“Not the only one. I’ll probably end up going with my brother.” Allie grabbed the magazine out of Jen’s hand. “But that doesn’t matter. What matters is that Randy likes you.”
“Well, I don’t know about all that.” Jen tried to keep the goofy grin off her face but it broke through. “But he is really cute.”
“He’s a doll. And that whole strong and silent thing he’s got going is kinda hot.” And that quick, Kim was over her pity party.
“We should all go together,” I suggested. Logan was renting a limo and had a room booked at the hotel the dance was at but a group dinner would be fun. I was getting more excited by the minute.
“Really?” Jen was beaming. “You don’t think the guys will mind?”
“I don’t know. Did he mention a limo or anything?”
“No.” She laughed. “He actually didn’t say much. I said okay and then he said cool and walked away.”
Randy was a dork that way. He was lucky he was so cute because he had zero game.
“What am I gonna do?” Allie wasn’t usually a whiner but she was clearly sad.
“Is there anyone you want to go with?” I’d been so caught up in Logan that I hadn’t been keeping track of her love life. I’m embarrassed to admit that I just assumed she didn’t have one.
“Well, there is one person.” She picked at the plush carpet we were all sitting on. When she didn’t elaborate, Kim nudged her knee with her foot.
“Who?” No one ever accused Kim of being patient.
“Bryant. He’s new. He’s in a few classes with me and I’ve seen him hanging out with Adam. I want to ask Adam about him but he’s avoiding my calls.”
I glanced at Kim. She lifted an eyebrow then turned back to Allie. “Whatever happened with you and Adam anyway?”
“I don’t really know. He moved out completely at the beginning of summer and I’ve barely seen him since.” Her eyes welled up with tears. “When I see him at school, he turns and walks the other way. I don’t know what I did.”
I leaned forward and grabbed both of her hands. “I know he misses you. I think he’s just going through some stuff. I’ll try to ask him about Bryant.”
I didn’t know if Bryant was gay or just Adam’s friend but I couldn’t wait to talk to him about it.
Austin came through the next morning. When Kim and I arrived at her locker door, it was covered in pink roses. She squealed and pulled the card out from the center of the bouquet.
The card was the invitation to the winter formal that she’d been waiting for. When she turned around to show me, Austin was beside her. She smacked his chest and said, “It’s about damn time.”
“Some things are worth waiting for.” He lifted her and pressed her up against the locker next to hers. That was my cue to leave.
Logan appeared beside me and walked me to my first class.
“So, since Kim and Jen are both going with your friends, can we all go together?” Even though it was already decided by the girls, I wanted to make sure Logan was okay with the new plan.
“Are you afraid to be alone with me in a limo?” He wrapped his arm around my waist and let his fingers sneak under the hem of my sweater. His touch tickled my side and I curled closer into him.
Laughing, I swatted his hand away. “No. I just thought it’d be fun for us to go as a group. Besides, between Randy and Jen, they won’t say two words to each other if we aren’t there to help them along.”
Logan nuzzled into my neck then nipped my ear lobe, causing a shiver to travel down my spine. “Fine with me. As long as I get you alone at the end of the night.”
I swayed as his hot breath caressed the side of my face. I couldn’t respond. I murmured something unintelligible and let him lead me the rest of the way to class.
By the time second period rolled around, I was anxious to see Adam. I couldn’t wait to get the scoop on his new friend. Not only to satisfy my own curiosity but to get some intel for Allie.
Adam looked half asleep at his desk when I entered the room. “Good morning.” I practically skipped to my seat and settled in next to him.
“Mornin’, sunshine.” Adam straightened up from his slouched position. “You’re in a good mood.”
“Yup. Wanna know why?”
“Of course.” He twisted so he was facing me.
“I heard you have a hot new friend.” I finally faced him with my brow arched as I waited for him to explain.
The corners of his lips twitched as he tried to hold back a smile. “Trouble in paradise already? You looking to trade up?”
“Ha ha.” I smirked and rolled my eyes. “I want deets. Is he just a friend? More? Straight?” I whispered the last word so no one would overhear.
“Just a friend, for the most part.” Adam finally gave me his toothy smile. “But Bryant’s even more worried about keeping it quiet than I am so you have to swear you won’t tell anyone.” It was the first time I’d seen him really serious.
“I swear.” I put my hand over his. Then I remembered the other reason for my interest. “But, there is a bit of a situation.”
“What?”
“Allie likes him. I guess they have some classes together. We were talking about the winter formal and she mentioned his name.”
Adam tossed his head back and let it hang there for a few seconds. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
“Has he talked about going or are you guys going together?”
Adam barked out a laugh. “Definitely not. I don’t think either of us would even consider that but...” He looked forward for a minute, deep in thought. “That could work out. It’s a little weird to set up my sister with a guy I like but at least I know he won’t try anything with her.”
“I don’t know.” I shook my head, worried about what that might do to Allie’s ego. “Unless we tell her why he’s not interested, it’s not fair to let her think that there’s something wrong with her.”
“Let me talk to him and see what he thinks.” He rested his chin on his hand and looked back at me. “Then, I’ll tell her the truth. I can’t avoid her forever and I actually miss her being a pain in my ass.”
