“He’s my sidekick.”
Nico beamed.
Logan folded his arms, huffed, and mumbled agreement.
A slightly awkward moment ensued and Logan jumped in to save it. “Luci, I have your pack. Did you bring the tent?”
“I didn’t want to venture into the basement for it.” She jiggled her keys and pleadingly batted her eyelashes. “Too many spiders.”
Logan looked ready to suggest they forget the tent and sleep under the stars.
Alexander would have been all for that, but this was his opportunity to pull Luci away from Logan.
He patted Logan on his stomach and Logan’s muscles undulated under his touch. “Logan is definitely the man for that job.”
Logan fiddled with his cap and snagged Luci’s keys. “Nothin’ I’m better at than scrappin’ with monsters.”
Alexander swallowed a laugh.
When the door shut behind Logan, Luci groaned. “Oh, he really is committed.”
Committed?
Luci met his brother’s gaze. “So, what will we do about these clandestine glances at Luscious?”
Nico grinned shyly. “I intend to keep doing them Fridays after my library shift. Between two and three. From the corner table.”
“That’s a cozy table.”
“It seats two.”
“I should double-check that.”
“Please do.”
“I will.”
“Fantastic.” Nico paused. “Will it be weird if we’re both just standing here after that declaration?”
Luci laughed. “Probably.”
Alexander stepped toward them. “Perhaps I can ease the tension?”
They swiveled to face him, both glowing, already sneaking looks at one another.
“Nico, cut another slice of cake for Luci. Luci, I have a question for you.”
Nico nodded, tripping over himself as he backed to the kitchen.
Luci blushed and faced Alexander. “Shoot.”
Alexander rephrased the question in his head several times before opting for, “What’s going on?”
Luci winced. “What do you mean?”
“Logan is lying about who he is and where he’s from. I just don’t know why.”
Luci fiddled with the hem of her T-shirt. “No idea what you’re talking about.”
She knew.
“No idea?”
She glanced furtively around the room. “Nope.”
Alexander shook his head. “Luci?”
She bowed her head. “Fine.” She sighed. “If I tell you, can you please play along?”
Alexander’s heart thumped. “Tell me.”
She explained the role MAGA Logan was method acting and how success meant Alexander would evict him within three weeks.
Nico swore, and Luci glanced at him.
“Alexander bet that he could last three weeks with his next roommate.”
“Logan needs this acting gig,” Luci said.
“My brother needs this too.”
Alexander delivered them a tight look.
Luci shook her head. “He won’t give up his dream of acting at the Paragon.”
Color drained from Nico’s face. “This won’t change our date plans will it?”
Luci gnawed her lip. “Promise not to talk about any of this between two and three? On Mondays too?”
Relief settled over Nico. “Mondays. Yes, yes, and yes.”
Nico held out two small plates for Luci and Alexander. “Cake?”
Forking the cake, Alexander stewed in thought. “How did Logan know daisies are my favorite?”
Luci answered. “They’re his favorite too.”
Her phone rang. “That’s my boss, I gotta . . .” She moved into Logan’s room.
Nico leaned toward him. “I guess you and Logan have stuff to talk about.”
Exactly what he’d been thinking.
Predictable, Alexander. Find any excuse to get rid of someone, Alexander.
He shut his eyes.
Deep inside, he was screaming not to push Logan away.
He hated hearing his own breath in an empty gallery. Hated having no friends call him to wish him a happy birthday. Hated being awake at night, alone.
He loved Logan buying him cake and making him celebrate his birthday. Loved Logan taking a punch in the face for him.
Alexander opened his eyes.
He would embrace imperfection and change. Embrace surprise and spontaneity.
He straightened his watch. “No, I won’t talk to him about it.”
He would play along.
Chapter Eleven
LOGAN
* * *
Warm breezes raced through fields of long grass and swayed trees, puffing up Logan’s shirt. While Lake Pinde sparkled to his left, Alexander—to his right—did not. Logan grimaced at the tent they’d wrestled up.
Not quite what he’d envisioned either.
Alexander folded his arms. “Hmm.”
Logan rubbed his nape. “I’d say it fits two people.”
“I’d say one. Maybe one and a half.”
“Perfect for us then, eh?”
“If you expect me to lie on top of you.”
The imagery reminded Logan of last night—stealing into the bathroom once Alexander had fallen asleep, jerking off to thoughts of Alexander . . . lying on top of him.
Logan had nearly lost his balance from how hard he came.
He choked on the memory so hard, Alexander thumped his back.
“It’s hot,” Alexander fanned his face, and Logan mentally did the same. “I doubt we’ll be using sleeping bags. It’ll be my sweat-slicked body against yours.”
Logan gasped. “What are you trying to do to me?”
Alexander faced him. “This outing is an opportunity for growth.”
Logan