I stepped back, and his hand fell from my neck. The shield he’d projected brought me back to reality. I didn’t know him—not like I knew Claire, not like Jason.
I lifted a shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
His jaw hardened, and he looked past me. “Don’t be. Shit happens.”
Apparently. I wanted to ask what shit happened to him, but held my tongue. He didn’t want to tell me. That was obvious. Still, if he hadn’t held me, I’d still be stuck in the flashbacks. When they came, they were like a tornado, circling through me over and over again. Instead, Logan eased me out of it. The tornado only came through once this time.
“Okay.” I looked to my car. “I should get going.”
“Wait,” he said. “I wanted to ask you something.”
“Yeah?”
The wall fell away. “Why’d you stop going to class?” he asked softly.
Oh. This. I should’ve had an excuse at the ready. I didn’t. “I switched sections.”
His eyes narrowed. “Why?”
I shrugged, looking away. “It just worked better with my schedule.”
“Nope.” He laughed quietly. “I don’t buy it. I think you’re avoiding me.”
“Really?” My lip twitched. “I’d change my entire schedule around because of one guy? Who I’ve only known for a couple of weeks?”
His smile appeared, stretching to show the dimple in his cheek. “I’m Logan Motherfucking Kade. I’d switch classes, too. I mean, shit. If I were a chick? I’d be all over me. I couldn’t keep myself away from me.” He let out a whistle. “Bring out the handcuffs and bullwhips. We’re going the BDSM route.”
I grinned, feeling some relief. “You don’t have a self-esteem problem. That’s for sure.”
He grunted, his eyes growing serious again. “Why would I?” He gestured up and down himself. “I’m awesome. No one can forget it.”
I laughed out loud, shaking my head.
His grin dimmed, and he gazed back toward where Jeremy went. “Are you really not in the party mood?”
“Why?”
“You answer first.”
I thought for a moment. I hadn’t felt like being at that party tonight. I went because—I couldn’t remember anymore. It had been nice to talk to Claire, though. I smiled at that thought, and then I knew he had me.
“Come on.” Logan’s eyes darkened, a promise there. I felt it pulling me in.
I shouldn’t…but I heard myself saying, “I might be—in a party mood, that is.”
A grin stretched on his face, and he reached for my hand. “Leave your car and come with me.”
“Where are we going?”
“I’m going to take you to a real party.” He led me across the road to his Escalade. Once we sat inside, he pointed over his shoulder to Jeremy’s apartment. “It’s not going to be like that, I promise you.”
“No wine?”
“More like kegs.” He started his vehicle and pulled onto the road.
I shouldn’t be going with him, but I heard myself talking again. “No cheese trays?”
“Only for holidays and when I’m in my thirties.” He grinned at me. “Expect lots of beer, pool, beer pong, maybe some nudity.” He winked at me. “If you’re lucky.”
Resting my head back against the seat, I laughed with him. “Sounds wonderful.”
And it did, which surprised me. That should’ve been a nightmare, but I was going with Logan. Everything was different with him. Everything would always be different with him. I felt that realization deep in my core, and something fluttered inside of me, but I couldn’t identify it.
I didn’t want to.
HE’S A GOD.
NO, REALLY.
TAYLOR
I was in trouble.
As soon as Logan pulled into the driveway, I realized this was the same house as the first college party I came to with Jason and Claire—the one where I’d seen Logan for the first time. Unlike last time, when a large crowd had formed in the backyard, tonight almost everyone was inside. When we stepped through the front door, I felt all eyes on us. They went to Logan first, as if they’d been waiting for him. Then they noticed he was with someone, and when it registered that I was a girl, I really felt their attention.
None of this was blatant and obvious, but it was in the air. I could feel a shift in the atmosphere. Logan must’ve felt it, too, as he reached behind him to grab my hand, tangling our fingers together. He didn’t look back at me, and my heart pounded. I pressed a hand to my chest, hoping to soothe myself, but there was nothing I could do.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as we went through