Page 96 of Brutal Kingdom

“I wasn’t sneaking. You were lost in thought and didn’t hear me coming.” Logan’s face lights up when he says, “You were thinking about me, weren’t you?”

“No.”

“No? Then I didn’t fuck you hard enough. No worries. I’m free to correct that tonight.”

I feel my cheeks heat when the person walking by turns and gawks at me. “Will you keep your voice down?”

“Why? Because of them? Nobody’s gonna file a harassment suit against me on your behalf.”

“Maybe I’ll file my own.”

“Sounds great. But you don’t have enough material to work with yet, so come by tonight and I’ll help you beef up your complaint.”

“Logan, will you please go? I’m trying to write a paper here.” I whisper yell, since we’reinthe library.

“You remember the last time we were here? That was fun, right?” He smacks his lips and hums.

“What are you trying to do here? What happened at the rift was fun, but not something we should be talking about.”

He finally sits, taking the chair across from me. His middle finger strokes along the back of my hand. “Is that what it was? Just a night at the rift?”

“There’s too much bad blood between us to pretend it was anything else.”

“And what about what I said?”

“I told you that you don’t love me. You can’t.”

“Because you don’t still love me?”

I pull my hand from his. “I think we’ve already established that.”

“If that’s true, then why were you looking for me at The Rift when you could have chosen anyone?” Tilting my chin up, grazing his thumb across my bottom lip, he asks, “And why can’t you look me in the eye when you say it?”

He pulls his hand away, rises from his seat, leaving just as quietly as he appeared.

* * *

I store my pencil between my teeth, turn the page of the book I’m holding with my left hand, and type the quote I’m reading with my right. I’m into the meat of my essay. The part where the words are finally flowing and it’s starting to make sense in my head, but is probably a jumbled mess on paper.

I ignore the first two knocks on my door since I’m not expecting anyone, then finally get up when I realize they’re not going away. Flinging it open, my eyes widen when I see Logan in the hall with a bag of food in his hand. Even without reading the label, I can tell it’s from the Japanese place I love near his studio.

“You stopped two doors too soon. Your place is down there. I know how you could be confused since all the doors look alike.”

“How’s the paper coming?”

“Good.”

Taking in my appearance, he says, “I can see that.”

I look down at myself. Yeah, I’m looking a bit rough. Hair in a disaster bun, yoga pants and a tank top with no bra. I’ve accessorized too. I’m wearing my glasses, and have two pens in my mouth and a highlighter clipped to the collar of my tank. I’m totally stylish. He’s not looking at me in disgust, even though I’m sure I have a peanut butter stain on my pants. His eyes eat me up, like I’m standing here in a whipped cream bikini.

“I don’t wanna lose momentum. What do you want, Logan?”

“To do what I know, you probably haven’t done since yesterday.” He lifts the bag. “I’m here to feed you.”

He’ll stay here until I slam the door in his face or let him in. My growling stomach makes the decision for me. He goes straight to my kitchen when I let him in. “I can do that.”

“Go finish whatever train of thought you were on when I knocked, and by the time you’re done, the food will be warm and waiting.”

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