“This is nice,” I said softly as my body finally relaxed.
He kissed the top of my head. “It is.”
Staring down at the dress in the middle of the room, I muttered, “I broke the dress.”
He hugged me tighter. “That can be fixed. It’s just a dress.”
“Will you go with me to the welcome home party I’m throwing for Josie and Roger? They’ll be back from their honeymoon soon.”
“You know I’m already on the guest list, right?”
“I’m the one who sent out the invitations, silly. I mean go with me.”
“I would love to.”
Chapter 9
The NFL’s Most Eligible Bachelor
Ari
“I can’t believe you’re finally home,” I exclaimed, wrapping my arms around Josie as she greeted me at her door.
“I practically kissed the tarmac when we landed.” She ushered me into her kitchen.
“Was it wonderful?” I asked while putting my bag down and getting out my checklist for the party.
Josie twirled with elation plastered on her face. “Simply wonderful. You’ll have to convince Logan to take you before training camp starts.”
My stomach tensed. “You know we’re just friends, right?”
“Sure. Friends.” I wanted to bite off her fingers as she did air quotes and rolled her eyes.
“I’m serious. We’re friends,” I insisted.
She pulled up her phone and shoved it in my hand. “If that’s how friends act then I’ve been doing it wrong all these years.”
I gaped at the tabloid article with a picture of Logan and me kissing in the hallway of Might As Well.
“How did I not know about this?” Fighting back the bile welling up in my throat, I tossed her phone onto the granite counter. “So we kissed. People kiss. It happens.”
“The pictures from the ball were just stunning. You two look very good together,” she carried on.
“What?” I started to pace in a small circle around the island. “Can we just drop this?”
Josie grabbed me to halt my nervous wandering. I tapped my foot, glaring at my little sister.
She made a zipper motion over her lips. “Consider it dropped. Now what do we have to do for tonight?”
Looking back over my list, I ran through the last-minute items. “The caterers will be here within the hour to set up the tables and everything, and the bartenders are scheduled to arrive shortly after and will set up outside. They are bringing their own booze and bar, so that is all taken care of. I just have to grab the flowers in my car, and that’s it. I think we’re ready.”
Josie bounced on her heels. “I really appreciate you doing this for us.”
“I was happy to do it. Speaking of us, where’s my brother-in-law?”
She waved me off. “At the gym with Logan. You’d think those boys would take one day off during their offseason. I mean, isn’t that the point of an offseason?”
“You’d think,” I retorted.
“Didn’t Logan tell you they were gym buddies?”
“Just friends, remember? We don’t share every detail of our lives with one another.”
* * *
The party kicked off without a hitch. Even with how big Josie and Roger’s home was, there were wall-to-wall people congregated, dwarfing the expansive space.
Standing in the back corner, I watched the mingling, scanning the crowd for the one person I really wanted to see.
Finally, through the swarm, a crooked grin caught my eye as Logan strode over to greet me.
“Why are you all by yourself?” he asked before kissing my cheek.
“Just making sure everyone is having a good time.”
Looking over his shoulder, he examined the large room. “Seems like you’ve outdone yourself, Owens.”
“Why thank you.” I smiled up at him.
“And this dress…” Logan spun me around to get a better look. “It’s stunning on you.”
“Trying to butter me up, Turner?”
“Is it working?”
“Maybe. That suit is helping.”
Hooking his arm around my waist, he whispered, “How about we dip into a room for a minute?”
I sharply elbowed him in the ribs. “Do I need to remind you that this is my sister’s party and I am throwing it? How would it look if I disappeared?”
He pointed around the room. “Everyone here is too consumed with themselves to notice if we’re gone for a moment. I just want to lick that perfect cunt of yours.” Goose bumps shot up my arms and down my legs as he breathed gently on my neck. “I’ll be quick, I promise. It’ll be all about you. I just can’t resist.”
“Fine.” I sighed, grabbing his hand as we rushed for the back bedroom. “I can’t believe you talked me into this.”
Logan pressed me against the door as he locked it. “I blame my talented tongue,” he snickered, kneeling down in front of me.
Hiking the long skirt of my ivory chiffon dress up to my hips, Logan pushed my thong to the side and started to suck on my clit. My knees immediately went weak as he nipped at my sensitive skin.
“Please never let me say no to this, ever,” I groaned, running my fingers through his short hair.
“I promise.” He panted as our eyes met for a split second then his fingers filled me, making my back arch and my legs quake.
“There?” he asked as he hooked his fingers perfectly.
“Fuck yes,” I whimpered as my entire body started to shake. “Don’t stop.”
Within seconds, my climax built, and before I knew what was happening, I was putty in Logan’s extremely capable hands.
As I dripped onto his fingers, I tried to catch my breath.
“I told you it would be quick.” Logan winked at me. “Bathroom?”
I pointed to the door across the room, still unable to steady my breathing.
“En-suite guest bath, nice touch,” he commented before ducking in to wash his face. Then as we rejoined the party, Logan looked down to me. “I should really make the rounds. Want something to drink?”
