Page 7 of Burned By My Mate

I’m stillfuriouswith Logan for how he treated me earlier, but I’mtoo exhaustedto argue anymore. Between losing my home, being accused of arson, and almost having to share a motel room with rodents, I don’t have the energy to keep up my walls.

At least for tonight.

“Let me just set this in the kitchen, and I’ll show you around,” he says as he carries my groceries into the kitchen.

“I’m not sure most of that will still be good,” I tell him. “It was in my trunk for a while.”

“We’ll see what we can save, and I’ll replace the rest,” he says easily.

I’m too tired to argue with him so I just nod.

He sets the bags down and then turns to me.

“This way.” Logan nods down the hall, leading me to a guest room.

I follow him over to the room. He pushes open a door, revealing a cozy space with a full-sized bed, a dark blue comforter, and a dresser tucked against the far wall.

“It’s not much, but?—”

“It’s fine,” I say quickly. More than fine, actually. It’sa hell of a lot betterthan my car or that rat-infested motel.

Logan watches me, his hands on his hips like he’s debating saying something. Then he clears his throat. “You hungry?”

I want to say no out of pure spite, but my stomach betrays me with a low growl.

Logan smirks.

Jerk.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” he says. “I’m going to take a quick shower and then I’ll start cooking. You may want to do the same. There’s stuff in there,” he says, nodding to the bathroom and I smile.

“Thanks.”

He nods and heads to what I’m assuming is his room right next door. I watch him go and then head into the bathroom and strip. I crank the water as hot as it will get and step under, letting the water wash away the scent of smoke and burnt wood.

The tears start to fall then and I cry as I think about everything that I’ve lost.

What am I going to do now?

I stand under the spray of hot water, contemplating that for way too long. When the water starts to turn cold, I step out and realize that I have a new problem.

I don’t have any clean clothes.

A knock sounds at the door, and then I hear Logan clear his throat.

“I brought some clothes. We’ll have to pick you up some new stuff.”

“Thanks,” I croak, my voice hoarse from crying in the shower.

I open the door a crack and he passes me the clothes and then turns and heads down the hall towards the kitchen.

I close the door and hurry to get dressed.

I should help him with dinner. It’s the least that I can do for him letting me stay here.

There has to be another hotel nearby, one that doesn’t have rats, and I grab my phone as I head towards the kitchen.

“It says that there’s a hotel not too far from here. The Red Fog Inn. I can stay there,” I start, and Logan whips around, a dark look on his face.

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