“Never had someone worth taking,” he confessed.
I shot him a coy smile from the doorway of the dressing room while holding the dress up with one arm under my bust. “Well don’t I feel special.”
“You should.” He shot me his killer crooked grin before I shut the door.
“So how is this going to work next weekend? Do I meet you there?” I asked, trying to shift the conversation before I got too uncomfortable.
“I’ll pick you up. My parents will meet us there.”
“Wouldn’t it be easier if we went together?”
“Ari, just go with me here. I am going to be a gentleman and escort you to the ball without my parents as chaperones.” I could hear the frustration building in his voice.
“Fine,” I scoffed as I shimmied back into my freshly laundered maxi dress.
“Thank you.” As I exited the room, Logan wrapped me in his arms before taking the gown. “I took the liberty of asking the attendant to find shoes and a handbag that match the dress, and they should be waiting for us at the counter.”
“You have thought of everything.” I smiled up at him as he beamed down at me.
“I do what I can.”
Chapter 7
Mr. Touchy Feely
Ari
FaceTiming my sister in Rome, I feverishly fought with my eyeshadow while she observed.
“You need to add more blush high on your cheekbones,” she ordered.
“Why can’t you just be here to do this for me? You got all the girl genes in the family.” I threw the brush down onto the counter in a fit.
“You are gorgeous and your eyebrows look amazing.” Leave it to Josie to comment on the one attribute on my face I was actually decent at doing.
“What about the eyeshadow? Too much? Not enough?” I closed my eyes and awkwardly panned from side to side in front of the screen.
“I think it’s impeccable. With the gold in the dress, the subtle smoky eye will be glorious.”
“What time is it there?” I asked as Josie yawned.
“Only ten. We toured the catacombs and the Colosseum today—lots of walking.”
“I’m sorry to be keeping you up.”
She waved me off. “Roger is already passed out, and I love being able to help from so far away. What time is Logan picking you up?”
“In a couple of hours. I wanted to give myself ample time to fuck up and reapply as necessary.”
“Good thinking. I think your makeup is done, though. What’re you going to do with your hair?”
“I was thinking of doing loose curls.”
Josie pursed her lips and shook her head.
“What?” I exclaimed as she started giggling.
“You need your hair up for that detailed of a neckline.”
“So, hair guru, what do you suggest I do?”
“Fashion pony!” she exclaimed while bouncing a little.
“I don’t even know what the hell that is.”
“I have a great YouTube video to send you. You’re going to need claw clips, rubber bands, and bobby pins.”
“I have hair ties.” I dug for them in my vanity drawer then pulled them out to show her.
“Watch the video and run to the drug store. You have plenty of time and it’ll look amazing. I have faith in you.”
“I’m glad one of us does.”
“You’re going to be fine. If all else fails, do the curls, but a fashion pony is absolutely the way to go with this one.”
“I’m trusting you here.” I pointed at the camera.
“Have I ever steered you wrong?”
“I looked like an eggplant at your wedding.”
“An adorable eggplant.” She blew me a kiss before saying her goodbyes.
* * *
I had to watch the video six times to actually understand what the fashionista was getting at as she clipped, teased, and wrapped hair every which way. After going to the store twice and spending far more time on a ponytail than any woman ever should, my sprayed hair was held in place with what felt like a gallon of hairspray, and I only had minutes to spare.
Just as I was getting the dress off the hanger, my phone vibrated on my nightstand.
Logan: Need me to come up and zip that dress?
Me: I like your intuition.
Logan: Be there in 5.
I unlocked the door, leaving it ajar for Logan to just come in while I stood in the middle of my living room in my elegant gown.
Tapping at he opened the door, he slowly entered my small condo.
“Wow,” he said breathlessly while standing in the doorway.
“Good, huh?” I smirked at him as he took a couple of steps in.
He ran his hand over his face. “I don’t have words for it, but I know good isn’t a big enough word to do it justice.”
“Thank you. You don’t look too shabby yourself.” Logan was captivating in his tux, topping it off with a tidily trimmed beard and freshly cut hair.
“These things always make me feel so James Bond debonair.”
“It is very 007 of you.”
After zipping my dress up, Logan helped me get into the excessively tall heels the shop attendant had picked out for me.
“You might be carrying me by the end of the night.”
“Now I know what all that lifting weights was for over the years. Ready?”
Grabbing my new black purse off of the dining room table, I double-checked to make sure I’d remembered everything. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Your chariot awaits, milady.”
Logan held out his arm for me to take as we descended the three flights of stairs to the parking lot.
“I really need to talk to someone about installing an elevator at this place,” I complained, gingerly taking each step one at a time.
Logan hooked his arm around my waist, effortlessly whipping me into the air. “Can’t risk my date breaking her ankle before we even get to the gala.”
I giggled as he transported me down the last two flights with ease. “I think I’m going to keep you around just for the sheer convenience of never having to worry about pesky staircases ever again.”
