7

Logan…

What the hell was he doing here?

Okay, dumb question. We go to the same school, so obviously, we would run into each other. But why here? Why now? 

“How is your first day going?” His voice was smooth, cocky, like he already knew he had my full attention. 

He closed the space between us, and suddenly, my personal bubble didn’t exist anymore. 

I had to tilt my head up just to meet his gaze, which was ridiculous because it made me feel small and not in the “aww, protect me” kind of way. More like the damn, I would let you ruin my life in three easy steps way.

Then he did it. That smirk. The one that practically had a warranty for making girls stupid. His lips curled up, slowly, and I swear my thighs clenched on instinct.

Stay strong. Do not fold.

I wanted to roll my eyes, maybe even flip him off and walk away. But that would make it seem like I actually cared. Like I was the kind of girl who lost her mind over one night of bad decisions and a pair of very talented hands.

“When do your classes end?” he asked like he had plans, plans that involved me.

I swallowed, suddenly way too aware of how warm it felt in the hallway. “In a few hours. Why?”

I tried to sound casual, but even I could hear the slight hitch in my breath.

He noticed. Of course, he noticed.

His smirk grew wider. “Just wondering how long I have to wait before I can put that pretty mouth of yours to better use.”

Wait what? 

“I am just messing with you,” Logan chuckled when he caught the look on my face. . “I just finished my classes.”

His gaze dragged over me, like he was undressing me in his head. And honestly? I wouldn’t be surprised if he was. He let out a deep breath. “I will wait for you, and then we will head home together.”

I blinked at him. I will wait for you?

Yeah, no thanks.

“Don’t bother,” I said, already turning to walk away, but Logan being Logan wasn’t about to let me off that easy. In a blink, he stepped right in front of me, cutting me off.

If I hadn’t stopped in time, I would have crashed chest-first into him. And considering that his body was all solid muscle and temptation, that would have been a problem.

For me.

“I insist,” he said, voice lower now, smoother, like he was daring me to argue. “My dad already expects us to come home together, so let us just make this easy, yeah?” His lips twitched like he was fighting a smirk. “I really insist.”

Oh, I bet he did.

I let out an exaggerated sigh, rolling my eyes for dramatic effect. “Where will you be?”

He grinned, victory already written all over his face. “Same place I parked this morning.”

I huffed and walked away before he could say something else. 

After my last class, I basically sprinted out of the building. My patience for human interaction had officially run out, and all I wanted was to go home and not think about Logan and his damn smirks.

But then I spotted him.

Leaning against his car like he belonged on a magazine cover, looking stupidly hot, sunglasses sat low on his nose, and the way he was soaking up the attention from a group of swooning girls made my eye twitch.

Of course, he is enjoying the attention. Drama king.

I groaned inwardly. Did I really want to get in that car with him? That was basically an open invitation for unnecessary attention, and I really wasn’t in the mood to deal with a bunch of jealous stares.

So, naturally, I did what any sane person would do.

I tried to sneak past.

I covered my face with my hands and walked a little faster, praying to every higher power that he wouldn’t notice

“Elena.”

Shit.

I stopped, closing my eyes briefly as I forced a smile on my face. Slowly, I turned to face him.

Logan casually pushed off his car, opening the driver’s side door like he owned the damn world. “Get in.”

No please. No hey, would you like a ride? Just a straight-up get in.

I glanced at the group of girls still watching us, their expressions shifting from confusion to straight-up murderous. One of them, some blonde with way too much lip gloss was glaring at me like i had personally ruined her life.

Logan raised a brow, waiting.

With an over dramatic sigh, I yanked the car door open and slid inside, ignoring the way my heart did a little stupid flutter.

The door shut, locking me in with him

“Seatbelt,” he said.

“I know how to use a damn seatbelt, Logan,” I muttered, clicking it into place with unnecessary aggression.

Logan just smirked, like me being annoyed was the most entertaining thing ever. He started the car, one hand on the wheel, the other resting way too casually on his thigh. His fingers tapped against it, and Jesus Christ, I had no business staring at his hands like that.

Big, strong, veiny hands.

Hands that…nope.

I shouldn’t be thinking of that right now. 

I tore my gaze away and stared out the window instead, because apparently, I was that girl now. The one who got fucked by a guy once and suddenly couldn’t function like a normal human being around him.

“You good?” Logan’s voice asked.

“Yeah,” I said quickly, hoping he hadn’t noticed whatever the hell was going on in my brain. . “Are you sure we should be riding together like this? I mean what is your girlfriend gonna think?

Oh my God.

Did I really just say that?

“What girlfriend?” Logan asked, sounding genuinely confused.

I turned to him with a deadpan stare. “Regina. Your Regina.”

He kept his eyes on the road, but I caught the brief glance he shot my way before he let out a short laugh.

“You think Regina is my girlfriend?”

I folded my arms. “She kissed you. With tongue.”

His shoulders shook like he was holding back laughter. “And?”

And?

I scoffed, turning back to the window, mentally kicking myself. Shut up, Elena. Stop talking.

But Logan, freaking Logan, was having the time of his life with this.

“If I didn’t know any better,” he mused, “I would think you were jealous.”

The car slowed to a stop at a red light. Logan turned to me, his stare uncomfortable, lips turning into a smirk that screamed trouble.

“Tell me, Elena,” he murmured, voice dropping lower. “Are you jealous?”

I swallowed, my face burning. “Screw you, Logan.”

He chuckled, “You already did that, baby.”

I hate him. I hate him so much.

The light turned green, and Logan took off again, looking way too pleased with himself.

After a beat, his tone shifted. “That guy you were talking to earlier… Ethan. Your new friend?”

Oh, this was rich.

“Why do you care?” I asked.

Logan let out a dramatic sigh, gripping the wheel like he was about to drop some life-changing wisdom. “Look, I am only saying this because you are sort of a friend. Ethan? Yeah, he is bad news. Don’t let his pretty-boy act fool you.”

Oh, the irony.

I scoffed, crossing my arms. “And you talk like you are any better. You don’t need to care about what I do with my life, thanks.”

His jaw ticked, like he had a whole speech lined up, but before he could unleash his brooding alpha male nonsense, my phone buzzed. The sound echoed in the car, and just like that, Logan’s mouth snapped shut.

Nosy as hell, his gaze flicked to my phone screen.

A text from Ethan.

Hey, Elena. It is Ethan. Think we can get that coffee tonight?

Well, well, well.

I felt Logan tense beside me. Oh, this was going to be fun.