Page 4 of You Were Mine

“Anyone with eyes would think he’s hot,” I reply. “But that’s not it. I really do just want to know where I recognize him from.”

“That’s easy to figure out,” Logan says, something indecipherable and strange in his voice. “Just go online and do a Google search for “hot naked male model”, and you’ll find him, no problemo!”

I roll my eyes and look out the window. The road we’re on stretches between the visual arts building and the campus nature trails, awash with bright reds and golds, and, in a few short months, they’ll be powdered with snow. Although I’ve never been interested in hiking or forests in general, it’s nice to have this small slice of nature so close.

“I suppose I could justask,” I say absentmindedly. “If he’s modeling on campus, he’ll probably be around somewhere.”

“You’d better hope so,” Logan replies. “The odds of you running into him again aren’t great.”

He’s right. Bluehaven isn’t exactly the biggest city in New York, but it’s big enough that the odds against you running into people you’ve met before are great. Hell, even when youplanto meet someone, it’s still easy to get lost with all the people around here; especially downtown. Bar hopping is a nightmare, and the one time I agreed to go with Logan and some of his friends, we ended up losing half of them, and that was before we got to the first bar.

“I’m going to figure out where I know him from,” I say.

“Good luck.”

And really, that’s a fair response. If I’m gonna find this guy again, it’ll strictly be a matter of luck, especially if I’m hoping to speak with him. Usually, if a hot man so much as looks at me, I dissolve into a puddle, and not even a sexy puddle if such a thing exists.

“I’m surprisedyouaren’t more interested in him,” I comment. “It’s been quite a while since you were actually involved with anyone.”

In a real relationship, anyway. Logan and I have had a “friends with benefits” thing going on for quite some time, although I suspect it benefits me more than it benefits him. He’d had loads of sex before he met me and will probably continue to have loads of sex. I’m still learning the ropes because I was a virgin until I met him. Even then, I’d known Logan for two years before we decidedthatwas what our relationship was going to be.

“And, in case you weren’t paying attention, he’snotan unattractive man,” I add.

“I’m aware,” Logan says. “I’m just not interested.”

There’s something odd in his tone again, but I’m not entirely sure what it is.

Chapter Two

Logan

Mark keeps wishing death on me. He doesn’t necessarily say that, but every time I look at him, his blue eyes narrow and he shoots daggers in my direction. The dark bangs falling into his eyes somehow make him even more intimidating; I have to try hard not to laugh.

I’ve never seen him legitimately angry, and Mark has the face of a man who helps little old ladies cross the street, super threatening. I’m really shaking, not.

A massive, tangled ball of orange and purple lights sits in his lap. He’s been working to get the mess untangled for about half an hour, to no avail. Of course, he doesn’thaveto help me at all, but I don’t bother pointing that out. If I do, he’s likely to call my bluff and stop helping.

I haul a box full of different colored pumpkins onto the sofa beside him. “Do you think we should go red and black this year?” I ask. “Or orange and black? Silver maybe?”

“Orange makes my eyeballs bleed,” Mark replies.

“Orange it is!” I declare.

Mark rolls his eyes.

“I think we should get an organ, so I can play scary music all night.”

“So the neighbors can file noise complaints?” Mark asks.

“The monsters,” I reply. “Wouldn’t you want aHalloweentheme blaring into your room?”

“Not if I’m trying to sleep.”

“No one sleeps on Halloween!” I scoff, putting my hand over my heart. “What’s wrong with you, anyway?”

Mark rolls his eyes. “I hate you so much,” he says, trying and failing to untangle the lights.

“Iwanted to just throw them away, but you’re the one who insisted I couldn’t. Just couldn’t throw them away. It’s wasteful. It’s bad for the environment,“ I say. “Hashtag: Think of the sea turtles!”

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