“At least I’m good for something,” he teased, setting me down next to a white stretch limo as the driver—who himself wore a tux that included gloves—opened the door for us.
Climbing in, I noticed the chilled bottle of champagne right away.
“I could get used to this.”
Logan uncorked the bottle, filling two plastic flutes with bubbly. “There is always a silver lining to these events. Cheers, beautiful.”
Logan
Walking into the ballroom with Ari on my arm was simply perfect.
Leaning down, I whispered, “Have I told you how stunning you are tonight?”
The slightest hint of a smile slid across her face. “I think it was implied earlier, but it’s always nice to hear.”
When we were only a few steps inside, my parents rushed over to us.
“Logan, you made it,” my mom exclaimed before hugging me.
“We left the house at the same time,” I teased before turning to Ari. “Mom, Dad, I would like for you to meet my friend Ari. Ari, this is Lynnie and Maxwell.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Turner, it is a pleasure to meet you.” Ari gracefully shook each of their hands.
“Oh, dear, please call us by our first names. Don’t let the attire fool you—we’re not formal. We’re here for the free booze and to support our son.” My mom was the perfect mix of elegance and college girl—she could clean up well and do shots with the best of them.
“What is this charity for?” Ari asked as she looked around the elegantly decorated space.
“The mission of Welcome Home Angel is to bring joy to children with significant health or life-altering conditions and relief to their families by creating happier and more functional living spaces,” I responded quickly.
Ari tilted her head as she narrowed her eyes at me. “Did you memorize
that?”
“Logan helped found the organization while he was still in school. He’s quite the philanthropist.” Leave it to Mom to jump in and brag about me.
“Color me impressed.” Ari beamed up at me as I took her hand.
“I guess it’s time for us to find our table.” I led the way up to the front of the room to the first table where the other founders were all gathering around.
I helped Ari into her seat before shaking hands and exchanging mindless pleasantries with people as they approached.
As I scooted my chair in, Ari leaned over. “You could have warned me that you were such a bigwig at this thing.”
“And miss out on that shocked look on your face? Never.” I gave her a quick wink as my cofounder, Regina Huggins, took the stage.
“It is with great please that I welcome all of you here this evening. Years ago, I was approached by an impressive college kid with a grand idea he had come up with while taking a business class at Yale. With absolutely no experience and hardly any funding, his determination and eagerness to help children in need was the driving force behind kicking this foundation into gear. It is my honor to present to you, Logan Turner. You might know him simply from his success on the football field, but even before he was drafted into the NFL, he was our MVP.”
Ari’s jaw dropped as I smoothed out my lapels while getting up to make my obligatory speech. Awkwardly, I thanked Regina with a quick hug before addressing the crowd.
“Regina makes me sound so much more noble than I am. Frankly, I saw a need that was not being met in my home state and did my best to rectify the situation. Without the help of Regina, the rest of the angels, and the countless volunteers and builders we work with on a daily basis, this dream would have never become reality. I am humbled to say that countless children and their families alike have safer, more functional, more practical, and—let’s face it—more comfortable homes because of all the work this astonishing foundation does tirelessly. But, all of that comes at a price, and that is where all of you come in. Without your extraordinarily generous donations, children like Milly and Diego wouldn’t have what they need to feel content and succeed at home. I thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart. Please enjoy the food and drinks. Don’t forget to tip your bartenders and waitstaff, if you feel so inclined. They have all donated their time tonight to ensure that every penny possible goes right into the coffers and continues to help this organization thrive. Thank you, again.”
Ari snickered at me as I rejoined the table. “Just when I thought I had you figured out, Turner, you go and pull a stunt like this.”
“I’ll always try to keep you on your toes. Gotta keep life interesting somehow.”
The evening went on in mildly boring succession: dinner, drinks, shaking hands, introducing people, pretending I didn’t forget way too many names.
“I’m going to get another drink. Want anything?” Ari asked under her breath while I greeted a couple of the children who were in attendance.
“I’ll meet you over there.”
I couldn’t help but stare as she sashayed away.
I’m in trouble.
I would have been lying to myself if I didn’t admit that I had already broken the attachment rule before it was even in place, but I was trying to keep my head on straight.
“Mr. Turner, will you sign this for me?” asked a sweet boy named Diego as he held up a football and a Sharpie.
Kneeling down, I smiled at him. I had personally helped build a bed that was easier for him to get in and out of due to a rare condition that affects his ability to walk. “I would be honored.”
His mother was crying with joy, her hand on Diego’s shoulder. “He’s been talking about nothing but this event for over a month. Thank you so much, Mr. Turner.”
“It is truly a pleasure for me to be here with you tonight. I can’t believe how much Diego has grown. Thank you for coming.”
As I hugged the boy’s mom, I had a clear shot of Ari at the bar and saw a man getting a little too friendly with her. I quickly excused myself, rushing over to my girl’s side.