“You go mingle, I’ll get the libations. What do you want?”
“Thank you, beautiful. Scotch neat, please.”
“Coming right up.”
I made my way to the bar, which was set up perfectly next to the pool’s waterfall where Josie was gabbing with friends of hers I had only met at the wedding.
“Ari, just the woman I wanted to see,” Josie exclaimed, practically throwing her wine all over a woman I couldn’t have remembered the name of if my life depended on it.
“Might want to watch your beverage there, sis,” I commented while waving hello to her posse.
“Why? Where’s it going?”
Taking the glass out of my drunk sister’s hand, I set it down onto the bar. “Right here.”
“So, Ari, tell us…how is it being with Logan?” A mousy blonde chortled at me.
My eyes grew wide. “Excuse me?”
“You’re with Logan Turner, aren’t you? We just saw the two of you together,” another one of the vultures declared as they all closed ranks around me.
“We’re friends. He’s a wonderful man,” I explained, feeling suffocated.
“I’ll say. I mean, he better be to have been named the NFL’s most eligible bachelor this year, but I guess that isn’t really true since you two are an item now.” The mousy blonde shot daggers at me as her tone sharpened.
“I came over here for a drink, not to gossip.” I tried to fight my way to the bar, but those bitches were planted in a tight circle.
“Oh come on, sis. We can all see the way the two of you look at each other.” Josie giggled with a slight hiccup at the end.
“Excuse me?” I narrowed my eyes at my sister. “I thought we had dropped the Logan issue.”
“But you admit there is an issue.” She pointed her finger at me, practically hitting me in the nose.
“Oh no, there’s an issue?” one of the women gasp
ed behind me.
“There’s no issue,” I shot back.
“Hey, Ari, how’re those drink’s coming?” Logan’s husky voice shot over the horde of women.
Pushing the gaggle aside, I gripped his hand, leading him to the side of the patio.
“Were you named the NFL’s most eligible bachelor?” I questioned.
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Yes. Why?”
“Why didn’t you tell me that?” I couldn’t fight back the overwhelming feeling that everyone was watching us.
“Does it really matter? So some magazine thought I would look good on their cover one month—big whoop. It would have been Roger, but your sister snatched him out of the running.”
“I can’t do this here.”
Storming through the house and out Josie’s front door, I waited impatiently for Logan to scramble after me.
“What has gotten into you?” he demanded, slamming the door behind him.
“Logan, we can’t do this anymore. I’m not having fun and this situation isn’t light. We have my sister hearing wedding bells and telling me to talk you into taking me to Europe, tabloids printing pictures of us kissing at a bar, and all of Josie’s friends asking me what it’s like to be with you. We need to break this off before it gets any more complicated than it already is.”
Starting to pace, Logan shook his head. “You’re just scared because you’re actually starting to have feelings for me. I can see it all over your damn face, and if I’m being honest, I am so relieved because I broke the no-getting-attached rule the moment I kissed you on that oceanside terrace at your sister’s wedding. I only went along with this whole bullshit plan of yours because having just a bit of you was better than not having you at all. I fucking love you, Ari, and if that scares the shit out of you, I don’t care, because it’s the truth.”
“I have to go.” Tears started streaming down my face as I rushed for my car.
Logan chased after me, blocking the door handle. “You can’t do this, Ari. Please don’t do this.”
“You can’t love me, Logan. We’re not even dating. We’ve only known each other for a few weeks. This is insane.”
“And you will always love me, won’t you? And the rain won’t make a difference?”
“Don’t use Hemingway to weasel yourself out of this one, Turner,” I barked at him.
His pleading eyes met mine as he grabbed my shoulders. “That is how much I love you. I know you’re going to freak out and be terrified, but a little rain is worth it if it means I get you. Heck, I’m scared shitless, but I am here just begging for a chance to show you how truly amazing life can actually be if we do it together.”
“Get out of my fucking way, Logan. You’ve ruined all of it. There’s no going back after that damn L word gets tossed into the mix.”
“Fine. Run. That’s what you’re good at. Fuck, you’re better at running than I am, and I get paid millions of dollars a year to do it.”
Logan retreated from the car, marching over to his Range Rover and speeding away.
Sitting in my driver’s seat, I left a voicemail for Josie. “Sorry I had to leave so quickly. I think the mussels didn’t agree with me. Call me tomorrow to let me know how the rest of the night went.”
I was paralyzed. I hated Logan for ruining everything. I hated the way those women had so easily gotten into my head. I hated that my sister had to show me those damn news articles right before the party. I hated that Logan was right about everything.
Chapter 10
Lt. Frederic Henry
Ari
Weeks turned into months that Logan and I didn’t talk. He never tried. I never tried. I thought about him constantly. Nothing could really distract me for long enough to get Logan Turner completely off my mind, but life just keeps going.
I ignored Josie for weeks, finally giving in to her when she showed up at my place and dragged me out of the house to go lay out on the beach. She didn’t even mention him, which I appreciated.
