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I lean up and cup Logan’s face as I kiss him. I can feel him smile into the kiss as he clutches me closer. Logan has a tendency to dominate most sexual acts, even kissing. But this time, he allows me to stay in control. Which is good, because I might be smaller than him, but I need that control most of the time too.
He smiles at me as I pull away. “I guess that’s a yes?”
I laugh. “Yes, it’s a yes. Let’s go. It’s been too long since I’ve jammed to Britney anyway.”
Holding hands, we walk the handful of blocks to the alley.
* * *
The strobe lights flicker above us, “Everybody” blasting on surround sound, and I relax back in my chair with a beer as I watch Logan get a gutter ball,again.I grin at him as he stomps back, cursing.
“Are you sure I was exaggerating about kicking your ass?” My hand flicks up toward where our scores are displayed on the screen.
Logan wraps his big arms around me and nips at my neck playfully. “I’m positive. I’m just warming up. It’s been a while since I played.”
I decide not to comment that it’s been as long for me and I am, in fact, kicking his ass. I rub my scruff across his face, causing Logan to shiver. “Sure, we’ll go with that. You just don’t want to admit that I’m better than you are.”
Logan scoffs but doesn’t deny it as he sits next to me and drags me into his lap. I see a few eyes glaring at me, but I ignore it. While most people are certainly more open-minded in the city, there’s always bigots. I’m hoping the rebirth of the Omega gene is also a rebirth in compassion and understanding, but I’m not holding my breath.
Logan and I cuddle together for a while, our game forgotten. “As fun as this is, I miss our little bird,” Logan whispers into my ear.
“Yeah, me too. We’ll have to do something like this with him one day. Maybe he’ll be more enthusiastic about mini golf.”
“Why do I seriously doubt that?” Logan replies. Yeah, he’s probably right.
Leaning into Logan, I twist my head up so I’m looking at him. “Sometimes I have to pinch myself to remember that this is all real. That you’re actually with me like this.”
Logan’s blue eyes are serious as he watches me. He’s quiet for a long time before he gently kisses my head. “I’m sorry,” he finally replies.
My throat closes. What is he sorry for? I’m not usually an anxious person, but I immediately flash through a thousand different scenarios where he’s breaking up with me, even though I know it’s highly unlikely.
“Why are you sorry?” I finally manage to say.
“That it took me so long to see what’s right in front of my face. I think about that a lot, you know—what changed. And I don’t really have an answer. It’s just like one day the blinders came off and I saw you, like really saw you, and I realized I wasted the last eighteen years keeping us in the friend zone.”
I grab his face and kiss him. I know we’re in public, but I can’t help it. I need to kiss him, to feel him in this moment. I get completely lost in his lips and his arms. It’s like there’s no one here but Logan. He’s the only thing that matters right now.
Someone clears their throat. I know my cheeks must be bright red as we break apart, and Logan is laughing.
“Maybe that’s a sign we should head home?” he asks.
Chuckling, I detangle myself from Logan’s lap and move to stand. “Yeah, that sounds perfect. Let’s go home and wait for our man.”
We take off our bowling shoes and return them. And then hand in hand, we make our way back to my apartment to wait for Lake.
TWENTY-SIX
LAKE
“Istill can’t believe you’ve never seen any of theLord of the Ringsmovies, Lo,” Evander grumbles as he shoves a handful of popcorn into his mouth. I try not to flinch as a few crumbs land on my sofa and carpet.
Since I’ve been spending so much time in the city and at their places the last couple of weeks, Logan and Evander decided they’d come to my place this time. And despite the crumbs getting everywhere, I love having them in my space. I never expected to find anyone I’d be comfortable with having in my space like this.
“Well, I blame you for that. The only movies I ever saw back then were when you showed them to me. So clearly, Mr. Lord of the Ring’s Biggest Fan, you must not love them as much as you’re claiming.” Logan’s tone is light and snarky, but I can tell there’s some deeper emotion underneath that.
Logan hasn’t spoken much about his childhood before meeting Evander. All I know is that his mom died when he was young, and his dad pretty much neglected him. I suspect there was some physical abuse as well, though neither he nor Logan have mentioned it. I don’t push. He’ll tell me when he’s ready, if he wants to.
“Ok, so I didn’t get into them until college, but that’s besides the point. I thought you’d have seen them by now.”
