Page 112 of Mine to Love

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

I’m not cut out to date a gentleman. I met Logan for drinks and nachos on Saturday at The Beer Garden. He shared stories of his childhood, of the many troubles Nick would get into and how he’d bribe Logan to help him get him away with things.

I shared stories of Leah’s and my dance classes and ice-skating lessons. Nothing as scandalous as Logan and his brothers mooning the neighbors or breaking into Veronica Marchand’s home and stealing all her underwear. She had been mean to Cami and cheated on Holden, so it was deserved, Logan had said.

We laughed a lot, and he hugged me goodbye next to my car in the parking lot giving me a kiss on the forehead. No feel ups. No pressing an erection into my stomach. No sexual innuendos.

Sunday morning, I open my front door to another bouquet of flowers and an envelope. The flowers from two weeks ago are wilting, and I don’t have the heart to throw them away, but now that I have fresh flowers, an elaborate bouquet of white and pink roses and jasmine, I replace the old with the new.

I pull out a stool, take a seat at the counter, and open the envelope. This time it’s a card instead of blank paper. I chuckle at the front image of two old people eating pizza and laugh harder when I read the inside. If cauliflower can become pizza...you, my friend, can do anything.

His handwriting takes up every inch of the card.

Thank you for giving me the gift of your time last week and listening to my insecurities. I’ve never talked openly about that part of my life before. You gave me the strength to talk to my parents about how I’ve felt, how insecure I’ve been, and my fear of turning into my grandfather. Just being there and listening to me gave me the confidence to open up to them. So, thank you.

And thank you for giving me the gift of your time on Friday and letting me take you to lunch. And again, last night. I never realized how much I missed...friendship. Because you’re more to me than a beautiful woman who I think about morning, noon, and night. Especially at night.

I consider you my friend. My closest friend. I don’t have many. I’ve never wanted any. I’ve never felt connected to anyone before you. So, thank you for giving me your friendship, if nothing else.

I won’t lie to you, ever. I’m not going to pretend that I’m perfectly content only being your friend. I do want more, but I respect your need for time. I won’t stop trying. I won’t stop wanting to be with you. But if friendship is all you can give me right now, I’ll take it. The last thing I want to do is push you away.

Other than my mother and my sister, I’ve never sent flowers to a woman before. I don’t know if it’s too much, not enough, or just right. After I left that first rose, I realized I wanted you to have another. And another. I picture the flowers on your kitchen counter or your coffee table brightening up your condo. Not that it needs brightening, not with you in it.

I’m rambling, and it’s too late to start over. I’ve been sitting in my car in front of your house for too long already. Pretty soon the neighbors are going to call the police. Since the space on the card is running out, I guess this is all for today.

Thank you, Reese. You’ve given me more than you can possibly imagine.

Logan

His name is squeezed in the miniscule space left. I hold the card to my chest and laugh and cry. I love this side of Logan. Before I lost him, I thought I was in love with him. Maybe I was. Maybe it was lust.

These past two weeks I realized it’s more than lust. So much more. I want to surprise him as he’s been doing to me but working thirty minutes from his office makes it logistically impossible, and I’m bound to get caught sneaking onto his parents’ estate in the middle of the night.

I have connections though, and I’m going to cash in on them.

***

I POURED MY HEART OUT in that card and my head and stomach have been a mess running through all the possible ways Reese will react to it. With my schedule jam-packed this week, I won’t have time to slip away to meet her for lunch. On Monday, I make my daily deposit right when the bank opens since it’s on my way to my first meeting of the day.

I let two customers go ahead of me so I can have Reese as my teller. She’d been surprised to see me that early. “Just passing through town,” I said with a wink.

I didn’t miss how her eyes darkened as she took in my business suit and wool coat. There was a line behind me so I couldn’t stick around and flirt, which I didn’t have time to do anyway.

“Have a nice day, Mr. Pierce.”

“Yes ma’am. You too.” I tossed her a wink and plucked a lollipop from the cup.

On Tuesday, I stopped in at ten, after leaving a meeting. I really didn’t have time to, but it was worth being a few minutes late to catch a glimpse of her. We hadn’t talked since Saturday night, and she hadn’t called or texted after receiving my card and flowers. Not that she’s called or texted me since leaving me.

Time. I promised her time. On Wednesday, it’s another rush in and out, this time an hour before closing. It eats up an hour of my day driving out to see her and making it back to the office for my scheduled calls, but it’s worth the three minutes to see Reese.

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