“I’m waiting,” Logan taunted. “What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue?”
“Arguing over books is inappropriate, especially in the library.”
“Fine. Then let’s continue our discussion later.”
“What…What do you mean?” He seemed to have taken my words literally.
“It means exactly what I said. We should continue our talk somewhere else after the library closes.”
“But…”
Ignoring me, Logan walked over to one of the stuffed chairs and plopped down, reaching for his phone. He was typing a text message when I walked over and stood in front of him.
“You didn’t let me finish,” I insisted, using my stern librarian voice.
He looked up and sighed. “Fine. Finish whatever it is you wanted to say.”
My mouth kept opening and closing as I struggled in a desperate search for the right words. I was convinced I resembled a puppet with a broken string. “I don’t think meeting to talk is a good idea,” I managed to say before I lost my breath.
“Of course you don’t, because if we had an honest discussion, you’d end up agreeing with me. That book is a waste of time and money. I’m disappointed that you would recommend it when you clearly thought it was as overrated as I did.”
That wasn’t what I’d meant at all, and Logan knew it. “I…can’t meet you.”
“Why not?”
I was relieved I had a sound excuse. “I’m working late tonight, and if I don’t catch the nine-thirty bus, I’ll need to wait until ten-twenty.” It went without saying that waiting for the bus that late at night wasn’t a good idea.
“I’ll drive you home, then.”
“Ah…”
“Okay. I’ll forget the whole bad book recommendation on one condition. You’ll need to admit that I’m right, here and now, and that you were wrong.”
“Admit you’re right?” I flared and shook my head. “I don’t think so.”
He grinned, knowing I had walked into his trap. “Then you’ll meet me once the library closes and we’ll hash this out once and for all.”
“Ah…” I couldn’t seem to get any other words to break free of my tongue.
“That’s what I thought.” He returned his attention to his phone.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You refuse to admit I’m right, and at the same time, you refuse to defend your position.”
As much as I wanted to simply walk away and end this entire discussion, I couldn’t make myself do it. “All right. You win. Where do you want to meet?” If he suggested the sports bar again, there was no way I’d agree.
“The Bird Feeder.”
“The what?” It sounded like some place in a city park.
“The bar in the Beverly Hotel. It’s one street over. From what I hear, they serve the best margaritas in town.”
“The Bird Feeder serves margaritas?”
“You got a problem with that?”
I blinked, wondering how I’d gotten myself into this. “No…I suppose not.”
“Good.” He looked down at his phone once again.
I walked away and busied myself while Logan continued to be absorbed in his phone.
The library didn’t close for another forty-five minutes. I’d expected him to leave and to meet me at the Bird Feeder once I’d locked up for the night. That he’d wait for me was somewhat of a surprise until I realized that he expected me to bail. I wouldn’t stand him up, because I was a woman of my word.
Once the library closed, we headed downtown. The night was clear and dark, and the wind off Puget Sound chilled me. I wrapped my coat more securely around me.
“Have you been to this place before?” I asked, wanting to know if this was another regular hangout for his friends.
“Nope.”
That was interesting. He’d chosen neutral ground. I should be pleased, and I was, although I didn’t want him to know it.
“How do you know this isn’t a loud place where we can’t hear each other?” I asked.
“I don’t. The reviews didn’t mention anything about the noise level.”
It sounded like he’d gone online to find a place I would consider acceptable. Apparently, he’d learned his lesson after what had happened at the sports bar. Tonight had been a setup, and I’d fallen for his scheme. In fact, I’d made it easy for him, declaring it was improper for us to be arguing inside the library. I didn’t know why I’d even said such a thing. It wasn’t uncommon for us to debate over books before; we did it all the time, and always within the walls of the library.
The bar was cozy and inviting, with several quiet conversation areas. I knew Logan preferred bar seating, but when I started toward it, he pressed his hand against the small of my back.
“Two empty chairs over in the corner,” he said, steering me in that direction.
Once we were seated, the server approached with two paper coasters. “What may I get you?” she asked in a friendly voice, eager to please.
Logan looked to me to order first. “I’ll try one of your margaritas,” I said. Seeing that I was living dangerously, I might as well have a drink.
When the server looked at Logan, he asked for a brand of beer I didn’t recognize. Settling back in the overstuffed chair, Logan crossed his leg over his knee. “So,” he said, “how have you been?”
I blinked. This was an odd question, considering the circumstances. I wasn’t sure what to tell him or what game he was playing.
“It shouldn’t be a hard question, Marian.”
I looked down at my hands, which were clenched together in my lap. “I’m okay. What about you?”
He shrugged. “I sort of missed you. Missed our conversations mostly, but I also missed seeing you.”
I paused, uncertain. Was Logan flirting with me? I decided to play along, the best I could.
“You sort of missed me?”
“Nope, not sort of. I missed you for real.”
Attention from men was foreign to me, and I didn’t know how to react to it. It was easier for me to learn French than to understand a man’s intentions.
