Page 5 of Mr. Fix-It

“I was just leaving.” Logan moves toward Juno and gives her a kiss on the cheek. She leans in, closing her eyes.

“I’ll walk you out.” She takes his hand, and they both leave the kitchen.

I throw the donuts on the counter and run a hand through my hair. What the hell was I even thinking? I’m a fool for thinking someone as young and beautiful as her would even think of choosing a man like me over one like Logan. And the worst part is that I have no right to be this upset. She owes me nothing. I’m the one that threw myself into her life. She didn’t even ask for it.

“Sorry.” She rolls her big green eyes, grabbing Logan’s mug and plate from the table. “I totally lost track of time.”

“Mm.” I grunt, worried about what will come out of my mouth if I part my lips.

“I just need to throw on some real clothes and we can get started on the living room?—”

“Who the hell is Logan?” Dammit. Here I go.

“Just a friend from work. He teaches Math and coaches tennis at the middle school.”

“A friend, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“Did he stay all night?”

Juno tilts her head and leans up against the counter. “Yeah, actually, he did.” My fists ball at my sides. I’ve never been this angry in my life. If I don’t leave this room, I may say something I’ll regret. “His apartment’s being fumigated and he needed a place to crash.”

“I see.”

“No.” Juno’s sly smile only angers me further. Why is she messing with me? “I don’t think you do.”

“What then?”

“Logan stayed here last night.” She’s so close I can smell her shampoo. “Because his boyfriend stayed with his parents in the town over.”

“Boyfriend?”

“Yeah. Logan has to coach summer tennis this afternoon and didn’t want to commute this morning beforehand.”

Holy fucking shit. Am I the world’s biggest idiot or what? “Uh-huh.”

“Uh-huh.” Juno repeats. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll just be a minute.” She sucks her lower lip between her teeth. I nod, acknowledging everything she’s just said. As soon as Juno heads toward her bedroom, I practically dance a jig.

Logan’s gay. Praise Jesus, Logan. Is. Gay.

The jubilant feeling is short-lived, replaced by shame. I totally overreacted and wasn’t very kind. Not to Logan, and certainly not to Juno. I know I should apologize, but that comes with telling herwhyI acted the way I did, and I’m not ready to throw my heart on the line. I have to make certain she’s into me. Being rejected by Juno would damn near kill me.

Chapter Five

Juno

Calder’s been quiet all afternoon. The sun is setting, and he’s barely said three words to me. Any hope I had of getting down and dirty with him is slowly fading with the day. Maybe it’s for the best. I’d rather dream of being with Calder than living the reality of him straight up breaking my heart.

Silence fills the living room, granting me a moment’s peace from the constant buzz of power tools. Heavy work boots thud against the hardwood, coming closer to the kitchen where I now stand. I suddenly don’t know what to do with my hands.

“Hey.” Calder peeks his head in as I pretend to scoop crumbs from lunch off the counter.

“All finished?” The pitch of my voice is too high.

“For today.” He rests his hand on the back of the kitchen chair. His white t-shirt sticks to his massive pecs. I swear he’s the only man I’ve ever seen sweaty that I want to lick clean. “And if it’s okay with you I think I’ll take the weekend off. Give you some space so you can actually live here without me mucking around.”

His icy eyes lack the warmth I’m so used to seeing. “Oh, I mean if you need a break.”

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