Three nights before the winter formal, Logan took me to his house after work. The dance was on the Saturday before Thanksgiving and we had tests on Thursday and Friday before our week off.
“So are you ready for your oral in French?” Logan was fluent in French and an excellent tutor. At first I was self-conscious about speaking in front of him but he was patient and encouraging. I learned more in the few weeks of studying with him than I had in three years of classes. Maybe I just studied his mouth more intently than I had with any of my previous teachers.
“As ready as I’m gonna be.” Logan had his sketch pad out and was drawing while I finished reviewing my flashcards for the tenth time. “What are you drawing over there?”
“You.” He glanced up at me then made a few more lines with his pencil. “Wanna see?”
“Really?” Other than my wall, he still kept his art hidden. I’d been tempted to peek at his book a few times when he wasn’t looking but I figured he’d let me see it when he was ready to share. I certainly wasn’t one to push when a person wanted privacy. “Of course I want to see it but I was just teasing. You don’t have to show me if you don’t want to.”
Logan leaned back in the chair and looked at his paper then back at me before handing it across the table.
I was nervous to finally check it out. If it wasn’t very good, I’d feel obligated to lie and tell him it was. I took in a deep breath and held it while slowly looking down at the page. The air rushed out of my chest and I got goose bumps. It was a perfect silhouette of me in front of my wall. He obviously drew most of it from memory but the lines of my hair and face were almost photographic. The gray shading made me look a little bit older but it was stunning.
“Wow, Logan. This is amazing.” I studied it for a few moments then tilted the page to look at the drawing before it. “May I?”
He seemed unsure but
then nodded his head.
I turned the page and saw another portrait of me on the bleachers during P.E. I was wearing an Anderson shirt and laughing at something in the distance. “When did you do this?”
“A few days ago. I had to drop something off with Mr. Buck and I saw you and Kim on the bleachers. You looked so happy that I snapped a picture and then decided to draw it. You’re so gorgeous when you laugh.”
I smiled and kicked his foot under the table. “Stalker.”
“Sometimes.”
I glanced at my watch. “Are you hungry?”
“Starved. Want to go out?” He started gathering up his books and stacking mine into my bag.
“It’s up to you. We can probably make something here.” I hated making him spend money on me, especially for food, but I was past arguing about it.
“How about we compromise and order delivery?”
“Chinese?” I had gotten addicted to a little family restaurant at the bottom of the hill.
“Vegetable Lo Mein and Orange Chicken?”
“Perfect.”
He called in our order and we went to the family room to wait for it.
“I got you something for Saturday.” He pulled a small box off the end table behind me. I didn’t even notice it when we sat down but once I saw it, I couldn’t take my eyes off it.
“You did?” I knew by the small blue box what it was. I didn’t own anything from Tiffany but I’d seen the boxes in Kim’s room often enough to recognize it immediately.
“I would have waited to give it to you then but since we won’t be alone, I thought now was better.”
I slowly lifted the lid and held my breath as I took in the contents. It was a sterling silver band that had the words I love you repeated around the face of the narrow ring. I gently lifted it from its cottony nest.
I turned it around and read the words over and over. Logan’s fingers covered mine and he held them in place. I lifted my eyes to his and saw the pure adoration he held there.
“Liz,” he pulled my right hand to his cheek and pressed my left palm against his heart, “I’ve never met anyone like you before.”
“Logan—”
“Shh. I need to say this.”
I held my breath while he gathered his thoughts.
“I’ve known since the first day I met you that you were someone special. What I didn’t realize then was that I could love you as much as I do.”
I choked back a sob as he moved my left hand to his lips and kissed the base of my ring finger. “I’d like you to wear this as a promise from me to you that I’ll do anything for you.”
The tears were streaming down my face despite the grin on my face. I nodded. With those three words, Logan made my whole world drop away. Only he existed. My heart existed only for him.
Logan slid the precious metal onto my left ring finger and we both stared at it for a moment.
“What does this mean?” It felt like an engagement ring and the thought caused my breath to catch.
“Just what I said. I love you and I promise to be there for you. Only for you.” His lips brushed against mine, softly pressing against me until his teeth pulled my lower lip out and sucked it into his mouth. He released it and pulled back to look me in the eye. “No matter what. I’ll always be there for you.”
“I love you too, Logan.” I’d known it for a while but it wasn’t until he said the words that I was able to admit them out loud too.
There were still so many reasons why it was dangerous for him and I to stay together. I was beyond worrying about myself but Logan was at risk every day he was with me. It was selfish to let him love me but hearing it and seeing that feeling reflected in his eyes made all rational thoughts disappear.
The only thing I cared about was making Logan Cooper happy for as long as I could. He made me happier in the few months I’d known him than I’d ever been. And more than being happy, he made me feel safe. I couldn’t even remember the last time I felt safe before Logan came along.
Logan’s low growl was like a command that woke every nerve in my body. I was anxious and desperate for his touch. He gently pushed me back so I lay on the sofa. With his knee between my thighs and his foot planted on the ground, Logan brought his lips to mine.
