Page 128 of Fraternizing with the Enemy
The anticipation of this moment had been building for weeks, all leading here, to this explosive moment in the middle of my living room. My first kiss. Another thingI’d dreamed about, wondered about, finally happening. Logan’s mouth was sure, but his hands were tentative, holding me, but never too tightly. Letting me lead. Letting me go, if I wanted to.
But I didn’t. I couldn’t imagine this moment being with anyone else.
I thought my heart was going to explode in my chest. And if Logan hadn’t broken away with a gasp when he had, I was sure it would’ve.
Logan immediately dropped his forehead to mine. He trembled a little, as if he’d finished running a marathon and not kissing me senseless. “Madison,” he whispered. Just my name, gasping the word like it was a prayer.
Every inch of me was electrified, zapped awake and to attention, and aware of every point our skin touched. “Logan.”
“This is all my fault.”
I chuckled. “If I recall,Iwas the one who leaned in first?—”
Logan lifted his head, his brows so horribly creased as if he were in pain. “If I hadn’t gone to Brentwood, you could go to homecoming with someone. Your friends wouldn’t be falling apart. You wouldn’t be—you wouldn’t be worried about what Jade finding out. If I could go back?—”
I kissed him mid-sentence, and though it was less intense than our first, it was determined and firm. A spark still jolted through me at the contact. I pulled back, settling on my heels. I was right to not have told Logan that Jade knew about us, to not have told him about his Babble debut, and everything in between. Mr. I Can Handle It would’ve tried to have taken matters into hisown hands, but I could take care of it myself. If it meant easing his fears, I’d keep it bottled up forever.
“I’d still be Miss Peak in High School without you,” I said. “Maybe not the label exactly, but I’d still be on the wrong path. And if I could go back, I’d choose you. Every time.”
There was definitely pain in his eyes, swimming in the blue. This time, his forehead fell down to my shoulder, and I could feel his breath on my bare collarbone. “It isn’t fair,” he murmured into my skin. “The hold you have on me isn’t fair.”
“It isn’t?” I murmured teasingly, combing my fingers through his hair. “I kinda like it.”
Logan didn’t reply, but clung to me. His hair brushed my cheek as I leaned my head against his, breathing in his deep scent, savoring this moment. I wondered if he was doing the same—committing it to memory, basking in the warmth of it.
“I’m so very chalant about you, Logan Castle,” I said, a faint smile on my lips.
Logan pulled back again, but not lifting his head fully, looking up into my eyes. I’d never, ever forget how blue they were in that moment. “There’s no part of me that’s not yours.”
My lips parted at the intensity of his comment, feeling it hit me straight in the heart. The whole moment itself seemed so strange—me in a glittering dress, him in jeans and a Bobcats sweatshirt, both of us in the middle of my quiet living room—but I’d never forget it. I was sure I’d dream about it—tonight, tomorrow, and every time I closed my eyes after.
Logan picked my hand up, looking at my fingers as he turned them over. “Let’s get you to yourhomecoming dance before I change my mind and ask you to stay with me.”
My head still was spinning, but I said, “Or I convince you to come with me?”
“Or that.”
Hand-in-hand, Logan and I walked through the house, through the door, and out to his car. As much as I wished he was coming with me, this was special all on its own. I’d never forget the way we’d danced to Untapped Potential in my living room, or the way Logan’s mouth felt against mine, or the way his head all but collapsed on my shoulder from the shock of it all.
I hadn’t even gotten to the dance yet, but I knew for certain.I’ll remember this night forever.
Iheld Logan’s hand the entire drive over to Brentwood, and if wishing alone would’ve changed Logan’s mind, it would’ve worked. Practically everyone had shown up already, since the dance had started an hour ago, so when Logan pulled up beside the curb, there weren’t any prying eyes.
I turned in my seat, scanning him. “Last chance. I’m sure we can bribe my mom to let you in, even though you’re wearing jeans.”
“Have fun.” Logan’s expression was tender as he regarded me, almost remorseful. The blue-tinted glow of his dashboard lights reflected up on him. “Text me when you’re ready to be picked up.”
I stretched across the console, pressing a quick kiss to his lips. Quick, but electrifying all the same. “Don’t go far.”
He closed his eyes as he nodded, and I climbed out, shutting the door between us. Logan watched me as I walked toward the double doors, leaning his elbow onto the console to see me beneath the rim of the passenger window. It was like his gaze was magnetized to me, unable to break away first.
I lifted my hand in an awkward wave.
I could see his shoulders shake with a chuckle as he did the same.
“I was wondering if you were coming,” Mom said as I approached the ticketing table. “They’ll be announcing King and Queen soon.”
She sat beside Mrs. Diego, the math teacher, and the two of them wore pretty dresses. Mrs. Diego’s hair was twisted up with a few strands escaping, and Mom had slaved over her curler this afternoon. “You both look very nice,” I told them with a smile.