The server returned with our drinks. She set down my margarita and Logan’s beer. I gasped when I saw my drink.
“Something wrong?” Logan asked.
“I can’t drink that,” I complained.
“Why not?”
“It’s huge. I’ve seen smaller birdbaths.” Now I understood where the bar got its name.
Logan chuckled. “Don’t worry about it, I’m driving.”
It took both my hands to lift the monstrosity. The first taste was delicious. Oh my, I could see I was headed for trouble. The salt on the edge of the glass intensified the lime and the sweetness of the tequila; I licked my lips, wanting to taste as much of the saltiness as I could.
“Good?” Logan asked.
“Too good.”
“Enjoy,” he insisted, saluting me with his glass of beer.
I took a second drink, deeper this time. “We were going to discuss the book, remember?”
He shrugged. “You agree with me about that book. Admit it.”
I cupped my hand over my mouth and nodded.
“That’s what I thought. Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it?”
He was right. It wasn’t hard at all.
“So, did you miss me?” He was completely at ease, leaning back in the chair, his calf resting on his knee as he held his beer in his hand.
“A little.” The alcohol was already loosening my tongue. Not a good sign.
“Only a little?”
I took another sip and was amazed to realize the birdbath was half empty. “I’m not good at this relationship stuff. My marriage didn’t last long.”
“I’m sure my ex is happier without me, to
o, if it makes you feel any better.”
We’d never had this kind of personal conversation before, and I had a lot of questions. “Have you been divorced long?”
“Ten years.”
I was getting braver by the minute, asking things I’d wanted to know for a long while. “Have you dated much?”
“Rarely, but I’d like to date you.”
The blush was back in my cheeks, and at record speed. He’d thrown me completely off balance.
“Why?” Tori would probably want to shoot me for asking, but I needed to know.
He took a long, slow drink of beer, thinking carefully before responding. “You won’t like my answer,” he said.
“Why won’t I?”
His eyes held mine for a long moment. “You’ll think I’m a chauvinist.”
“Well, are you?”
He shrugged. “I don’t think so. I just feel like you need and want someone in your life. But you’re uptight and defensive around men. It’s like you’re challenging anyone from the opposite sex to show any interest in you.”
The room was starting to wobble. I waved my hand at him. “That’s the most ridiculous thing anyone has ever said to me. Man or woman. I can assure you I don’t need a man.”
“You need a man who understands and appreciates you for the woman you are.”
I stared at him, not knowing what to say.
“The problem is, you won’t give a guy a chance.”
Again, I was at a loss for a comeback. Although it was painful, I had to admit that he might be right.
“I don’t think anyone’s had the courage to tell you this before.”
“Maybe,” I agreed, and quickly took it back, waving my hand in his direction. “Wait a minute. Not ‘maybe.’ That was the alcohol speaking. If you ask Jenna, she’ll tell you that I’m probably one of the most fun people you’ll ever meet.”
“Jenna?”
“My best friend. We’ve known each other since our college days.”
Logan grinned, and I couldn’t hold back my own smile.
“So, how about giving me another chance, Marian?”
My index finger made a sweeping move from one arm of the chair, arching up and over to the opposite one. “Okay, with one rule: no more sports bars.”
“Done.”
I sighed, still uncertain we had anything in common. “Do you like sports?”
“Does a bear—”
I cut him off. “I get the picture.”
“You want to attend a game with me?” he asked.
“Okay. But wait. Before I agree, what sport is it?”
“How about a Seahawks game? I have season tickets.”
“The football team?”
“Have you even been to a game?”
I shook my head.
“Ever see a televised game?”
I shook my head again.
“That’s okay, there’s a first time for everything. There’s a home game this Sunday.”
I cupped my mouth with my hand. It was hard to believe that not only had I agreed to have a drink with Logan this evening, but I was about to attend my very first football game.
“Give it a try,” Logan urged. “You might like it.”
I blinked several times, because he suddenly looked like he had two faces. “Okay,” I said. “It sounds like fun.”
Unfortunately, I didn’t know if that was the alcohol speaking or me.
CHAPTER 17
Allie
“Come on inside,” Allie said, using her code to open the door to enter the house. “My mom’s away for the day on some hot date.”
Mackensie followed her in and paused to look around. Allie was proud of her home and watched as her friend scanned the interior. Her mother had a knack for design, and for making things comfortable and inviting. She had a good eye for color, too. The walls were a warm gray with pearl trim.
Allie’s friendship with Mackensie had grown over the last couple weeks. Mackensie had been supportive and gentle with Allie following the embarrassment that had happened the day before, defending her when Allie had been unmercifully teased by her dormmates.
Mackensie nodded approvingly. “I like your house.”
Allie shrugged, pleased that her friend showed appreciation but not wanting Mackensie to know how much it meant to her that she did.
“It’s home, or it used to be.” After her last visit, Allie had her doubts. She moved into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. “You hungry?”