Within seconds, his soft kiss was devouring my mouth. His tongue poked and danced with mine, gliding along my teeth then sucking my tongue as his hands trailed up my sides and under my shirt.
I was hyper sensitive to his touch so when his left hand changed course, dragging his fingertips down my belly and under the waistband of my leggings, I couldn’t stop the whimper that escaped my throat. I wanted Logan to have all of me and I wanted all of him.
His fingers passed over the top of my panties and gently pushed down, sending pulses of heat to my core. I’d never experienced those sensations before and I wanted more. I arched my back and pushed into his hand, giving him the signal he was waiting for. His teeth nipped across my jaw until he was at my ear.
“Is this okay?” He was breathing heavily and I could feel his heartbeat pounding just as quickly as mine.
“Yes.” My brain wasn’t functioning with all the endorphins flooding my system. I just wanted more.
Logan pressed his fingers against my center and held the pressure there. He looked me in the eye. “Say it, Liz.”
“I want you, Logan.” I panted and squirmed under him, not sure how to get the relief that seemed so close but so far away.
“You’ve got me, love.” His hot mouth found mine again as his fingers brushed past the thin cotton barrier and slid into my moisture.
His fingers moved into me, a previously unexplored area. I was shaking, melting. The combination of his lips and his touch left me feeling so high I was dizzy. Everything about Logan was sexy. I couldn’t decide what I loved more. His tongue separated my lips as he kissed me, but my lips were immobile as I fought for breath, unable to control the amazing feelings circulating through me. Was it always like this or was Logan just exceptional? Maybe neither. Maybe I was just madly in love with him.
I bucked hard into his hand at the connection. I didn’t know exactly what he was doing but he seemed to have the situation under control so I just closed my eyes and let him fill me with bliss. After a few minutes of amazing torture, my body started trembling. My instinct was to pull back because it was so intense. The pleasure was indescribable. I knew I was having an orgasm but I was still a little shocked. Almost afraid.
I whimpered and curled away from Logan but he didn’t let up. “Just let go, love. Just feel it. Feel me.”
It was better than I could have ever imagined.
Once my body recovered, I opened my eyes and looked down at Logan. He had a satisfied smirk on his face. I knew the flush covering my body was mostly from what had just occurred but my shy side also kept it there a bit longer. I wanted to be embarrassed but it was too late for that. And, I didn’t think that was the reaction he wanted anyway.
“Wow,” I whispered. “Is it always like that?”
He unleashed his full grin, dimples and all. “With me it always will be.”
12
Allie and Adam finally had the heart to heart they both needed. When he explained that he and Bryant were kinda together, Allie was actually happy for her brother. She had suspected Adam was gay for a while but she needed to hear it from him. She needed to know he trusted her to keep his secret until he was ready to share it with others. He gave her permission to tell us and I didn’t let on that I already knew.
Bryant was worried about people finding out about him but after spending some time with Allie, he realized she could be trusted.
Adam said it was okay to share, so once Allie told us everything, she was back to her old self, bragging about her big brother and excited to see him happy. They agreed that Bryant would take Allie to the dance and Adam would come with us—solo.
Randy and Austin scoffed at having a ninth wheel along for the night but they were all friends so it wasn
’t a big deal. Logan never questioned it, which made me think he suspected more than he let on.
Regardless, we were all going together and it was looking to be one of the most memorable nights of my life.
I stood in front of a full length mirror and didn’t recognize myself. Mrs. Curtner brought in two hair stylists and two makeup artists to get the four of us ready. We were set up in the master suite for over three hours while we took turns at each station.
I settled on a red strapless gown with tightly draped satin that ran to my knees in the front and to the floor in the back. I loved it. I had planned on wearing a simple black dress but Kim and I went shopping together and when I tried on that red dress, she insisted that her mom buy it for me. I hated to accept such an expensive gift but it was so beautiful that I reluctantly agreed.
With my hair artfully arranged on top of my head, I actually felt beautiful for the first time in my life. There was a pound of makeup and hairspray helping me feel that way but it was a moment I’d never forget. I finally felt like I might be good enough for Logan.
Kim walked up beside me and put her arm on my shoulder. “You are gorgeous.”
“Thanks.” In a short black dress, she looked as beautiful as ever. Her long legs were tan and silky even though she wasn’t wearing nylons. She was perfect. I gave her a squeeze back. “You look amazing. Austin is gonna love that dress.”
She smiled. “Thanks. We’ll see.”
“How’s everyone doing? Do the girls need help?”
“Allie’s just finishing her hair and Jen is panicking about tonight but other than that, I think we’re all ready.”
“What’s Jen worried about?” Jen was our resident worrywart. She was too smart for her own good and her mind was always running through worst case scenarios. Once, when we were trick or treating in fifth grade, she spent the entire night obsessing about the route we should take to get the most candy in the least amount of time. Then, she spent the next week reading about the ways to poison candy and she didn’t eat any of it. She was gonna be gray before college if she didn’t lighten up. Randy was actually the perfect guy to help her unwind. I hoped it worked out between them.
The Outside Series - Complete Trilogy: Books 1-3 Page 11
