Page 73 of BounBound By Scars

I hoped Logan never fucking searched the damn term. He snorted mid-sip of his coffee, nearly choking on it.

I kept going. “If you have to give me a nickname—”

“Absolutely I do.”

“—then use what my parents call me. Kabira. It’s a desi thing. Affectionate spin on my name. Take it or leave it.”

Before I could grab a glass for juice, Logan swiped it from my hand and filled it for me. “I’ll take it,” he said, grinning. “Kabira.”

I rolled my eyes and scanned the lounge for my woman.

I mean…Amelia.

Shit.

One life-altering speech and I was already back to being a whipped idiot. I still needed answers though.

“So… howdidit go?” Logan was clearly not dropping the subject.

“Unresolved.”

“Did you say something stupid?”

I glanced at him. “Define stupid.”

He chuckled. “You know… if you made any references to her being yours. Just… overall being a jealous idiot.”

“You sound like a man speaking from experience.”

“I am.” He gave me a side-eye as we walked toward the dining area. “But you’re not nearly as screwed as I was. I said awful things.Stupidis better thanawful.”

His voice dropped to a whisper as we neared the table. Everyone was already seated and eating—which made me wonder if Logan had timed this on purpose. Moron.

“Stupid, then. Definitely stupid,” I muttered under my breath.

He snorted again before sliding into his seat beside Kaylan, immediately pulling her closer with a casual arm slung over her shoulder.

And me?

I walked straight over to the empty chair beside Amelia. Took my seat like I belonged there. Like it was the most natural thing in the world. Because it used to be.

God, I missed this. Her. Everything.

She stiffened slightly as I sat down, but didn’t look at me. It had been weeks since I sat down next to her.

I rested my hand casually along the back of her chair—deliberate. Intentional. And I could feel the little tick in her jaw as she sipped her juice.

Progress.

Sebastian was across the table, watching me with that damn smirk on his face like he knew exactly what I was doing. His smirk faded slightly when Logan grabbed his mug and sipped it. The mug was never returned back to Sebastian which made me slightly curious about what was happening. I had my suspicions, though.

Sebastian shook his head and launched into some low, heated discussion with Zane about Romlinson and their latest theory—something about diverted tech shipments. Zane was already grabbing a tablet. Kaylan and Logan were listening in.

Everyone was engaged.

Which meant the moment was perfect.

I glanced sideways at Amelia, noting how she finally relaxed enough to sip her juice again.

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