Page 105 of Fraternizing with the Enemy
“Isn’t it? You choose to stay with them. That makes you no better.” He turned his head to the side, castingLogan a long, quiet look, before coming back to me. “Maybe you do deserve it all.”
I looked at Logan. His expression was rigid, braced against the moment, tension cinching through him like a rope that wouldn’t let him move. All at once, the fire and fight went out of me. The last thing I wanted was to put Logan in a situation like this, where he had to choose between me and his best friend. I’d butted into a conversation when I had no right to, and I’d only hurt Logan even more.
My cheeks felt warm. “Listen,” I began. “I?—”
“Jeez, I’m being deprived of s’mores because you’re throwing a hissy fit?” Danielle came up from behind me, her hand brushing my shoulder. A silent show of solidarity while she focused on her boyfriend. “What, you think just because the party’s at your house, you get to be a crybaby?”
If the situation weren’t so tense, I would’ve smiled at her joke. “Do you even know who she is?” Noah asked her.
“I do know who she is. She’s Logan’s first girlfriend. And if you’re going to act all territorial, I’m going to start getting jealous.”
Noah wasn’t amused. “She’s from Brentwood, Dani.”
Danielle’s gaze immediately flicked to me, as if she’d find confirmation. Her hand slid from my shoulder, and I froze, prepared for her to switch sides.
She looked back to her boyfriend. “That’s why you’re being like this? All because she’s from Brentwood?”
“It’s okay.” Once more, my gaze cut to Logan’s, whose hands were curled into fists at his sides. I’d never seen him look so… scared. “Really. It’s—I should’ve been more understanding.” Now, my eyes traveled to Noah’s jean-clad leg. Even though I couldn’t believe my friends would’ve done such a thing, Noah believed it. “I know my apology doesn’t really mean much, but Iamreally sorry… for what happened.”
Danielle looked at her boyfriend, raising an expectant eyebrow.
Noah turned toward Logan again, as if trying one last time to catch his eye, before his gaze fell to Logan’s fists. Noah’s shoulders dropped ever so slightly, as if the sight disarmed him, too. He watched his best friend for a long moment before giving his head a slow shake. “I hope it works out,” he said, whether to me or to Logan. Instead of going out the side door to return to the bonfire, Noah opened a door that presumedly led into the house and left the garage.
Even in his absence, the space still felt suffocating. Silence hung between the three of us for a long, awkward beat, before Danielle turned to me. “Don’t mind him. Really.” The expression on her face was guilty. “I hope his sour attitude hasn’t turned you off our friend group.”
“Not at all.” I looked off at the now-closed door Noah had walked through. “It makes me want to win him over even more.”
Noah didn’t trust me with Logan’s heart. His barbs were sharp, but they were only worry in disguise. And even if I was the one he lashed out at, it was proof Logan had someone who cared fiercely for him. As prickly as Noah was—and, admittedly, maybe worse than Jade—it wasn’t because he didn’t care. He just cared a lot.
Would Jade do the same for me?
My first thought was that day in the alley, when she’d stepped up to Logan.I thought something about you wasoff, she’d said. She hadstood up for me then. Why did I keep doubting her?
“We’ll probably head out.” Logan’s voice was almost rusty when he spoke, like the whole confrontation had rattled him. He crossed the garage then, slowly, almost hesitantly coming up to my side. “You can tell everyone I’m getting a headache or something.”
“Ohno,” Danielle said. “If he wants to cause a scene, his friends get to know the truth of it.”
I picked up Logan’s hand, but his grip was loose. The touch alone made me feel much better, though, as if it was a physical connection I could ground myself to. Even though it was still dark, Logan didn’t trip this time as we made our way back to my car.
“How much… did you hear?”
The anxiety in his voice was plain as day, and it made my chest ache. “Not that much.”
Really, not much at all. Noah’s animosity had been impossible to miss, though.What you’re doing? It’s really messed up, Logan.It was strange to think of how fiercely Noah opposed our relationship, but then again, the Top Tier would be the same way. In fact, they’d probably be even worse.
“Why was he being so judgmental, though?” I asked Logan, coasting my fingertips across his knuckles. “Was henotthe one who dared you to go to Brentwood?”
Logan gave his head a slow shake. “I—I told him about it, though. He… didn’t approve.” He sucked in a sudden, sharp breath, turning to me a few feet before we got to my car. “It was wrong.Iwas wrong. I shouldn’t have?—”
“It’s okay.” I made sure to pack my voice with as much meaning as I could, bouncing between Logan’sblue eyes. “I mean, come on. It worked out, didn’t it?” My words still couldn’t touch his heart. I wrapped my arms around him and tucked myself to his chest, pressing my palms into the firm muscles of his back. I held him tightly, burying my nose into his chest. I could still smell the faint trace of grass on him from tonight’s game. “I’m glad you were dared to meet me.”
Logan raised his arms to wrap around me finally, as if surrendering to something. He tucked his head against mine, cheek pressing against my crown. We fit like puzzle pieces—like two people destined to meet each other. I didn’t care that someone else had scripted our first act. I was just grateful to be on the stage with him at all.
I wrinkled my nose. “You have me thinking in geek speak metaphors.”
A short, sudden laugh startled out of him, and it vibrated through my chest. “Your daily dose of dweeb is working then,” he murmured.
I lifted head, resting my chin on his chest as I peered up at his jawline. “So.” I blinked my lashes. “I’m your first girlfriend, huh?”
