Page 62 of The Write Off

“I don’t think that’s necess–”

“‘His talons dug into the flesh of her milky-white breasts. His lust-filled screech, tortured and raw, filled the night air and her loins vibrated with need. She gave herself over to him, fearing nothing except her own unbridled desire.’”

“I’ll show you unbridled desire.” He starts in my direction looking ready to pounce. I try to outrun him, but I only make it a few steps before he scoops me up on his shoulder and carries me down the hall.

“How come you never screech lustily for me, Logan?” I feel his frame shake beneath me. We’re both laughing so hard that I’m afraid he might drop me. “A girl…needs to feel…special…sometimes.” I’m wheezing for breath, unable to stop laughing long enough to fill my lungs with the air they want so desperately.

Logan drops me on the bed and collapses on top of me. He rests his head on my chest, struggling just as much as I am. Making Logan laugh, really laugh, makes me downright euphoric.

“You’re a lunatic,” he says as he props himself up on one forearm and wipes his leaking eyes with his other hand. “I’m in love with a lunatic.”

We both freeze. Everything seems to be moving in slow motion and for a moment I wonder if time itself has stopped. I tell myself it was an offhand remark. A heat-of-the-moment declaration that he’s going to take back. I wait for him to backtrack. To make a joke or tell me he didn’t mean to say the words he just said.

He doesn’t.

“I hadn’t planned to tell you that while the topic of discussion was dinosaur pornography, but here we are. I love you, Rilla. I hope that doesn’t freak you out.”

“No, I…um…” My brain is screaming at my mouth to form words, but there is a breakdown somewhere in the signal transmission. “I just–”

His mouth lowers to mine in a soft, comforting kiss. His lips pull away too soon, but he rests his forehead against mine. “You don’t need to say it back. This is not a transactional proclamation of love. I’ve been feeling this way for a while and I’m glad you know. Okay?”

“Okay.” I nod, wanting to say so much more.

Just then, a buzzing starts that feels like it’s coming from Logan’s back pocket.

Raising one dark eyebrow, he says, “My loins appear to be vibrating with need.”

I snort loudly, smacking his chest as he grins down at me. I can tell he loves making me laugh, too. He rolls off me, pulling the phone out and answering it as I continue to giggle on the bed.

“Hi Shannon, what’s…oh shit…”

I sit up, worried by his change in tone. Are the kids okay? I can’t read anything but concern on his face as he listens to the phone against his ear.

“Of course. I’m home. You can drop them off with their overnight bags and grab them in the morning.” Another pause. “No problem. I’ll see you soon.” He ends the call and turns to me. “There’s been a bad accident on the freeway. A transport truck collided with a tourist bus. Massive injuries are being reported. They’re calling in everyone at the hospital Shannon works at, so she’s dropping off the kids. They’ll be here in twenty minutes.”

“That’s horrible. The accident,” I clarify. “Not that your niece and nephew are on their way here.”

He runs a hand through his thick hair looking nervous suddenly. “Do you want to stay? I know they’d both like to meet you. But I realize this isn’t the day you anticipated and I understand if you aren’t ready. I have to wait for them, but if you want to go you can take my car.”

So many big steps in one day. Whether I’m ready or not to meet the small humans who take up such a big place in Logan’s heart, I’m not about to walk out on him after he said what he said.

“Of course I’ll stay.” I raise my hand to the hint of stubble on his cheek and he leans into my touch. “But just so we’re clear, I’m not taking it easy on them in Mario Kart. They’re going down.”

He kisses the inside of my palm, looking grateful. “I would expect nothing less.”

Chapter 31

Logan

“He’s really hard to kill. I can fight him for you, if you want.”

Rilla gives Travis the side-eye before replying “Young man, I have been defeating Bowser’s minions since long before you were born. I have cleared the levels, destroyed the castles, and saved the princess. Believe me: I’ve got this.”

She proceeds to beat the Koopaling in less than a minute without letting him land any hits on her Luigi. She leans back on the couch looking rather smug with herself as she hands the controller to a begrudgingly impressed Travis.

When she spots me watching them from the kitchen doorway she stands and makes her way towards me, her small, blonde shadow following closely behind her.

“Lunch smells good. Can I help with anything?”

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