Page 121 of Brutal Kingdom

“You know how you study and cram for a test and swear there’s not a single question they can throw at you that you won’t know?”

“Mm. Hmm.”

“Yeah, well, he threw about a dozen questions at me that I’m not sure I knew.”

“How many questions were on the test?”

“A hundred.”

I turn, pulling her in for a hug. “You knew the other eighty-eight, so you have nothing to worry about.”

She looks around, eyeing the tub suspiciously. “I saw the food. Some wine, and you’re running me a bubble bath.” She takes my hand, pulling it to her mouth, kissing my knuckles. “You’re trying to soften the blow about something. Get me all relaxed so I don’t fly off the handle. What’s wrong.”

“I wanted to have a nice, quiet evening at home with you.”

I also wanted to wait until after her bath and a glass of wine to broach the subject. But she’s going to make me say it now. “Bella says she heard us at the retreat.”

“What did she hear exactly?”

“You screaming my name, like I’m a sex god.”

“Logan, this isn’t funny.”

I’m trying to control my smile, but it’s hard to do. It’s an ego boost knowing I tore her apart like that. “I know. The point is, she thinks she heard us.”

“Thinks? She’s not sure?”

“Simon said the noise she heard was from him.”

“So I was having sex with Simon and called out your name?”

“Someone was having sex with me and Simon. Or that’s the spin he gave it, and no, the person isn’t you.” Thank god, he hooked up with someone that night and marched them through the kitchen while Bella was standing there.

She buries her face in her hands. “I don’t wanna know the particulars of your past with Simon. Did Bella believe him?”

“He created enough reasonable doubt, but she’s gonna be watching me more closely now, and you.”

“So tonight is a goodbye dinner.”

“It’s an, I love you and I’m always thinking of you, dinner. But yeah, we have to be more careful.” I kiss the top of her head. “And since I don’t know if our mutual neighbor is spying for her or not, we can’t hang out in each other’s apartments any more.”

I shut off the water and help her take off her clothes. “I’ll be so happy when this case is over.” She says, pulling the tie out of her hair.

Staring down at her naked body, knowing it’s gonna be awhile before I see and touch it again, I sigh. “Me too, baby. Me too.”

I join her in the tub, relaxing with a good bottle of wine and music, as I wash her back. When I’m done, she settles against me, and tells me about her sister and how excited she is to watch her game online tomorrow.

I should be with her, cheering her sister on. Yelling at the tv. But tomorrow, things between us will be different. I slip out of the tub, leaving her to soak a little longer while I fix our plates and call Simon. Maybe he’s found something to help speed up this process.

FORTY-SEVEN

JORDANNA

The conference was a week ago. Logan and I are in neutral corners. I know how risky it was for us to be together at the beach house. That’s why after that first night I stayed with my friends.

Mom called me this morning and said a letter came from the court. My case is finally moving forward. There’s a hearing set for the first Monday after the new year.

I’m on my way to another senior planning meeting. We’re finalizing the games and rides we want for the carnival because the deposit is due by the end of next week.

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