Page 36 of Puck'N Enemy
“I’m not letting you do it again,” he says in a low but firm voice. “You don’t get to destroy yourself just to keep me safe. That’smyjob now. I made promises back then, and this time, it’s my turn to keep them.”
“This isn’t your fight, Logan.”
“You’re not the one to decide that.” His jaw clenches, reminding me of how stubborn he can be.”
“You’re overthinking things,” I tell him, wishing he’d just understand how dangerous the situation is. “I had everything handled.”
“You had nothing handled!” His voice cracks. Gesturing toward the mouth of the alley, he adds, “There were six of them, Dylan. They’d have broken your legs and dragged you back to Pete. I won’t watch you get destroyed. Not again.”
My shoulders slump in defeat. “You weren’t supposed to see any of that. I left you alone so you wouldn’t get involved in my mess.”
“This isn’t your mess,” Logan says in a soft voice. “Because I’m the reason you got caught in it in the first place.”
“Logan, you don’t understand—”
He steps closer. “I never hated you for beating me up. The thing I couldn’t accept was you leaving me. But I know why you left now. You were protecting me. But I don’t want that, Dylan. I never wanted that. I don’t need you to protect me.”
“Then, what do you want?”
“I want you.”
My breath hitches. How can he say something like that so easily?
Reaching out, he gently brushes a thumb over my bruised lips. “You’re not alone anymore, Dylan.”
I want to believe him so damn much but I know Logan can’t fully commit to me. “You don’t understand—”
“I do,” he cuts in. “And I don’t care.”
“You have afamily, Logan. A mom. A sister. They need you.”
Reaching out, he gently caresses my cheek with the back of his hand. “You need me too.”
I freeze.
“You’re my family too,” he says, leaning in closer and letting his forehead rest against mine.
My heart races. The words I’d only ever dreamed of hearing from him are being said aloud to me. An ache goesthrough me, and suddenly, I can’t get a word past the painful lump in my throat.
But Logan doesn’t need me to say anything.
Pulling me closer, he captures my lips in a gentle kiss. He’s so damn soft and slow, taking his sweet time to really taste me.
My hands come up to hold onto his broad shoulders but I don’t know whether to push him away or pull him closer. So, I just hang onto him, suspended in this unreal moment.
12
Logan
It’s a while before Dylan and I walk out of the alley. Even though I’m no longer panting, I can feel the adrenaline surging through my veins.
Dylan is right beside me, his bruised lips rising in a light smile.
A heavy sigh escapes me. At least, he’s safe for now.
I walk down the street with him, checking out the crumbling buildings with boarded-up windows and flickering neon signs. Very few people are around, making me feel even more aware of our surroundings.
As we walk, my gaze keeps flickering toward Dylan.
