How To Evict a Hot Jock in Three Weeks - Anyta Sunday Page 0,29

of him first and gestured Logan’s way with his finger. Alexander turned, shimmering blue eyes meeting his.

Logan’s stomach took another dive. This whole thing was a damn mess. The better part of Logan wanted to come clean—even at the risk of losing Paragon—but could he, when Alexander needed something from this too?

Logan reached for his accent. “Got ya a little something.”

Alexander slipped on a smile. “For me?”

“No one else makes my heart sing so sweet.” A wave of flutters crashed into Logan’s chest.

He shoved the gift into Alexander’s hand.

Alexander studied the key ring’s bright yellow monster-truck decoration. A small chuckle tickled out of him as he attached it to his house keys.

God, to know what curses Alexander was silently giving him . . .

“You like?” Logan said.

“Truck Nutz. Monster truck key ring. I can’t wait for you to pimp the rest of my ride.”

Logan smirked.

The man was inherently loveable.

Logan plunked into his seat and felt the lingering thrum of Alexander’s pain.

He swallowed and asked in a low voice, “When’s the showcase next week?”

Hope lit Alexander’s expression. “Why? Will you come?”

“For sure.”

“Friday, starts at five.”

“Sweet, count me—” Shit. The audition. “I have an . . . appointment at five-thirty. But I could be there at six-thirty?”

Alexander’s casual shrug felt like a punch to Logan’s gut. He rubbed his thighs and stood abruptly. “Excuse me. I’m hungry.”

Logan stood too. “So am I.”

“And I, uh, need the bathroom.”

If Alexander thought that’d work, he had another thing coming. “Let’s go.”

Logan guided Alexander up the aisle and into the guts of the fried-onion-reeking stadium.

“What d’ya want to eat? It’s on me.”

Alexander eyed the food stands. “A hotdog is fine. I’ll pop into the bathrooms first.”

Logan smuggled Alexander into an available family bathroom, and snapped the lock.

Alexander folded his arms. “Alone, Logan.”

“We’re boyfriends,” Logan said, shrugging. “It’s just a piss.”

“That’s quite a presumption.”

Logan laughed. “I’m here for the good times as well as the shitty.”

“How romantic.”

“We’ll go down in history.”

Alexander cocked his head. “Why’d you drag me in here?”

Logan rolled his shoulders and stuffed his fingers into his pockets. He spoke in a barely accented rush. “I’m cool if we have to walk ten blocks to find you something to eat. So long as it’s what you want.” Logan palmed his nape. “That was all. I’ll leave you to your business.”

Flustered, he whisked around and lurched for the door. It didn’t open. He checked the latch and jiggled the door handle again. It didn’t budge.

“Uh, Logan?” Alexander said, a nervous edge to his voice.

“Sticky door,” Logan said over his shoulder.

“Sticky or stuck?”

Logan tugged harder. “Why. Won’t. You. Open?”

“Oh, God. Stuck.” Alexander’s voice grew tinny and thin.

Logan jiggled with all his might. Nope. Alexander paced the two-step width of the room.

“No windows,” Alexander panted.

Logan gripped his arms, seeking eye contact. “Hey, hey. Alexander? I’m right here.”

“It really won’t open?” He jerked out of Logan’s hold and tried the door himself. He exerted a fierce amount of strength but the door didn’t budge. He banged against it, yelling for someone to let them out.

Logan wrapped his arms around Alexander’s waist and pulled that wriggling panic against his chest. “I will get you out of here, Alexander.”

Alexander tried to control his breathing. Logan kept one arm tucked tight to him and used his free hand to call Luci.

If anyone was good in a crisis, it was Luci. She answered on the fifth ring and within seconds, she understood the situation and was off to sort it out.

“Luci will send help,” he told Alexander, lips brushing his ear.

Alexander shivered. “Enclosed spaces terrify me.” He focused on Logan. “Distract me?”

“Like the last time, in the tent?”

Alexander laugh-groaned. “Not in a public restroom. The germs!”

“Totally what I was thinking.”

“Uh huh,” Alexander said, fidgeting nervously.

“Close your eyes.” Logan hummed, and drew the tip of his finger from Alexander’s forehead to the tip of his nose. Alexander melted into his hold. “Picture yourself outside in the vast outdoors with lush trees and a sparkling river. It’s you and everything you love most. The place is perfect.”

“I’m not sure any such place exists.”

“In that case, I’m definitely by your side.”

“You’re not.”

Logan felt the word like a punch. One he should have been expecting. This wasn’t them playing boyfriends in a ludicrous game of chicken. This was Alexander having a legitimate panic attack. “Right. Yeah. Nico’s at your side.”

Alexander shook his head, rubbing against Logan’s chest. “I meant, you’re not at my side. You’re behind me. Like this.”

Oh.

Logan swallowed. “I’m there, holding you like this.”

“It feels