Page 75 of Love Me Fierce

I should dial this protectiveness back, but I’m hard wired to feel this way about the people in my life. A flaw that’s proved disastrous in the past, so why am I not listening to the warning signs now?

I lean back against the counter and tap my clenched fist on the edge of the sink. “Sounds like a tough question to answer.”

She releases a sigh. “I’ll figure it out.”

I nod, even though she can’t see me, because I have no doubt she will. She’s choosing to be positive despite her challenging circumstances. It’s a testament to her resilience, and though she’d probably scoff if I said it out loud, I admire her for it.

“Is that offer of yours still on? To help at the trailer?” she asks.

I blink at the view outside my window. She’s just openly asked for my help—a first. “Just—” I release a soft breath “—tell me when, and I’ll be there.”

“Is tomorrow okay? After I get off work. Your mom said she would watch Matty for me.”

“I can be there after my shift.” Maybe Logan could hang with my parents too, so I could give Vivian my full focus. Plus, Logan would not be overjoyed to tag along if it involves cleaning.

I ladle a pancake onto the hot griddle. “You and Matty want to come to dinner at our place tonight?”

“That sounds fun,” she says, sounding surprised, but pleased. “You sure Logan won’t mind?”

“I’ll double check, but I don’t see why he’d object.” I flip the pancake, the scent of melting chocolate and cinnamon crowding my senses. It makes me once again wish she were here right now, so I could share it with her.

“Okay.”

“I’ll send you my address. It’s near the middle school. I’m at the end of a cul-de-sac, with the basketball hoop over the garage.”

We settle on a time and say goodbye.

Loganand I grind through geometry, a history worksheet on the Spartan wars that is so dry and forgettable it’s a wonder either of us stays awake, and finish a book report for English, then take a break in the backyard with a game of catch. It blows me away how Logan seems to get stronger all the time, growing into his lanky frame before my eyes. His voice has started cracking and this summer we had to have the how-to-take-care-of-things talk. He was so embarrassed he couldn’t look at me.

Do girls have that happen to them?he asked.

Yep. It’s just not as, um, obvious.

He cringed.

“Would it be okay if miss Vivian and Mateo come for dinner tonight?”

He fires off a pass. “Sure.”

“Maybe you could play with Mateo for a bit?” I throw the football back, making him jump a little to grab it, but he’s so light on his feet, it’s like he levitated.

“He’s pretty cute for a rugrat,” Logan says before firing back another pass, this one with some meat in it, making my palms sting.

“It wasn’t so long ago you were a rugrat.”

“He’s wicked smart. Knows like a million facts.”

I throw the football back. “He show you his tape measure?”

My throw goes wide but in a lightning-fast sprint, he snags it. “Yeah,” Logan replies, arching his arm back to fire off another pass. I take this one in the gut. I lob it back and he snatches it with ease.

“Are you into her?” Logan says, his eyes turning thoughtful as he flips the football in his hands. “Greta’s shipped you guys.”

I peer at him. Is this new terminology Greta’s influence? “Uh, is that a good thing?”

He laughs. “Not good or bad. It means you belong together.”

Is that so?Kind of a mindfuck considering my wildly swinging thoughts.Though I certainly like kissing her. Touching her. Making her smile.

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