll beat you at beer pong?" Jason laughed again, but his eyes were serious as he turned his gaze on me.
I gave him a look that said, "Don't go there." Jason was the consummate forgiver. Mom had treated him horribly. She hadn't even told him I existed. He knew she'd slept with Austin. He knew all the gruesome details. That didn't change his mind. Somehow he saw something redeemable in Melissa Sawyer, something no one else saw. But he'd known a different her. A young, soft Melissa that didn't exist anymore. I was sure of it.
In the months since Christmas, he'd been trying to convince me to reconcile with her. And I'd been resisting. Jason didn't seem to understand that some people were toxic and any relationship with them was polluted.
Logan nudged me like I should confess to Jason that Mom had invited herself for the weekend. I would. Eventually. But here wasn't the place and now wasn't the time.
"You haven't ordered your coffee yet. I'll get you one." I made a move to slide out of the booth.
Jason stopped me. "No. Thanks. I'll get one myself and be off. Lyssa will be expecting me. Tomorrow, Logan. No backing out on me."
After Jason got his coffee and left, Logan turned to me. "You have to tell him she's coming, El. You have to."
"I will."
"You sound like you don't want to. What if he accidentally runs into her? Do you want him blindsided?"
Logan was right, and I didn't want to argue with him, but I hesitated.
"He has his own issues with her. He'll want to see her. She'll cause trouble for him. I know she will.
"He thinks he knows her, but he doesn't. He remembers a
young Melissa. Someone different than what she's become. He thinks he can handle her. But he's completely wrong. She'll ruin his life. And enjoy doing it."
Logan frowned, looking thoughtful. "El, secrets are dangerous."
I sighed. "You're right. I'm just worried she'll ruin his life. And mine."
"He's an adult. He can handle it."
Logan's confidence worried me. He underestimated Mom, too. The thing was, even if Jason could handle Mom—and I had huge doubts—could Lyssa? I loved my new family—Jason, Lyssa, Mia, and the baby Lyssa was expecting. I was determined to protect all of them.
"Let's think about something else. Something much more pleasant." I wrapped my arms around Logan's neck to distract him, smiled into his eyes, and kissed him like we were the only two in the place, melting into the returning, urgent pressure on my lips.
When he pulled away, his eyes were bright and his pupils large, even in the sunlight streaming through the windows. "I hope you aren't going to just tease me." His voice was ragged and lusty.
I gave him an innocent look.
He grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the booth into his arms.
"Where are we going?" I whispered like a conspirator.
"Where do you think? My place."
I leaned over and whispered in his ear, "Is sex all you have on your mind?"
"Yeah. Disappointed?"
I grinned back at him.
At his apartment, Logan let us in and dragged me by the hand to his bedroom, right past Zave, who was sprawled on the couch watching TV.
Zave popped up to acknowledge us over the back of the couch. "Logan. Ellie, back so soon? You haven't had enough of this douchebag yet? Logan's conquests don't usually come back for seconds."
"Can it, Zave."
Zave shrugged and laughed. "Just keep it down in there, will you? I'm trying to watch TV out here with a pounding hangover. My head can't take any more thumping and screaming."
Logan tossed a pillow at Zave and pulled me into his room, shutting the door behind us before Zave could retaliate. I wore a short cotton skirt, ballet flats, and a light cotton top. Logan dropped his backpack on the floor and stripped his shirt off.
Logan had the perfect male triangle build—broad shoulders, toned arms, hard chest, narrow waist. If I had my way, he'd never wear a shirt at all and I'd just stare at him all day. I barely had time to enjoy a split second of the view before he was next to me with his hot, talented hands working their way beneath my top. With his fingers clasping my waist, stroking my abs, and playing with my bellybutton ring, I couldn't think at all.