Loving Logan - Sammi Cee Page 0,13

special ones. *wink emoji*

Pain shot through me as I missed Haley anew. If she was here, I’d show her this text and ask her what it meant. She’d always helped me navigate uncharted waters with men. Well, her and J.J. had pretty much helped me navigate life, period. While I tried to think of an appropriate response, because really, how did one respond to that, my phone chimed again.

Mystery number: What are you doing right now?

Phew, that I knew how to answer. I’d reread the rest later and figure out what he meant.

Me: Watching a movie with my nephew.

Mystery number: Which one?

Me: Finding Nemo

Mystery number: Nice. Dory’s my fav.

I snorted, which caused Jakey to give me a dirty look as he mumbled, “Bad Kuncle Wogan,” for interrupting his movie.

“Sorry, buddy. I’ll be quiet.” He turned his gaze back to the TV.

Me: It’s probably because you cling on to friends like she does.

Mystery number: Touche. I don’t normally. I have my best friend, and I’m close to my brother. Recently, I’ve gotten really close to their partner, too. But otherwise, I generally don’t get too close to people.

Huh.

Me: I don’t think I believe you.

Mystery number: Ouch. You wound me. Why not?

Me: Because it’s a Saturday night and you’re wishing me a happy friendaversary. After one week. Like that’s a real thing.

Mystery number: It should totally be a thing.

A laugh burst out of me, which earned me a sharp jab of Jakey’s bony elbow. He didn’t even spare me a glare that time.

Me: Has anyone ever told you that you’re a little ridiculous?

Mystery number: *laughing emoji* *sideways laugh emoji* *laughing emoji* I told you the first time we hung out that people wanting to choke me out is a regular occurrence. I’m pretty sure that’s not normal UNLESS people think you’re ridiculous.

I fought a grin and lost.

Me: What are you doing tonight? Getting ready to go out?

Mystery number: Nah. I think I’m going to go hang out with my parents. Maybe watch a movie.

Me: On a Saturday night. Snort. I don’t believe you.

Mystery number: Ouch. You’re mean by text. I would’ve never suspected that my quiet and shy bartender had teeth.

My? Did he say my? This had to be flirting. Didn’t it? Ugh, I wish I wasn’t so nervous and awkward. If J.J. was here, he’d tell me to ask outright what Creed wanted, but I didn’t have the balls. Plus, even if he didn’t realize what a flirt he was being, it was so nice to have someone to talk to. It didn’t hurt that the man was easy on the eyes.

Me: Whatever *eye roll emoji*

Mystery number: *laughing emoji* *sideways laugh emoji* *laughing emoji*

Mystery number: Whatever is a cop-out.

Mystery number: But I’ll let you get away with it tonight so you can watch the movie with your nephew. I don’t want to intrude on family time.

Me: Okay.

Although, what I really wanted to say was, please, no, keep talking to me. This is so nice, and I don’t know if you’ll ever text me again.

Mystery number: Okay. Have a good night. I’ll text you tomorrow.

I blinked and nestled back down by Jakey. I’d seen the movie seven hundred times in Jakey’s short life, so I zoned out and replayed every interaction I’d had with Creed up to this point in my head. One side of my brain screamed what an idiot I was. Creed hadn’t specifically confirmed he was straight the couple of times I brought up him and his dating history, but he also hadn’t told me he wasn’t. In the week since I’d met him, I’d seen or talked to him every day except last Sunday when I didn’t work. Our interactions came from no effort on my part, so I’d think it was sincere, unless he really was a total asshole. Maybe my mind craved any kind of companionship so much that I purposefully ignored signs that something about Creed’s seeking me out wasn’t ringing quite right, but I wanted him to be sincere.

Without bothering Jakey, I held my phone so I could scroll back through our conversation. Everything he said rang true to what I’d seen from him so far. Even him saying he was only going to his parents didn’t seem too far-fetched based on the stories he’d been able to sneak in while I served other customers at lunch. Of course, it had only been one week the cautious side of my brain reminded me. But in that week, he’d shared lots of little things. I