Mackensie was right behind her. “Not really.” Then she quickly changed her mind and asked, “What have you got?”
Allie sadly shook her head. “Not much. Mom used to keep the fridge filled with snacks, fruit, veggies, and cheese—that sort of thing—but it looks empty now. OMG, even the milk has expired,” she said, removing the carton from the shelf before dumping the contents in the sink. She tossed it into the recycling bin under the sink.
“How about popcorn and a movie?” Allie asked.
“Sure.”
They slouched down on the sofa and rested their feet against the edge of the coffee table while they sorted through the available titles. When Allie came across Casablanca, she rolled her eyes.
“My mother has this thing about Paris,” Allie explained. “She and her best friend are planning a trip there next spring.”
“What does Casablanca have to do with Paris?”
“I don’t have a clue.” As far as Allie was concerned, her mother’s obsession with the city was weird. “She’s been taking French classes online to hone her skills, even though she had six years of French, between high school and college.”
Allie let Mackensie make the film choice while she searched the cupboard for microwave popcorn.
This had been the second full day she’d skipped classes. Allie’s mom had convinced her to head back to school. She said the embarrassment would all blow over, but first thing that day on her way out to an early-morning class, one of the girls on her floor had made a snarky comment about seeing Allie half naked. Humiliated, she’d returned to her dorm room and went back to bed, burying her head under a pillow.
Mackensie sought her out shortly after getting a text from Allie, and the two decided to escape for the rest of the day. Allie wanted to get as far away from campus as possible. She wasn’t sure how they’d decided to come to the house. Knowing that her mother was likely to be gone for the day made it feel like a good choice.
“My mother’s changed since I left for college,” Allie said, frowning as she took down two bowls from the new dishes her mother had recently purchased.
Mackensie twisted around so she could look over her shoulder. “Changed? How?”
It sounded silly to say it out loud. “She bought new dishes.”
“So?”
“Four place settings,” Allie said with a sigh. “That’s one day’s worth of dishes for her. Two meals if I’m home and only one if both my brother and I are here. It’s like, I don’t know…like minimalistic.”
Mackensie nodded. “I know what you mean. It’s the same with my mother. She told me she couldn’t afford for me to fly home for both Thanksgiving and Christmas and that I had to choose one or the other,” she said. “Mom’s punishing me for leaving California and coming to school in Seattle.”
“You can have Thanksgiving with us,” Allie offered. In fact, she’d like it if Mackensie joined them. They could go Black Friday shopping together and spend their school break together.
“Wait, sorry,” Allie amended sarcastically. “I don’t know if we’ll have enough dishes if you eat dinner with us.”
“Don’t worry about it, I’ll be fine.”
Allie immediately felt bad. “That was a joke. We always go to my grandma’s house for Thanksgiving and she has this beautiful china
set my grandfather got when he was in Japan while in the Army. There’s always plenty of room for guests.”
“I thought you said your grandmother broke her hip.”
“She did, but that won’t keep her out of the kitchen on Thanksgiving. Besides, my mom will be cooking right alongside her. She’ll make sure my grandma doesn’t overdo it.”
“You sure it’ll be okay?” Mackensie asked.
“Of course. I’ll clear it with Mom first, but she won’t mind, and neither will my grandma. The more, the merrier.”
The popcorn had finished popping and Allie removed the bag from the microwave and quickly divided it between the two bowls. Rejoining Mackensie on the sofa, she reached for the remote.
“Adventures in Babysitting?” Allie asked once the movie started. “I loved that movie.”
“Me, too,” Mackensie said, crunching on the popcorn. “It’s an old one…It was filmed before we were even born. I found it on Netflix when I was thirteen and laughed so hard I peed my pants.”
“My mom and I watched it when I had the flu. I think I was in the sixth grade when I saw it the first time, and I loved it.”
For the next hour and a half they were involved in the movie. Once it was over, Allie placed their dirty dishes in the dishwasher. She doubted her mother would even know she’d stopped by. Whoever this doctor was who’d asked her out was someone important. Following his phone call, her mother had walked around with her head in the clouds. It didn’t bother Allie that her mother had a date. Over the years, as Allie was growing up, her mom had gone out with plenty of guys. There was something special about this one. Something different.
“I was thinking,” Mackensie said, tapping her index finger against her lips. “You said your mother has changed since you moved out.”
“She has,” Allie said emphatically, and reinforced it with a nod.
“But so have you!”
It was true, although Allie hadn’t given it much thought. She was an adult now, with voting privileges, living on her own…well, if living in a dorm with other students counted as living on her own. She no longer had to account for her every move—where she was, who was with her, the “be in by midnight” type of restrictions that she had while living at home. These days, Allie went to parties her mother knew nothing about. She’d tried marijuana, made out with Wyatt, and played beer pong and guzzled shots with the guys—things her mother would faint over if she ever found out.
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