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“Make yourselves at home. I’ll be right back.”
I watch, feeling bereft as he walks away.
With Logan by our side, we belong. With him gone, I suddenly feel like a fish out of water. At least we have each other, I suppose. We circle the pool until we reach the side of the balcony opposite the flat. There, we dare each other to stand at the very edge, right against the glass railing that seems much too flimsy to support my full weight. I manage two and a half seconds with the city hovering below me before darting back to safety with a little squeak.
“That’s mad! Look way down there. I think that’s a dog!” Kat shouts, pointing down to the city street.
My stomach rolls at the sight of her leaning over like that. “Do you have to stand over there? I swear you’ll topple over if a decent gust of wind blows past.”
At my warning, she pretends to slip, and I nearly lose my stomach. Then she and Yasmine roll into a fit of laughter, and I threaten to excommunicate the pair of them.
While we’re over there, more people flood out onto the balcony, and I think it’s because Logan’s out here now. He’s still with his friends, a group of guys taunting each other near the edge of the pool. I smile as I watch him with them, so carefree and confident. It’s clear they’re all a bit in awe of him. I suppose I am too.
I drift over to the edge of the pool closest to me as I consider how lucky Logan is to have so much outdoor space this high up off the ground. It really looks nice too, not just concrete and glass. There’s artificial grass laid down between the pool edge and the glass railing of the balcony. He’s also got huge trees in planters dotting the sides, so it’s like we’re in a proper garden instead of on some floating space-age balcony.
A huge splash draws my attention back to the pool, and I look back just in time to see Logan surface from the water. He whips his wet hair back and he’s got a huge smile on his face. His friends are laughing, though not for long, because another two of them get tossed in next, and then the whole lot of them splash in. Even way over on my end, my legs get sprayed, and I take a step back, just in case.
“I’m going in,” Kat says, already in the process of yanking off her dress.
“Ditto. The pool is heated and lovely,” Yasmine says with a groan of pleasure. “I haven’t been swimming in ages.”
I’m ready to join them and strip too then look down and remember I’m still wearing the expensive red dress that’s now fused with my body. There’s no getting it off, and I certainly can’t wear it into the pool. Given how much I paid for it, I suppose I’ll just be wearing it forever.
“You coming in?” Kat asks, laying her clothes on a lounger behind us. She looks lovely in her black knickers and bra set, real tall and lithe.
“I can’t, remember?” I fiddle with the edge of my dress. “You two go. I’ll sit on the edge, over there by the stairs. Come swim over to me.”
They take each other’s hands and leap in together, laughing while they do it. I envy them as I curve around to the other side, watching everyone bobbing up and down in the water. I’ve never wanted to swim as badly as I do now. I bet the water feels good, and even with the heaters on, I’m still a bit chilly in my lightweight dress.
The stairs are all but abandoned since most of the crowd is gathering in the deep end. I take full advantage, hiking the skirt of my dress up around my upper thighs and stepping down until the warm water laps up to my calves.
I hear someone swim closer and glance up, expecting Yasmine and Kat, but it’s Logan, alone, wading through the water in my direction.
He looks as threatening as a shark, mostly hidden under the surface, coming straight for me. I freeze for a moment, watching him as he gets closer, and then he stands, peeling his tall frame out of the water, droplets dripping down his body. His dark hair is pushed back off his forehead. His shirt is stuck to his chest, showing off every ridge and contour of his pecs and abs. My jaw drops a bit before I can help it.
“Not getting in?” he asks.
“I can’t.”
“Worried about taking your clothes off?”
“No. Well, not exactly. I literally can’t take this dress off.”
He furrows his dark brows. “What do you mean?”
“It’s a long story and I think it’ll only make you laugh, so I can’t say. I’m trying hard to make sure you take me seriously, so it’s best if I don’t tell you.”
