Chapter 9

Logan--

Emory peeks up at me through her lashes and my heart does this warm, melty thing in my chest. I can never tell the guys about that, on pain of relinquishing my man card. Big, bad, alpha getting all marshmallow center over some shyness. Damn. 

“I have a little brother, but that’s all. We have a very close-knit… extended family, though. We all live close to each other– like some kind of wolf pack. We all watch out for one another.” I add some laughter and check in my peripheral vision to see her reaction. Thankfully, she chuckles along with me. 

“I wish our extended family was closer. It must be so nice to have such a big network of people around you– you must have a person for everything!”

“I suppose we do make up our own little community, but it also means that anyone's business is everyone’s business, which can be annoying as hell sometimes. I’m sure everyone will know about our date by Sunday evening.” I’m moving too fast. We haven’t even gone on the date yet and I’m talking like she’s going to meet the pack! I have to find a way to pull back before I smother her. It might’ve been easier to just tell her everything in the beginning so I would have an explanation besides “RED FLAG: STALKER” but it’s too late for that now.

“It sounds like any small town– I’m used to living in a fish bowl, remember? My parents moved to Spruce Pine when my brother was born and we were still the ‘new family’ when I left.” I try not to make my sigh of relief too noticeable, but I’m so glad she understands. On the other hand, I feel my shoulders get tighter and tighter the closer we get to her apartment. I hate that she walks this route every day through garbage and graffiti– gang tags, by the look of them, which is even worse. I hope she never works late, but even getting out on time puts her walking home in the dark every winter. 

“Do you always walk to work? It must be hard in heels– I can’t imagine how women walk in them at all.” Please say no, please, please?

“No.” Thank God! “I just recently started so I can be healthier. New year, new me, and all that. I’m used to the heels, but I’m still getting used to the change in commute time.” That’s better than I thought, but… how do I keep her safe like this? Best to just be blunt. She’s taken well to the bits of honesty I’ve given her so far, I suppose.

“Maybe I can walk back with you if I’m not working late. Would you get a cab home if I get wrapped up in the office, though? This seems… like a car would be safer for you.” That would take care of the evenings, at least. I’m not sure how I could talk her into a car for the mornings when I myself walk to work, but we’ll start here, and I'm not sure how to explain a driver just for her without coming off super controlling… which, I guess this is, honestly. 

“I’m perfectly fine, thank you for offering. I haven’t had any issues, and if I do in the future I have both pepper spray and a brown belt in karate.” Great. I’ll add tailing her to my morning workouts, then– not that I mind her tail at all. 

“I appreciate your independence, but–”

“No. Thank you, Logan. I don’t need a driver. But walking with you has been nice, we should definitely do it again sometime.” She's stubborn, noted.  At this, I realize we’re at the front stoop of her apartment. I’m out of chances to further state my case, but I do have a chance to– maybe– kiss her goodbye. Best not to push my luck, I think. This has already been kind of a lot, by human standards.