Page 53 of Overtime Goal
Logan set his book down, and after checking his phone, he got up and stretched. “We should get cleaned up if we want to make that tour.”
Fuck!I couldn’t put it off any longer, and my stomach twisted as I cleared my throat. “For sure. But I have something I need to talk to you about first.”
Logan tilted his head. “What’s going on?”
I took a deep breath, but the knot in my stomach still didn’t budge. “It’s about when my agent called this morning. Natalie Langdon, the model, is here in Positano tonight, and he set up a dinner with her.”
Logan’s entire body stiffened. “And you said yes.”
“I didn’t have a choice, Logan.” My voice was weak, so I tried to sound more confident. “I told him no, but he gave me an ultimatum: ‘Dinner with Natalie, or find another agent.’”
Logan's jaw twitched, and he nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on the floor. “Right. You said no because having dinner with a supermodel is such torture.”
“Come on.” I stood and walked toward him, but he took a step back. It felt like a punch in the gut. “It’s only PR,” I said. “You know how this shit works.”
“Yeah, I do. But I thought—” He gave a bitter laugh. “Never mind. You should definitely go. It’ll be perfect for your image, and that’s the most important thing.”
His sarcasm cut into me, but I kept my voice calm. “I don’t want to go. I’d rather stay with you and have dinner together.”
“Right.” He crossed his arms, and his voice was harder when he added, “I’m sure spending an evening with one of the world’s hottest women is the last thing you’d like to do. Sheishot, right?”
“Logan—”
“No.” He held up a hand, his eyes on fire. “Don’t bullshit me. You were practically drooling over that woman at dinner the other night, and you looked like you were ready to jump Giorgia yesterday. Don’t pretend you’re sacrificing anything by going out with Natalie fucking Langdon.”
“You’re not listening to me.” I hated the pleading tone in my voice, but I didn’t want to fight with him. “It’s one dinner. Not a date.”
“It sure as hellisa date. Call it what it is.” He fixed me with an icy stare. “You’re going out with a woman, and it isn’t hard to imagine what will happen. I’ve known you too long to think otherwise.”
“Logan, stop.”
He let out a sharp breath. “Do whatever you want, but like we agreed the other day, don’t lie to me about it.”
“I’m not lying. I don’t want to go.”
“Then why are you?”
“I told you, my agent?—”
“Your agent gave you an ultimatum because he knows how much you’ll love this. He wants the paparazzi all over it, and he probably hopes you’ll start up something and keep hooking up with her when we get back home. Don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll be the envy of every player in the league.”
“That’s unfair.” My voice had gotten louder. “You’re twisting everything I say.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Am I? Or are you pissed off because I’m calling you on your bullshit? I haven’t even mentioned how you’ve known about this all fucking day. Goddammit, you knew about it when we made plans this morning. But I haven’t brought that up, and I won’t even say what that made you, but let’s just agree it doesn’t involve telling the truth.”
“I couldn’t decide how to tell you, and I was trying to?—”
“You’ve been talking all day. All you had to do was speak up when we were making plans.”
“Like that would’ve made any difference in how you feel?”
“At least I wouldn’t feel played.”
He’s lashing out. I can’t argue because he’s right; I should have told him this morning.
My hands curled into fists at my sides. I was vibrating with a mix of frustration, sorrow, and guilt. Logan was hurting, and once again, it was my fault. I took a steadying breath. “Please don’t be like this. Don’t act like it means more than it does.”
A flicker of pain flashed across his eyes before he masked it again. “Right. It means nothing. My mistake. We’re just buddies, and this is none of my fucking business.”
