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5: Alyssa
It was fun to watch Logan agonize over hurting my feelings. Sure, what he'd said stung, but I'd gotten over that later on the same day. However, Penitent Logan was rare and pleased me too much to let it slip away. After suffering his meanness for all these years, my pride reaped significant satisfaction from watching him eat crow. Besides he should feel bad for being such an ass.
But it had to end. He would have figured it out soon, and something told me he'd be even worse of a jerk if he knew I'd already forgiven him on his first sincere apology.
I sighed and turned away from the shoe store's window to look up at the grey sky. Even though I'd not been out for long, it was time to go home. Well, not my home as Logan liked to remind me. But whatever. At least it had a TV to watch and video games to play. I don't know why Melanie and Cassie had even dragged me on this trip if they knew they were going to spend most of their time with other people. Melanie was somewhere with her boyfriend and Cassie—I don't know. When I last called her cellphone it sent me straight to voicemail.
Probably somewhere fucking Logan.
Ugh. I didn't even want to think about that. Mostly, I didn't want to think about Logan in any sexual way ever again. Once more, I'd been duped by hope. The night of the party I'd been excited by the thought that I'd danced with Logan, but he threw cold water on that. It wasn't me. I danced with Cassie all night. Of course. It was why he'd been so hasty to drop me off so he could go screw Cassie's brains out.
But why had his blazer smelled like the guy I'd danced with?
Why didn't I learn? I could never have Logan. Never. To wish for otherwise led to a place of heartbreak and further dark consequences I hadn't properly considered as yet. What I actually needed was a man that was right for me. One that was socially acceptable to be with. Could I go out in public with Logan, my stepbrother? Hold him? Kiss him? Make it obvious that we did all the things a couple did? No, no, no. But I could do it all with the faceless, nameless Joe I'd find if I sought him out instead of yearning for my stepbrother.
As a matter of fact, I thought as I made my way home, the only two relationships I'd been in were complete duds. I didn't need a man at all. Not now, anyway. I was going on twenty-two and
about to finish up my last year of college. What I needed was to focus on my French and business education as well as my career. After all, my ultimate dream was to live and work in the heart of France, so from here on until I'd achieved my goal, I, Alyssa Smith, would have no more interest in men.
"Is everything to your liking, Mr. Ashbury?"
I stopped walking and looked in the direction of the voice. On the patio of a pricey-looking restaurant sat a few people at different tables. However, a blonde man hovered nearest the table where Logan was seated. The blonde man looked too well-dressed in his navy-blue suit and clean haircut to be a waiter. I rolled my eyes. Typical. Wealthy people always got the better service.
"Everything's great, Michael," said Logan, leaning back into his seat. "Thanks."
He wore a pale blue dress shirt with a few of the top buttons undone, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and his dark hair curling at the collar added a nice contrast. Annoyed, I wondered how someone could look both ordinary and sexy at the same time.
Move before he sees you!
Too late. Michael looked up and caught me gawking and Logan followed his gaze.
"What are you doing here?" There were no mean undertones but his bluntness irked me nevertheless.
"You might be richer than God but you don't own this pavement I'm standing on," I said in snippy tones. "I can be anywhere I hell damn please."
He rolled his eyes. "Christ, Alyssa, won't you quit it? Come here."
"Why?" I was making a scene. People were starting to watch. I didn't care.
"Come have lunch with me," he said then turned to Michael. "Get her a menu, please."
"I don't want to have lunch with you. I'm going home."
"Alyssa, if you persist in behaving like a child, I have no problem treating you like one," he said evenly. "When last have you been spanked?"
My face grew hot from embarrassment and surprised excitement. Was Logan flirting with me? I wasn't sure, but he was smiling. Michael returned with the menu and I decided it wasn't a hardship to have Logan feed me an expensive plate of food.
I pretended nonchalance as I sat opposite him but failed. I stuttered out my choices, more than aware of Logan's gaze trained on me. When Michael disappeared with my order, I had nowhere to look but up. At him.
"Now isn't that better?" he said.
I fiddled with the knick knacks on the table. "Maybe for you."
"I see. So you suffer whenever I'm around then?"
"Yeah, pretty much. Especially with all the insults and stuff."
He sighed and leaned closer. "Why are you being so difficult? I said I was sorry."
"Sure," I said, finally meeting his gaze. "You're sorry now until you open your big, stupid mouth and prove how much of a dick you can be. I don't like dicks, Logan."
"Are you absolutely sure about that?" he chuckled.
I was slow on the uptake but when I finally got it I couldn't help smiling back.
"You're the worst," I said, shaking my head.
He smiled at me. "Only for you, sis."
***
Lunch with Logan turned out to be an enjoyable experience—even when Cassie showed up unexpectedly and joined us.
"I lost my phone!" she said when I told her I tried to contact her earlier. "Auntie Isabel and I couldn't find it so I got a new one!"
After enduring Cassie's lengthy tale about the loss and futile search for her missing phone, Logan took us on a quick tour of the neighbourhood. For a small town girl accustomed to plain houses and pool-less backyards, it was interesting to see the variances of the opulent lifestyle of the coastal wealthy folk.
"How many rooms do these people need?" I asked, eyeing yet another McMansion.
"Just enough to not have to deal with annoying relatives on the regular," said Logan, looking at me.
I returned his gaze. "Yeah, I think I could agree with that."
