by Jaxon, Andi
“So those were the Tornadoes, Avery and Amber. Still wanna stick around? They mean well, but sometimes they forget their manners. They both have amazing hearts, and once you get to the gooey center, they really are awesome,” Katie says nervously.
“I am not going anywhere. Those two are all bark and no bite, it seems. I am glad you have them to protect you when I am not around.” I grab her shirt and pull her into my arms.
“Logan,” she whispers, before spinning around and capturing my lips.
I grip her in my arms tightly and give myself over to the kiss. I lift Katie so we can quickly retreat back up the stairs when I hear a click. I open my eyes to see Charlie, Avery, and Amber standing in the doorway, holding his cell phone.
“I am going to use this later,” Charlie says before putting his phone in his back pocket.
“We could have, but you had to go and ruin it,” Amber says as Avery smacks him upside the head.
“Don’t tease me,” Charlie says to Avery before gripping her by the back of her head and devouring her mouth.
What the hell happened between those two?
“No fair, what about me?!” Amber yells.
Breaking the kiss, Avery gives Amber the finger and says, “Bitch, you had yours when we woke him up, it's my turn!”
“Ladies, there is more than enough of me to go around.”
“What’s going on?” I look at Katie as I slowly put her back on the floor.
“I think your friend and the girls like each other,” Katie giggles.
“Kit Kat, say goodbye to your SEAL so we can get food. You know how bitchy she gets when she’s hungry. Oh, and I am Avery by the way. If you hurt her, SEAL or not, I have an Uncle Guido, a shovel, and an alibi, they will never find your body.”
“Well, I guess no group breakfast for us.” I lean down and kiss her forehead.
“Trust me, you don’t want to go to breakfast with those two right now, save yourself,” she whispers grabbing my hand tightly.
“I’ll give you a call later,” I say, squeezing her hand.
It seems she is just as reluctant as I am to be separated, but she nods her head in agreement.
9
Katie
We pile into Amber’s Honda Accord and head to the Broken Yolk. Before we even make it out of the neighborhood, Avery starts asking questions,
“Kit Kat, what’s up with you and the SEAL?”
“Oh, yes! Details! That was one fine piece of man meat you were wrapped around,” Amber smirks.
I’m surprised she isn’t growling at us for coffee, she has never been a morning person.
When I don’t respond, Avery looks over the seat, waiting for an answer her question.
“Can I at least have coffee first?”
I would love to avoid this conversation altogether, but these two are like vultures. There’s no way I’m going to get away without telling them something.
“Hooker, you already had a cup, I saw the dishes in the sink,” Avery fires back.
I just roll my eyes in response, “What do you want to know?”
A big grin covers Avery’s face, “Well, for starters, where did he come from? You don’t typically bring home strays from the bar, that’s us.” She motions between herself and Amber.
Just thinking about our night together brings a smile to my face.
“Look at that face, this is gonna be good!” Avery rubs her hands together looking like a villain.
“I was at The Mission last night, as usual, moping into my beer when he asked me to dance. We danced, he was so sweet, and damn that voice.”
I stop right there, hoping that Avery will let it slide with that. Not going to happen.
She raises her eyebrow while motioning ‘continue’ with her hand.
“Then we basically dry humped on the dance floor.”
I can see Amber’s shocked face in the rearview mirror, but she doesn’t say anything.
“Finally! We must be rubbing off on you! Get it, girl!” Avery cheers.
We pull into the Broken Yoke just as I finish.
“Don’t think you are getting away with not telling us the rest, Katie,” Amber says as she cuts the engine and hops out of the car.
Avery scurries out behind her. I was really hoping these two would let me enjoy my breakfast in peace, I should have known better. Thankfully, Logan isn’t here to live through the embarrassment as well.
It takes only a few minutes for us to be seated, the girl's patience has reached its max by the time the waiter leaves with our orders.
“Okay now spill, bitch! I missed all the good stuff because I was driving.” Amber smirks at me over her coffee mug.
I huff at both of them before continuing,
“There was a misunderstanding, and I left him on the dance floor, pretty sure Jimmy sold me out though because next thing I know, he’s standing there holding my keys! I left them in the drunk bowl.”
“Now for the good parts, this is where I come in right?” Avery responds as she shares a look with Amber.
“Yes, this is where I called you. Please, tell me you didn’t break him.” I beg my friends.
“Oh, we didn’t, but there is always tomorrow.” Amber giggles.
I can’t help but shake my head at my two friends. I have never seen them like this, googly eyed and giggly, over anyone other than each other. I’m not sure yet if this is a good or bad thing.
“How many times did he rock your world?” Avery says out of nowhere.
“I’m not really sure what happened, but we didn’t do anything last night. And no, I am not going to talk about it! He is very talented with his hands though…” I say, feeling the blush covering my face.
I already feel myself becoming attached to Logan, and it scares me. I’m falling off the deep end of the pool into the deep, dark, unknown. I may not be strong enough to survive heartbreak again.