Work continued, codes were written, and games were tested, but nothing seemed to get me out of my funk. I knew I wasn’t trying very hard to shake off my melancholy, but with time, I just hoped it would all fade into a bittersweet memory.
Checking my fridge on a random Saturday afternoon, I realized I hadn’t even left my apartment to grocery shop for far too long.
Enough is enough.
I put on makeup, peeled off the yoga pants I had been wearing for at least two days, and put on my favorite jeans and a nice top.
Making my way to Might As Well felt liberating. I had been avoiding it just in case Logan decided to pull his old stunt again.
“Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes,” Ashlyn called out while pouring me my usual beer.
“Work has been crazy,” I explained, throwing my purse onto the bar top.
“No Logan today?” she asked, unaware of the situation.
I shook my head. “No Logan at all.”
“Are we sad, mad, fine?” Her kind smile lifted my mood.
“We are moving on,” I declared.
“To moving on.” She set my drink down, placing a menu next to it. “Holler if you need anything, sweetie.”
I waved her off, taking a long pull from the flavorful ale.
Other than a group of guys congregated at a far table, I was alone at the outside bar. I breathed a sigh of relief, proud of myself for taking the first step of moving on.
It wasn’t like Logan and I had really been anything, but there was just something about the imprint he had left on me that nipped at the back of my brain over and over. I hated knowing I’d broken his heart and also mine in the process.
Just as beer number two was delivered, one of the men broke away from his group, planting himself right next to me.
“You look so familiar. Have we met?” he asked before his ass even touched the seat.
I cocked my head to the side. “No, sorry. Maybe you have me confused with someone else.”
He pursed his lips. “I wouldn’t confuse such a gorgeous smile with someone else. Do you come here often?”
“Used to.”
“Maybe that’s it then. We’re frequent flyers around this place. Warren.” He offered me his hand.
I politely took it. “Ari.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ari. Are you alone?”
I nodded. “Just came to have a quiet drink and some grub.”
“Why don’t you come join us? I promise we won’t bite.” Warren shot over a gentle smile.
Fuck it.
“Why not?” I hopped off my barstool and followed him to his group.
“Ari, this is Vic, Henry, and Jason.”
They all waved sweetly.
“Have a seat.” Jason pulled out the empty chair next to him.
“Thanks.”
“So, Ari, what brings you out on this glorious Saturday afternoon?” Henry asked through a grizzled beard.
“Needed a drink and some fresh air,” I answered. “What about you guys?”
“Weekly boys club,” Warren explained. “When these three decided to get hitched, we had to set aside a time for us men to have some guy time.”
“I don’t want to impose.” I started to get up, feeling like a very awkward fifth wheel.
Warren held his hand up. “Please, you’re not imposing. They’re all married. I am a lone wolf among domesticated house pets. Don’t leave me with the riffraff.”
Vic narrowed his gaze at me. “I swear I’ve seen you before.”
I shrugged my shoulders high. “I don’t think so.” I couldn’t place their faces at all, and I definitely had never run into them at Might As Well before.
“Let me ask you something, Ari.” Henry raised an eyebrow.
“Sure.”
“Kissed any football players lately?” He could barely get the words out before erupting in laughter.
“Excuse me?” I leapt to my feet.
“You owe me ten bucks, Warren. I told you that
was the chick who was spotted here lip-locked with Logan Turner. Pay up, my friend.” Henry continued with his hysterics as the rest of the group joined in.
“Aw, Ari, don’t be like that,” Warren called after me as I threw a twenty on the bar and did what I did best: I ran.
* * *
Safely back in my condo, I did what I did every time real life was a little too much for me. I hid behind my avatar Mazyy.
I sleighed dragons, shot down orcs, and stormed castles with ferocity. Hiding in my fictional world was going to have to be enough from now on because out in the real world, people were cruel and made bets at the expense of others’ feelings.
Tears streamed down my down my face as I flew from Ironforge to Stormwind on my snowy gryphon.
Just as I got my toon into the auction house to unload some of my plunder, a blue message popped up in the chat box from a handle I didn’t have saved in my friends list.
Ltfredhenrry: Josie?
Mazyy: Who is this?
Ltfredhenrry: I made it pretty easy for you…guess.
I racked my brain trying to break down the long character name.
Mazyy: Give me one hint.
Ltfredhenrry: “But life isn’t hard to manage when you’ve nothing to lose.”
I sighed to myself as I read the Hemingway quote, the heart-melting moment quickly shifting into complete panic.
Closing my laptop, I started to hyperventilate. Of all the places he could have chosen from, he found me on World of Warcraft? Seriously?
Reluctantly, I lifted the screen to see three more messages.
Ltfredhenrry: I didn’t know how else to reach you. I didn’t want to just show up since that would be breaking another rule. I figured you had blocked my number, and knowing it for sure would have broken me even more. I didn’t want to drag Josie and Roger into this and make it more of a mess.
Ltfredhenrry: Tell me it’s really over and I will delete this account and you will never hear from me again.
Offsides: A Standalone Sports Romantic Comedy Page 6