her about following in her footsteps.
In hindsight, beyond the questionable behavior, the only thing suspicious about Baruti was his proximity to the senator’s home the morning of the attack. Even that was weak. But there were no better reasons to suspect any of the others.
This sucked.
Logan’s phone buzzed. He pulled it out and breathed a sigh of relief at the text from Kelsey.
Just got home. Shoving all my crap out of sight. Any input on dinner? Starving.
Logan tapped out a warning he was on his way and hit send. He grabbed a few bottles of beer from the fridge before venturing out into the breezeway between the units.
He peered around the corners and listened for any sign of the guys before jogging around to the side where Kelsey lived.
Her door opened before he even got the chance to knock. She tipped her chin up and scrunched her face.
“Maybe we should be at your place? I realize it looks like I’m squatting here.” She stepped back.
Logan chuckled and stepped in.
It couldn’t be that bad.
He stopped just inside the door and stared at the barren apartment.
“Wow,” he muttered.
“I know.” She groaned and surveyed the space with him.
Their units were laid out identically.
Just inside the door was a linoleum space for a dining set. The small galley kitchen opened up to the rest of the room thanks to the bar. Off the bar was a recess that one might call a hall. That led to the bathroom on the right and the bedroom on the left. The living room was a narrow rectangle with a balcony he’d never used.
He’d furnished his place with a mix of things he’d brought and stuff he’d bought.
Kelsey?
There was a TV and a futon that had seen better days.
That was it, as far as he could see.
“You do know Zora provided each of us with a housing allotment, right?” he asked.
“Yes.” Her shoulders slumped, and she tilted her head back comically far to look up at him. “I might have spent most of mine on Felecia since she didn’t get one. I just...haven’t bothered. Do you want to go to your place?”
“Nah. If the guys come looking for me, they know where to find me if I’m here.” He held up the bottles. “Your fridge does work?”
“Yes.” She took the bottles from him and went to the fridge. “What are we getting for dinner?”
“The burrito place around the corner delivers fast,” he said.
Kelsey pushed the door closed. “Sold! Can I be ultra-lazy and ask you to order for me? I haven’t eaten there.”
“Sure.”
He went down a short list of her preferences, then made the call. He requested additional chips, salsa and queso, because why not?
Kelsey disappeared shortly into the call, only to reappear wearing pajama pants and a pair of what looked like blue, furry feet slippers.
He laughed. “What are those?”
“Hey now, I’ll have you know I won these.”
“Where? A kindergarten?”
“No, this Christmas party like last year. It was one of those white elephant things where things get stolen. I was the fifth person who got these.” She lifted her right foot. “I’ve worn them so much there are holes. I’ll be sad when they’re dead.”
Logan decided to bump up the house shoe question to tomorrow morning.
Kelsey gestured at the futon. “Well, make yourself comfortable.”
“Hm.”
He reached out and took her hand in his, pulling her toward the futon with him.
“It’s not even a new futon.” She laughed, but it was a nervous sound.
“Looks functional to me.” He lowered onto the cushion and was pleasantly surprised by how plush it was.
“I know most adults don’t have things like futons anymore, but this is the one comfortable piece of furniture I’ve ever owned and I refuse to part with it.” Kelsey flopped down beside him and sighed. “Hi.”
Logan leaned over and kissed her lips, keeping it brief and gentle. She smiled at him, and he rather liked that.
“I’ve been wanting to do that all day,” he confessed.
“You should do it again.”
She dug her hands into his hair and pulled him in for a deeper kiss. As much as he wanted to do more of that, he didn’t want to answer the door for dinner sporting a boner. He pulled back, enjoying the content look on her face.
“I’m getting used to you,” she said.
He threaded their fingers together. “Are you?”
“Trying to, I guess, is more accurate.”
He relaxed into the plush cushion further. “I’m glad you aren’t mad at me.”
Her face did that adorable scrunched thing again. “For what?”
“Baruti?”
“Oh.” She waved her