Page 53 of When You Left Me Speechless

“Tanner?”

“He’s my best friend.”

“Okay, fine. No one can know except for Lacey and Tanner.”

“Deal, what else?”

“You have to stop doing things for me at school. You have to stop looking at me like you want to fuck me all the time.”

“But I do want to fuck you all the time.” He moves a strand of my hair behind my ear and leans closer.

“Logan, be serious. What do we do if it doesn’t work? What if it all blows up in our faces?”

“Then it doesn’t work. I mean, it’s just sex, right?”

“I was talking about Pecan Grove.”

“No one will find out. It’ll be fine.”

I take another sip of my coffee, thinking about what he said. If no one finds out, then there is nothing to worry about. We can keep this quiet for a few more weeks. “What about my graduate school? I need to study. I can’t keep getting distracted.”

“I’ll follow your lead. If you need to study, then you study. If you need me to help you relieve some stress, I’m your guy.”

I nod. “Okay, but it’s just sex. This is nothing serious. We limit it to my apartment. No dates. Absolutely no more sleepovers. We follow the rules.”

He stares at me for a few minutes. “That’s fine, but I won't share. You don’t see other people, and neither do I.”

“Deal,” I agree.

He leans forward and kisses me hard and quick. “And, whatever you do, don’t fall in love with me,” he warns.

“Not a chance.” He laughs and leans forward, planting another chaste kiss on my lips.

CHAPTER 33: PIMENTO CHEESE SANDWICHES

LOGAN

Ilet myself into the brick townhouse my mom calls home. “Mom?” I call from the door.

“Hey, baby,” she says. “I’m upstairs.”

I head up the stairs toward the spare room she uses as an in-home art studio. She sets down her brush and wipes her hands on the paint-covered apron covering her clothes when she sees me enter.

“Hey, Mom.” I walk over and kiss her on the cheek. “That looks great. Is that the painting from the wedding the other night?” I ask, sitting down in a chair in the corner. Her canvas is of a couple dancing on their wedding night.

She nods. “Sure is, I’m almost done. I painted most of it at the reception, but I wanted to add a few final touches before the bride’s mother picks it up from the studio tomorrow.”

“It’s beautiful. They’ll love it.”

She smiles and studies the painting. She picks her paintbrush back up and starts touching up the details on the bride’s dress. “So when will you settle down so I can paint you one of these?” she laughs.

“Not sure, but I am seeing someone, well, kind of seeing someone. It’s a little complicated, casual, I guess.”

“Complicated? Casual? That doesn’t sound like you.”

“Trust me, I’m definitely out of my comfort zone here, but I think this girl is worth it.”

She eyes me. “Care to explain?”

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