Page 26 of Becoming Selfish

Marc lets out a long, drawn-out yawn. “I’m heading to bed. Logan, you should just crash here. It’s late, and the storm hasn’t gone anywhere yet.”

Looking out the window into the darkness, I see that he’s right. If anything, it’s only gotten worse.

“EJ, will you show her the guest room whenever you guys go to bed?”

“Yeah, for sure.”

Marc begins to head upstairs but stops in his tracks, turning to face us. “So, quick question for you. Are we going to Indiana tomorrow?” He raises a single brow while questioning his brother.

Eli takes a deep breath before responding. “Yeah. I think we should.”

Marc glances at me, shooting me a thankful smile. “Alright, see you guys in the morning.”

Eli grabs the water in front of him, and I realize he has yet to touch the brown liquid next to it. I don’t know if he changed his mind about wanting a drink or forgot that it was sitting there. Either way, he leaves it untouched.

“Do me a favor?” he asks, turning to me. “Please don’t tell anyone about what I just told you. No one knows any of this about me.”

I look him in the eyes with as much sincerity as I can. “I would never share your secrets.”

His brown eyes soften as his lips form into a grateful smile, drawing my eyes right to them. They’re perfectly pink and slightly full. If this were any other moment, and we weren’t talking about his dying father, I might have tried to kiss him. As shocking of an admission as that is for me because I’ve never been one to be forward, something about the way I am around Eli is different. I feel like I can be myself around him.

We continue to chat for the next hour or so about more lighthearted topics. Eli asks me if I enjoyed Spain. I tell him I loved it and want to travel more one day. He’s shocked when he learns that I had never left California until then. He shares all the places he’s been, mostly for hockey, and how I would love some of those cities, regardless of how cold they could get. I tell him I’ve never been in the snow before, and he laughs before reminding me that I’m in for a shock. He continues to tease me by threatening to take away my keys soon because he doesn’t trust a Californian to drive once the first snow falls.

Neither of us make it to a bedroom to sleep. Instead, we fall asleep curled up, with Eli’s feet towards my head, and my feet towards his. He takes up most of the couch with his size, but I don’t mind being sandwiched between his legs and the back of the sofa. He keeps his arm draped over my legs the whole night and uses my shins as a makeshift pillow. I can’t imagine it’s very comfortable for him.

It was innocent, the way we slept, so I doubt that Marc would’ve been bothered if he found us that way. Regardless, when I wake up, I leave before he has a chance to.

Chapter 24

Logan

The boys have been in Indiana for a couple of days. I’ve missed having Marc around, but it’s given me a chance to spend time with Ali. My first impression of her was that she was a wild child with a ton of confidence, and she’s proven me correct. I’ve grown to admire those aspects of her personality in the short time that I’ve known her. Just in the week that we’ve been neighbors, she’s begun to pull me out of my shell, and I’ve enjoyed having a girl friend again. My last female friendship didn’t end so well when I found out she was sleeping with my boyfriend, but Ali seems like the most loyal friend I could ask for.

It’s a little after seven o’clock on Thursday evening when Ali barges through my door for our nightly “study” session. She doesn’t knock before entering, but I’ve learned to appreciate how comfortable she is around me. She always brings her books with her, but we have yet to open one up and study while she’s here.

“What’s up, my friend?” She walks in and places her books on my desk.

“Not much, just finishing up emailing Marc today’s work,” I tell her as I sit cross-legged on my bed and close my laptop.

“How’s he doing?”

“Good, I think. He’s been busy with his family, so we haven’t really talked much. He only reaches out when he has questions about our assignments.”

A knowing smile dances across her lips. “I’m not talking about Marcus. I’m talking about his brother.”

“Um, I don’t know how Eli is doing. I don’t really know him,” I tell her as my cheeks begin to heat.

“Mmm-hmm, okay,” she says with a condescending tone and a devilish grin.

“What?”

Ali takes a deep breath. “Logan, you’re my girl, so I’m going to be honest with you. I know you like Maddison.”

My eyes widen, and my lips part. “I don’t even know him,” I remind her, trying to change her mind.

She laughs. “Yes, you do. I saw the way you were looking at him when I walked into the kitchen at his party, and I saw your reaction to Marcus’ text about Maddison’s father. I don’t blame you, girl. He’s a tall drink of water. A deliciously tall drink of water.” She pinches her fingers and thumb together, kisses them, and tosses it away dramatically like the true Italian that she is.

Her description of him is spot on. “Are you sure you don’t like Eli?”

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