Gripping Ari’s forearm, I sharply pulled her off the stool.
“Logan, what are you doing?” she questioned while yanking her arm away from me.
I leaned down so she was the only person who could hear me. “I need to speak to you—now.”
“I’m sorry, Carter. My friend needs me to help him get the stick out of his ass. Excuse us.”
She stormed over to the side of the ballroom with me only steps behind her.
“Breaking rules, are we?” I snapped.
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“What happened to ‘If we’re together, we’re together’? Did that just slip your mind while Mr. Touchy Feely over there had his hand all over your knee?”
“Mr. Touchy Feely was just being a little too friendly while I was waiting for you to join me after schmoozing your adoring fan. I was about to handle the situation myself. I don’t need you to rescue me, Prince Charming.”
“Do you see a gallant steed or a coat of armor over here? What if someone had seen that display and ran with it?”
“Why are you so concerned about the gossip mill? Do you really have such precious sensibilities that one slipup might tarnish your good name?”
“Actually, yes. I have a reputation to uphold, and I need you to be respectful of that. Why do you think I have never brought someone with me to one of these things before?”
She threw her hands in the air. “I will smile politely as I walk myself out of this place and get my own ride home. You’re out of control, Logan. I’m not dealing with this. I didn’t sign up for a jealous non-boyfriend to flip his shit at the drop of a hat.”
“Please don’t.” I put my hand on her shoulder, but she hastily brushed it away.
“If I don’t leave now, we might end up causing more of a scene than we already have. I bet the gossip columns would have a field day with that.”
I wanted to grab her, take her into my arms, and kiss her like she had never been kissed before. I wanted to force her to stay. I wanted to apologize, but all I did was stand there and watch her run away from me in a huff as the small train of her gown flowed behind her. I was a fool, and I was falling way too hard, way too fast.
Chapter 8
When You’re Wrong, Admit It
Ari
Text after text rolled in from the moment I walked through my front door. Ripping off the dress, making sure to break the annoyingly stubborn zipper, I paced around my living room in my underwear, futilely trying to calm down.
Why is this bothering me so much?
So he jumped in and tried to do the gentlemanly thing by making sure a drunken dirt bag didn’t get too fresh with me at a family charity event—there wasn’t any harm in that. If the situation had been reversed, I probably would have done something similar.
Hindsight is always twenty-twenty.
He was a loose cannon, but so was I, and I was terrible at dating. Case in point: I should have listened to him. I shouldn’t have blustered off, throwing a childish tantrum, but I had. My embarrassment was all-consuming.
Logan: I never meant to make you so upset.
Logan: I overreacted.
Logan: Please let me apologize.
Logan: Ari, please. I didn’t mean to act like a macho gorilla.
Logan: All things truly wicked start from innocence.
Of course he had to throw in a Hemingway quote for good measure. I had to hand it to him—he was good at breaking my walls down quickly.
Just as I was about to text back, Logan started calling.
I answered without a word.
“Ari?”
I sighed. “I’m here.”
“Will you just hear me out?”
“I’m listening,” I answered softly.
“Will you open your door?”
Without even thinking about covering up, I threw my front door open to find L
ogan with a bouquet of roses hugged to his chest.
As I stood with my arms crossed, blocking his entry, Logan bowed his head. “May I come in?”
I dropped my arms and waved him in.
Turning to me, he started to apologize, but I stopped him.
“Logan, I’m the one who needs to be sorry. I acted like a three-year-old.”
He set the flowers down on the oak table in front of him. “And I acted like a possessive imbecile.”
“Is this just us trying to get to know each other?”
Logan drifted closer to me. “I think a learning curve is probably involved. I saw red when I thought you were enjoying that guy hitting on you.”
I closed the distance a little more. “I was completely uncomfortable with him and was just trying to find a friendly way of telling him to fuck off.”
“I still shouldn’t have treated you like that.”
One more step.
“And I shouldn’t have blown up.”
Another.
“We’ll get better at this.” Logan reached out his hand.
I rested mine in his for a second before pulling him to me. “We’re going to have to.”
“So you’re not going to end this?” he asked on an exhalation as his lips brushed delicately over my forehead.
I shook my head. “Only if you want to.”
“That is the last thing I want to do.” I melted into his kiss as he wrapped me in his strong arms.
Pulling away, I looked up into his deep oceans. “What did you tell your parents?”
He chuckled slightly. “They might not even know I left. Within seconds of you leaving, I was in a car heading to the closest florist and then straight here.”
I rested my head on his shoulder. “You should probably give your mom a call so she doesn’t worry.”
“Eh.” Logan sighed. “It’s not the first time I’ve ducked out of a function early. They’ll be fine. Come here.”
Logan led me over to my plush leather couch, taking the pink throw blanket and wrapping it around my shoulders. He tucked me into his side, just holding me.
Offsides: A Standalone Sports Romantic Comedy Page 5