I feel a hand grasp mine, looking up to see Amber.
“Why the tears, babe?” she asks, concern obvious on her face.
I didn’t realize I was crying, I must be more tired than I thought. Wiping them away, I take a deep breath before answering.
“I’m not really sure, just a lot of confusing feelings, I guess.”
The girls look at each other, communicating without words. Avery lays her head on Ambers' shoulder, and she rests her cheek against the top of Avery’s head. Maybe this doesn’t need a definition, it can be just like Avery and Amber, I doubt they know how to explain it either, but I’m betting the night they had with Charlie was more than just fun.
LOGAN
Charlie drops me off back at The Mission so I can grab my truck. With no plans for the morning, I decided to head toward Bruegger's Bagels on Orange on my way to the beach for a run. I need to clear my head, and a run always helps. Although I would’ve much rather spent the morning with Katie, finishing what I ruined last night.
After breakfast, I head home to change, then make my way to the beach to start my run. Once I get stretched out, I feel all the tension release from my body as I hear my feet slapping the wet sand. After about a half mile, my mind goes right back to Katie.
I have to tell her, and soon.
There is no planning for this conversation. It can go horribly wrong, or she can take it all in stride, although I’m hoping for the latter. Should I tell her now or wait? All these questions swirl through my mind as I make my way back towards my place.
Things have just started between us, but I feel this connection as if our souls are intertwining with one another. I have been in love with Katie since before I was old enough to drink, but now that I’ve had her, I’ll be damned if I ever let her go.
10
Katie
After breakfast, the twins drop me off in a hurry to go god knows where. I’m left to sit and wait for Logan to call. The panic immediately sets in once I walk through my front door.
What if he changed his mind? Was this all a joke? All my old insecurities are coming to the surface, just
like when I was in high school. I’ve been the ‘big girl’ my whole life. Don’t get me wrong, I love my body and who I am. Some women are meant to have some meat on their bones and not blow over when the wind blows.
I try and shake the negative thoughts from my head when I am startled by the ringing of my phone.
“Hello,” I answered tentatively.
I want to smack myself because I didn’t even check to see who it was
“Hey, Darlin’,” Logan’s voice responds, making me break into a happy dance.
“Hey yourself, how was your breakfast?”
Play it cool, Katie…
“I grabbed something before heading to the beach for a run, nothing special.”
This would be the perfect time to ask him to hang out later, but before I have a chance he continues,
“Do you have plans for tomorrow night?”
“I may, let me check my schedule.”
I hear him chuckle as I pause, double checking to see if there is anything I have planned. No work. If I have plans with the girls, I’ll cancel them. It’s safe to say that I am free.
“It seems as if I am all yours if you are asking.” I smile as if he can see me through the phone.
“I would love to invite you to my place for dinner, make dinner for the two of us.”
Oh, dear lord above, a man who cooks. I swear I get wet thinking about him walking around the kitchen in an apron and nothing else.
“That would be great, can I bring anything with me?”
“No, just your beautiful self,” he responds.
Such a sweet talker!
After giving me his address and deciding on a time, we continue our conversation. He asks me what I was like as a kid, my favorite foods, all the usual first date questions. It’s like he wants to know everything about me.
We talk well into the night, it’s only when I start to yawn that we realize how late it is.
“My word, we have been talking non-stop most of the day! You must be bored to tears,” I say, fighting back another yawn.
“I want to know everything about you, Katie. You could never bore me. However, I can tell that you’re tired. Until tomorrow, Dollface.”
I sigh into the phone, “Until tomorrow, Logan.”
LOGAN
I spent all morning fighting the urge to call Katie. Then spent most of the day talking to her on the phone. If I’m being honest with myself, just hearing her voice soothes me in a way I didn’t even know I needed.
I’m putting the finishing touches on dinner when I hear a soft knock on the door. I smile, knowing that it must be her on the other side. Checking to make sure everything is ready, I let her in.
“Hey,” she says shyly when I open the door.
Every time I see her, she takes my breath away. I can’t help but stare as the sunset reflects off her hair, illuminating the flecks of gold that run through her hair. She decided to go with a casual look today, just jeans and a plain white tee but that doesn’t make her look any less to me. I must have been staring for too long because I notice her cheeks turning a delicious shade of pink.
I shake my head so I can focus, “Hey yourself, beautiful.”
I lean down, placing a kiss on her cheek. My nose is filled with her floral scent. I must fight the urge to bury my nose into her neck. Once I get my body under control, I move to the side and usher her in.
“It smells amazing in here!” She sounds surprised.
I can’t help but chuckle at her response, “What did you expect? Gear and gym socks all over the place?”
She waves her hands back and forth and blushes. Before she has a chance to explain, I pull her into me and lay a gentle kiss on her lips.
“Don’t worry, I know what you meant. And I just couldn’t wait any longer to kiss you again.”
I can see her relax. I take a step back so she can take in my apartment. It isn’t much, just a two-bedroom bachelor pad, but it’s a place to lay my head when I’m not on missions.
