Page 19 of Filthy Liar

“I’ll see you guys there,” Beckett said without looking up from her phone, texting someone so aggressively that I was surprised her screen didn’t crack.

Zavier and Reid headed off before us, and Logan took his time as he pulled out onto the road, savoring the alone time together. I wasn’t immune to him, his cologne soothing my emotions as he blindly reached over to rest a hand on my thigh.

At first, I tensed, but I relaxed under his touch a moment later and threaded my fingers through his, holding his hand. He didn’t push for conversation, just happy to be in my company.

“You know I love you, right?” I said to break the silence, his hand tightening in mine.

“I know. I love you too.”

“I’m not keeping you at a distance to be a bitch.”

He glanced over at me with a small frown. “I don’t think that. Did someone say I did?”

“No. Reid just?—”

“Listen to me carefully,” he said calmly, returning his eyes to the road. “I don’t care what Reid or anyone else thinks about our relationship. It’s between you and me, no one else. If you need time, then you take the time. Does Reid think having one big orgy will fucking fix everything? It won’t. Do I miss being intimate with you? Every damn day. But until you’re ready to go back to that, I won’t push for it. Reid needs to back off instead of trying to guilt you into taking me back. That’s not what I want.”

I sensed him glance at me a few times after that, but I stayed silent as I looked out the window in thought. This was what made me believe that Logan’s feelings for me had been genuine, he always knew the right thing to say, and part of me was wondering why I even wanted the space between us.

I wasn’t a pushover, but it wasn’t like Logan was trying to convince me to take him back, it was almost like he was convincing me not to.

We arrived at Rory’s before the guys, and Logan had barely parked the car when I leaned over and kissed him. He kissed me back hesitantly, keeping his hands off me until I moved onto his lap, then his hands carefully moved to my hips as he slid his tongue into my mouth.

Logan was my home, he always would be, and tears pricked my eyes as relief flared inside me at the familiar feeling.

“Hey,” Logan murmured, making me realize one of the tears had leaked out and he’d caught me. “What’s wrong?”

I shook my head and pulled back, but he wasn’t letting me escape. He moved the seat back to make more space, sliding an arm around me to keep me in place.

“I’m just a mess,” I said, choking on a laugh and wiping my eyes.

“Because of us,” he reminded me, cupping the back of my head to bring me closer, my face nestled in the crook of his neck. “Whether you hate me, love me, are sad or angry with me, I will always be there to pick you back up when you fall. Just talk to me so I know what’s wrong.”

“I just want you, and I hate myself for that because I’ve always given girls shit for stuff like this,” I sniffled, and I swore the prick chuckled.

“You have me.” I looked up, and he wiped my tears with his thumbs. “Let’s get inside. We can talk about this tonight when we go to bed if you want?”

He was right, we could deal with my meltdowns later.

He took my chin and gave me another kiss, speaking against my lips. “I love you, Rae.”

I weakened more, my hips rolling slightly on instinct as I kissed him back a little harder, a knock on the window startling me.

Skeeter gave me an emotionless look as I opened the door to climb out, his voice flat. “Don’t fuck in my driveway. There’s kids here.”

“I thought they were gone?”

“We’ve still got the creepy one who’s at the age where he only thinks with his dick,” Skeeter deadpanned, motioning to the window to rat Noah out for watching. He ducked out of view when we turned to him, making Logan snort.

“Let him watch. Maybe he’ll get the hint that he can’t have her.”

“Sure, Noah’s the problem here,” Skeeter muttered as a car pulled in. I looked over to see a van stop behind us, the door opening as Frank climbed out. He impatiently waited for Rory to get Lara out of the carseat, then they headed in our direction.

Frank was tense as he looked around, but his shoulders relaxed slightly when he moved in front of me.

“You’re staying tonight?” he asked, taking Lara and cradling her protectively against his chest.

“We are. Reid and Zavier are coming too,” I answered with a small smile, reaching out to tickle Lara under the chin. She giggled, making Frank relax more.

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