Page 129 of Poet & Protector

The chef thing didn’t surprise me at all. The fact that Logan had a chef, not the flatbread part. “Cheese and grease get my vote.”

So Logan ordered us pizza from his favorite place in Vail. We drank beer with our pizza then played video games on a giant screen that descended from the ceiling when Logan pushed a button on the wall. Then came a few rounds of pool. After that we moved on to the arcade cabinets.

All the while Logan quizzed me on my likes and dislikes about everything from food to music to sports. I asked him the same kind of questions because it seemed to be what he wanted. It was all very normal ‘first date’ territory, except none of this was normal, which made it maddening.

It was also getting late. Like, really late. And we had school tomorrow. I didn’t want to mention how late it was because I didn’t want to put any ideas about going to bed in Logan’s mind. I couldn’t tell him I wanted to go home to sleep because if he said no, I would have already put it out there that I was tired and we’d be back at the whole bed thing.

My only option was to stay awake until Logan either sent me home or made a different choice on my behalf. I was riding a hard buzz from one too many beers and working up a headache because I was stressed.

And I really sucked at Mortal Kombat. Logan was kicking my ass for the fourth match in a row. He’d also been disturbingly good at Big Buck Hunter, the game we played before this one, which prompted me to carry on an imaginary conversation in my head about it.

“So, Logan, what do you and the other Keeper kids do for fun?”

“Oh, we trophy hunt in Africa. Mostly endangered rhinos and baby elephants. You know, nothing exciting.”

On the screen, Logan ripped my spine out yet again.

“I don’t think you’re trying anymore, Mason.” His real voice jolted me back into the room.

I shook my head to clear my fuzzy brain. “Oh, sorry. Yeah, I’m not giving you much of a challenge.”

He turned to look at me, leaning his hip against the cabinet. “You look tired.”

Shit.

“I’m okay,” I said, quickly glancing at another arcade game. “Should we try Contra? It’s co-op, so I can back you up instead of having you beat me to a pulp.”

Logan shook his head. “I’m tired, too. We should call it a night.”

He took a step toward me, lifted his hand, and traced my jawline with his fingertips.

My stomach dropped and my blood turned to ice. Was he going to kiss me again?

What the hell do I do if he kisses me?

Logan smiled at me and pulled his hand away. “I’m guessing you’d be more comfortable sleeping on the couch.”

That was the last thing I expected him to say.

“Yes,” I replied in a tight voice, worried this might be some kind of test or trap.

He nodded. “I already put some pajamas, a spare toothbrush, and other guest toiletries in the bathroom for you. I’ll set up the couch while you get ready for bed.”

This time I couldn’t muster any kind of response, which made Logan’s smile widen. He walked away from me, laughing quietly.

Bewildered but not about to waste my sudden good fortune, I made my way to the en-suite adjacent to the sleeping area of Logan’s room. I’d ducked inside earlier to take a piss, but the toilet and a wash basin were in their own sectioned-off space close to the entrance and I hadn’t really looked anywhere past that.

The enormous bathroom was clad in natural dark gray stone and warm wood accents. A giant walk-in closet was located to the left of the entrance. Beyond that was a floating double sink vanity. The shower could have been a full-size room of its own. It was a modern style, set apart from the rest of the room by frameless glass, equipped with various types of shower heads and other jets. Across from the shower was a large sunken tub. The walls near the tub were covered with plants that climbed toward a massive skylight.

I found pajamas folded on one end of the vanity. A toothbrush and toothpaste were sitting beside them along with miniature four-step skincare set, a hand towel, and a wash cloth. The pajamas were simple drawstring cotton pants and a t-shirt that looked like cotton, but when I picked it up it felt like some kind of silk blend. Logan brought his A game when it came to guest amenities.

After brushing my teeth and washing up, I returned to the main room. Logan waited for me beside the couch. He’d fitted it with sheets and blankets and placed a few pillows at one end.

“Will this be all right?” he asked as I laid my pile of folded clothes on a side table.

I nodded. “It’s great. Thank you for the pajamas…and everything.”

“Of course.” His smile was sphinxlike. “Do you need anything else?”