Page 24 of Becoming Selfish

He rolls his eyes at me, but lightly laughs. “You’re not just some stranger. Come on, just hang out until the storm passes. It’ll be fine.”

He continues to the living room as I reluctantly follow behind.

Chapter 22

Eli

We came to my parents’ house to get away from everyone back at the hockey house. I didn’t feel like seeing anyone tonight, but as soon as Logan walks into the living room, I seemed to have changed my mind.

She looks great, per usual. Her hair is up in a messy bun on top of her head, and the vibrant red is a bit darker from the rain outside. She’s wearing a plain gray sweatshirt that looks to be two sizes too big on her and a pair of tight black pants. They’re the kind that girls usually wear to do yoga. It’s the first time I’ve seen her wear anything tight, and they show off her toned legs perfectly, not to mention her ass. No matter how shitty of a day I just had, I’m happy to see her.

“EJ, you remember Logan from the party the other night?” Marc asks, walking into the living room with Logan following behind. He takes a seat on the chair across from me.

Do I remember? I haven’t stopped thinking about her.

“Yeah. Hey,” I quickly say.

“Hey,” she quietly responds.

“Oh, wait. You guys have a class together too. I forgot.”

Logan stays standing awkwardly in the entryway of the living room.

“You can sit down.” Marc laughs while pointing to the other end of the couch I’m sitting on. “Do you want anything to drink?” He stands, making his way towards the kitchen.

“Maybe just water,” she meekly responds before taking a seat on the couch.

There’s a good three feet between us, but I already feel better having her near me.

Once Marc is out of earshot, I turn my head slightly to her. “Hi,” I say again, this time with a little more warmth in my voice.

“Hi.” She smiles back at me as her shoulders relax. Her voice is much lower than usual. I can tell she’s trying to be cautious around me. “How are you?” she asks, just as Marc comes back into the room.

He sets a bottle of water in front of her. He then places one in front of me, next to my whiskey glass, that I have yet to decide if I’m going to drink. If I were ever going to use alcohol as a distraction, tonight would be the night.

“I’m fine,” I snap. I want to talk to Logan, but I don’t want Marc to notice how comfortable I am around her already.

The room has fallen silent because of my short response. Marc retakes his seat, all three of us avoiding eye contact with one another. I decide to break the tension since I’m the one who caused it in the first place.

“I don’t know. I don’t know how I’m doing.” I glance up at Logan. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel.”

She nods, seeming to understand me though I’m making no sense.

My gaze shifts over to Marc, but he’s still looking down at the ground, unsure of what to say. Not that I blame him; this is a life event that neither of us has navigated before. When I look back to Logan, her green eyes are full of compassion and understanding, unwavering as she keeps her focus on me. She doesn’t seem to be fazed by the weight of this conversation at all.

“Our parents want me to go back to Indiana to say my final goodbyes to my birth father.” I glance down to the floor quickly. “What do you think I should do?” Looking up, my eyes lock on Logan so that she knows it’s her advice I’m asking for.

Logan pauses, stunned that I would want her input. Her mouth slightly parts as she turns to Marc, and he seems just as surprised that I’m opening up to her this way. He gives her a meaningful glance as they have a quick conversation without using words.

She takes a deep breath, shifting her attention back to me. “I don’t know your situation, but if it were me, and I had the chance to go back in time and say goodbye to my father, I would do it in a heartbeat.”

My mouth gapes open in shock. Her father? I look at Marc, a knowing smile covering his lips. He quietly stands up and leaves the room, giving her and I space to talk alone. He had to have known this about her past. Is that why he asked her to come over? She could’ve easily emailed his assignments to him.

Turning back to Logan, she averts her eyes from mine.

“How did he pass away?” I softly ask her.

“He had a heart attack during my senior year of high school. I was in class when it happened, so I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye.” She finally looks up at me, her strength evident through her eyes.

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