Page 82 of Sunshine

“Wait. What?” I had assumed they occasionally dated another person.

“Nope.” Logan shook his head. “We’re picky. But you’re special.”

His words filled me up with happiness until I felt light as a feather. The waiter came over and took our order, and I was glad because it gave me time to soak up his words.

“You’re special, too,” I said lamely. “I’m really happy that we’re dating.”

Logan grunted again before looking at me intently. “Why do you look so tired?”

I laughed. “You’re not supposed to tell me I look tired.”

Logan looked baffled, running a hand through his hair. “What? Why? I’m worried about you.”

“Thank you.” I couldn’t help but tease him. “But ‘you look tired’ is usually code for ‘you’re pale, and your makeup isn’t covering the bags under your eyes’.”

Logan stared at me like he was waiting for the punchline, then grimaced. “This is why I suck at talking to people.”

“Glad I’m not people.” I fiddled with my menu. “I’m just teasing. You’re right. Iamtired.”

“What’s wrong?”

The waiter brought our food, giving me a moment to debate with myself whether I should tell him all my neurotic thoughts or try to keep playing it cool.

But this was Logan. He’d catered so many events with me, and he’d seen all my freak outs. I wasn’t going to shock him, and that was actually very comforting.

“Luna’s pregnant—without a pack.” I held up a finger. “Stuff with my best friend is complicated, because she still talks to my ex-best friend. And I’ve just started dating the pack of my dreams, but I’m wondering if I’m going to somehow screw it all up.”

Logan nodded like this was a perfectly reasonable infodump.

“Your sister will be fine.” He looked at his plate thoughtfully, studying his turkey melt like it would unlock the secrets to the universe. “Your family will be there, and there’ll be no end of people lining up to kick the baby daddies’ asses if they turn out to be assholes.”

“This is true.” I bit into my sandwich—tangy marinara with delicious peppers, onions, and meatballs. “This is a great lunch spot.”

“It is.” Once he saw that I was starting to eat, Logan started on his own sandwich.

I focused on eating my food and trying not to get sauce on my face but failing.

“The situation with your friend is a tough one.” Logan shrugged. “She’s not going to change her behavior. So that means it’s up to you when you decide it’s too much.”

I sighed. “I know.”

“It’s easy to know, but harder to do.” Logan shook his head. “Look at Danny and me. When we went to school together, we competed in everything, right up until we graduated. And then, suddenly, that competitive relationship changed. Instead, we both had someone who knew what culinary school was like, how hard being a professional chef was.”

“Talia was there for me through some of the worst moments of life.”

Logan gave me a pained look. “Just because she was there for you then doesn’t mean she’ll always be there for you. It’s easier to be friends when you’re younger. But as you get older, the priorities shift.”

“For someone not good with words, you sure are hitting the nail on the head.” I picked up a fry. They were perfectly thin but not too thin, with a slightly rough texture.

Logan shrugged. “I’ve gone my separate way from friends before. For some, it was the pressure of me being in a pack when they weren’t that got to be too much. Then there’s the fact that I became successful and some of them hadn’t, and they started trying to use me.”

I thought about how Talia had started trying to align herself with Cosmic Bonds. “Did you feel guilty telling them no?”

“I did at first.” Logan looked at me with such a soft expression my heart melted. “I went into business with Roger, my best friend from culinary school. We put in long hours and put a menu together that blended our styles.

“Then Roger’s mom got sick, and, just like that, he left. Left the restaurant, signed over his shares, his rights, everything. Left me with the lease on the place a week before opening day.”

I sucked in a breath. “Oh, my god. I mean, I get it that his mom was sick, but…hot damn.”

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