Page 78 of What It Means To Be Found

He was nervous, so when I looked back at his face again, I took another tentative step towards him before forcing my other foot to follow.

As I approached Logan in the slowest walk imaginable, I could see his chest rise and fall with anticipation. His dark eyes were locked on me, and part of my pulse fluttered with the knowledge that I was able to hold his attention so thoroughly.

A few steps away, I signed to him, I want you.

I was pretty sure Courtney gasped, and I thought it was Taylor who sucked in a shocked breath. Logan’s chest deflated heavily at my words, visible relief coating his expression as the corners of his mouth twitched upwards before he signed back to me.

Then take me.

I smiled brightly before I practically jogged the last couple steps towards him, his arms now open and preparing for my impact. My hands went to his shoulders, and I felt his large hands secure themselves on my waist. I then slid my fingers up his neck and into his hair, just how he liked, and pulled his head down to mine.

I heard Josh squeal in excitement a second before Logan’s lips descended onto mine.

I sighed my relief into his mouth, and the feel of his hand coming up to cradle my head so that he could slant his mouth over mine and immediately deepen the kiss made my heart race and my muscles relax at the same time.

“Finally,” I heard Beck grumble.

I giggled at her exasperation, making Logan smile against my mouth before pressing his lips to mine again and pulling back.

He looked happy. So happy.

I was positive I had the goofiest grin on my face as well.

“Is this okay?” I asked, massaging my fingers against his scalp as I asked.

Logan nodded his head once before lowering his mouth to mine again. Our lips barely touched before gagging noises were made and we separated to see who was mocking us.

“I love this so much,” Courtney smiled as she snapped her fingers at us with impatience, “But I think I know how disturbing it is to watch your siblings kiss someone now.” She made a playful grimace before I rolled my eyes at her.

“Get used to it,” I told Courtney, lowering my hands from Logan’s hair and wrapping my arms around his wide torso. I pressed my cheek against his chest, relaxing into this new normal for us, “I found him. I’m keeping him.”

Logan’s arms squeezing me against him in response made me hum with delight.

Josh stepped forward to hold his fist out to Logan, who wordlessly bumped it with his own knuckles.

That was it.

Because, men.

Taylor wiggled their eyebrows at Logan and me, before turning back towards the townhome casually. As if two members of the friend group didn’t just become an item in front of everyone moments ago.

Which really just made me feel silly for building all of this up in my head.

The group adjusted so that Logan and I could sit together on the couch. Taylor sat in one of the ugly accent chairs Susan loved. Josh and Courtney shared the second, with Courtney comfortably on Josh’s thighs. Beck sat on Adam’s lap on one end of the couch, while Logan and I took the other. Part of me wondered if I should have felt weird that I was sitting right next to my ex-boyfriend and, well, current boyfriend. But I didn’t feel weird. And based on everyone else’s body language, no one else thought it was weird.

Therefore, it wasn’t weird.

And I realized as we all chatted and joked around and talked about our hike that day, while I snuggled against Logan’s side with his large arm casually resting behind my shoulders, that it really was that simple.

As it should be.

22

LOGAN

Even though the sight of Eloise marching down the driveway with an expression that was somehow both determined and nervous, hyping herself up to stake her claim on me, filled me with an overwhelming amount of happiness, this was the highlight of my day. After we had dinner and watched a movie, Taylor left, making a comment about it feeling too coupley. Adam and Beck left after her grandmother had gone to bed. Eloise had disappeared upstairs to take a quick shower, before rushing back downstairs and gently grabbing my hand in hers, leading me up the stairs of the townhome while Courtney and Josh were whispering to each other on the couch, ignoring us sneaking off.

Eloise wrapped both of her hands around my neck as soon as her bedroom door closed, pulling me down to her level so that I could kiss her deeply. Whatever chapstick or lip gloss she wore tasted fruity and delicious, but I found myself desperate to absorb every hint of flavor that kept me from tasting her naturally full lips. The little sigh of relief she made as soon as my tongue brushed against hers made all the blood in my body rush south.

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