“I hope you like shrimp. I made my specialty, and by that, I mean it’s one I can make that don’t require a takeout menu.”
“I love seafood! Now, I’m even more excited to eat since it is your specialty and all.”
We walk into the dining room, and I pull out her chair, waiting for her to have a seat.
“Such a gentleman.”
“My momma would have my hide if she found out I didn’t mind my manners.”
My southern accent coming out more pronounced than usual. I must admit, I am laying it on a little thick since I saw her eyes glaze over the first time I called her Darlin’ at The Mission the other night.
“Your momma would be proud,” she responds, looking down at the floor.
I head into the kitchen to grab the plates for our dinner. Shrimp and grits, my favorite and a family tradition for dinner. I may have also had to call my mother to get the recipe, but she doesn’t need to know that.
I place the plates on the table before returning to the kitchen to grab us both glasses of wine.
“White or Red?” I ask over my shoulder.
“White, please.”
I grab the wine I have chilling in the fridge and go back to the dining room to pour us both glasses.
“I never pegged you for a wine drinker.”
I watch as she takes a small sip from the glass.
“I’m not, but I figured you would be, I picked up a bottle of each one when I went to the store today. If you don’t like it blame the girl behind the counter. She recommended them.”
She just shakes her head in response, before taking a bite of her dinner.
“Are you going to watch me eat all night or are you going to eat as well?”
I chuckle in response and dig into my plate.
What could have been an awkward date, once again turned into an amazing evening. It’s as if we have known each other forever. Which we have. I was always asking Ryan for any little bits of information I could get about Katie. What she liked, her hobbies, favorite foods, but never about their relationship. As my best friend, he understood but deep down I know he just wished for me to be happy.
I will curse the day that we lost Ryan until the day I die, but I will always be thankful that he gave me permission to be a part of Katie’s life in the way I have always hoped for. In all honesty, now that I’m with Katie, I don’t know how I stayed away for so long.
We only have two more days together before I leave for training. I plan on spending every minute I can with Katie, convincing her that she can’t live another moment without me in her life, because after tonight, I know I don’t have a life if she isn’t in it.
11
Logan
Katie and I have spent every waking moment together for the last few days. Filled with late night talks on the phone, and quiet dinners. We haven’t gone much farther than we did that very first night, and that is fine with me. I cherish the time that I get to spend with her.
To say I am nervous is an understatement, I can feel my skin crawl as we enter the Bayside Grill to meet with Charlie and the Twins. We all decided to meet for breakfast before we head to training. These two have my best friend under their spell, but they are also the gatekeepers to Katie’s heart. From what she has told me about them, they are fiercely loyal, and they would rather kill me than let me get near her. No pressure.
“Hey, Cowboy!” Charlie shouts across the restaurant, causing Katie to blush.
I can’t help but chuckle, “Don’t be embarrassed. You have the Twins, I have Charlie. He has a great heart, but no manners. Excuse him, please. I’m sure your girls will keep him in line.”
I give her a kiss on the side of the head as I lead her toward the table full of our friends. Avery and Amber are seated on each side of Charlie, each with a hand wrapped around his arm. I raise an eyebrow at him in question, he just shrugs his shoulders with a grin in response. I can’t say I'm surprised that these three hit it off. Not sure what intentions Charlie has with them,
but he better not be messing with them. I don’t need his crap coming between Katie and me.
Katie gives both the girls a hug before grabbing the seat next to me.
“Bless it! I am so rude. Hey, I am Katie. I apologize for anything those two did.”
“Apologize? Hell no! I should be thanking you for calling them. I will owe you for my entire existence.” He reaches across the table to give her an awkward hug. “I will give you a proper one when we are both standing. Seriously, I owe you!”
I chuckle before Amber smacks him in the back of the head,
“Didn’t I tell you no touching! Sorry, Katie, this one hasn’t been trained yet. We’re working on breaking him of all his bad habits.”
I hear Avery snort across from me as I try to hold in my laughter. “Hey! Hands to yourself. This is precious cargo, besides you have your hands full.”
“Damn right he does,” Avery fires back.
I turn toward Katie and say, “That big oaf is Charlie aka Kelo, he’s my best friend and partner in crime.”
Katie only nods her head in response, a puzzled look on her face. I lean down so I can whisper in her ear.
“What are you thinking so hard about, Dollface?”
“Just look at the three of them. They fit together like puzzle pieces, like they were born to be together.”
“Just like you and me?” I question before gently turning her to face me and placing a soft kiss on her lips.
“Enough of that! Some of us are hungry!” Avery shouts, but once we break apart, I see the smile on her face.
We continue breakfast without any trouble. The conversation flows freely with no mention of our imminent departure. The Twins give me the third degree, and Charlie tries his damnedest to embarrass the hell out of me with all our stories.
As we get close to the end of breakfast, the girls head to the bathroom to do whatever it is they do when they go to the bathroom in a group. Charlie moves over the closest chair to me.