Page 156 of Fraternizing with the Enemy
It still hurt to think about her, like pushing on a bruise that was slow to fade. Eventually, the fact that my childhood best friend had been my secret hater all along wouldn’t hurt so much, but for now, it still ached.
But having a new best friend—and a new friend group—was definitely helping.
Just before we got to Expresso’s door, Maisie’s phone began ringing in her pocket, and she quickly pulled it out. “It’s Connor,” she said, hitting the answer button, but not lifting it to her ear. “He’s probably wondering where we are.”
I glanced at the watch on my wrist. “I’ll run in and grab Logan, and we’ll head over.”
“Did you hear that?” Maisie asked into her phone, giving me a thumbs up. “No, we just got to Expresso’s. Oh, where? I didn’t see you?—”
The door to the café dinged when I pushed it inward, glancing around the dark space. The only light on was the one above the barista counter, and its golden glow stretched through the industrial space feebly. It almost looked a little creepy.
“Sorry, we’re—” Logan’s head poked up fromunderneath the counter, and he cut himself off when he saw me. His wide-eyed expression melted instantly, lips spreading into a puppy-like smile. “There she is.”
My lips pulled up just as quickly. “Here I am,” I replied, giving my arms a little flap. “A little Madison Oliphant popsicle.”
“It’s not even that cold out,” he said in a scolding tone, once more ducking beneath the counter. “It’sfall. It feelsgood.”
“I’m more of a summer girl.” I came closer, peering over the counter to see his crouching figure. “What are you doing?”
“Finishing restocks.” Logan turned to peer up at me then, his blue eyes catching in the golden light. It made his face look so warm. “Hi.”
When he looked at me like that—all smiley and soft and adorable—it melted something inside me. “Hi.”
He pushed to his feet then, leaning his forearms onto the counter. He wore his signature Expresso’s uniform, his red polo and black apron, but even that looked good on him. So good that I found myself stretching across the counter, pressing a quick kiss to his lips.
Logan’s smile stretched wider, and he started to come around the counter.
“Movie starts in twenty minutes,” I told him, heart jumping at how quickly he crossed the distance. “I know the theater is just down the street, but I’m the type who needs snacks to watch a movie.”
He hummed softly underneath his breath before he grabbed me, wrapping his arms around my waist and tugging me into his chest. He held his head back, though, peering down at me. “Youneedsnacks?” he murmured, voice a deliciously low sound.
I forced myself to frown to keep my wits about me. “Yep.”
“Like what?” Logan tipped his head to the side. “Popcorn?”
“And pretzel bites.”
“Pretzel bites,” he echoed, and just as quickly as I had, he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to my cold temple. “Oh, you are cold.”
“Told ya.”
Logan kissed my other temple. “Any other movie snacks?” His lips trailed down from my temple to my cheekbone.
He was being sneaky. Hypnotizing. I knew it, and knew I totally should’ve stopped him from kissing me in the middle of his workplace, but I still couldn’t pull away. I mean, Expresso’swasclosed. No one was around. And his warm lips felt too good against my cold skin. “M&M’s,” I whispered, suddenly feeling much warmer. I could’ve unzipped my coat. “Or… something else for dessert.”
Logan made another humming sound as he kissed my other cheek. “Always need dessert,” he agreed, pressing a kiss to the side of my nose.
My eyes slipped shut, waiting for him to move to my lips. He didn’t, though. He was waiting for me to speak again. “And I’ll need a drink,” I whispered, and I couldfeelhow close his mouth was to mine. Even with my eyes shut, I knew he was close.
But the kiss didn’t come. Logan’s mischievous murmur did. “Are you warm enough yet?”
I blinked my eyes open to find Logan with that boyish smile on his face, one that was full of glee over teasing me. I pushed at his chest whilescoffing, but his arms didn’t fall from around me. In fact, they only tightened as he laughed. “Dweeb,” I muttered as if it was a curse word.
“You have to admit, I’m getting much better at flirting.” His voice sounded so happy, punctuated by his laughter.
I grabbed him by the apron straps around his neck and swung him into the counter, the small of his back hitting the edge. He was still taller than me, but I leaned up into his chest. Even though the effect was seriously dulled by my puffy jacket, it wasn’t ruined entirely, if the look in his eye was any judge. “And you have to admit,” I murmured to Logan in a soft voice, “that I’m much better.”
The look in his eyes reminded me of one of the first times I’d flirted with him.What are you chalant about? he’d asked me, to which I’d replied with,You. Logan swallowed hard now, exactly as he’d done then. “Yeah,” he said in a drastically less smug voice than he’d had a second ago. “Yeah, you’re much?—”
