“Hey, I didn’t say that.”
“Maybe not those exact words, but you said you shouldn’t have left with me.”
He made a funny face I couldn’t read. “Well, yeah…but that’s because she probably thinks something’s going on between us.”
Okay. I was more confused than ever. “Me and you? Like what?”
Logan stared at me intently and sighed. “She thinks we’re…together.”
I furrowed my brow and opened my mouth like a fish feeding at the bottom of the ocean. “Together? Like boyfriends?”
He inclined his head with a smile, then gently set his thumb and forefinger under my chin. “Yeah.”
“But how? Why? I mean…how does she know I’m gay?”
“Aren’t you?” he countered.
“Well, yes, but I don’t know her. Or you.”
“Yeah, but I know you.”
I blinked wildly, sputtering. “That’s the second time you’ve said that. H-how do you know me?”
Logan pursed his lips in amusement. “I know you’re Kendra’s friend, and I told you, I’ve seen you around campus. And at the bookstore.”
“Right,” I replied, drawing out the word in a slow, suspicious voice.
“Quit staring at me like that. You’re making me nervous.”
“Sorry. I feel like you’re telling me half a story, and I’m supposed to guess the other half.” I put my considerable IQ to work and played out a few scenarios at lightning speed in my head. Nothing really made sense, unless… “Are you—gay or bi or…?”
Silence.
In the confined space of an unfamiliar vehicle, it felt super heavy and extremely uncomfortable. Worse than wearing a sticky Coke-stained shirt, that was for sure. I let out an awkward half chuckle and reached for the door handle, grateful the shadows hid my certain blush. I couldn’t believe I’d just asked a very big and burly hockey stud if he was queer. He was probably planning where to hide my body parts and—
“I’m bi.” Logan’s quiet voice ripped me from my reverie.
I let go of the handle and swiveled in my seat. “Really?”
“Yeah, and I’m mostly out, but not everyone knows. I came out to my family and my best friends a few months ago. And yeah…I told Kelly and I probably shouldn’t have. But like I said, I didn’t know she was planning a future wedding.”
“Was she angry?”
“No. She was hurt. That’s kinda worse.” He licked his lips and fixed me with a lopsided smile that went nowhere near his eyes. “Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t intend to unload all this on you. I’m probably making you really uncomfortable.”
“No, no. I’m just surprised. That’s all. What are the chances of two guys on the same hockey team coming out around the same time?” I waited a beat, then added, “Unless they were lovers. Were you and Colby ever—”
“Hell, no! Gross. Thanks for that disturbing thought,” he huffed.
“Hey, he’s a good-looking guy. It’s not completely out of the question.”
“Yes, it is. C’mon, Ned. Are you attracted to every gay dude you meet?”
“No, but—”
“No buts. I knew I was bi well before Colby came out. If that theory had any merit, I would have been hot for him for a while. He’s my friend only. Doesn’t matter what he looks like. He’s not my type anyway.”
“Okay, since we’re now in the midst of the weirdest conversation I’ve ever had…who’s your type?”
“I don’t know. Guys who don’t look like me,” he replied offhandedly.
“That’s very…vague.”
Logan quirked a wry grin as he hiked his right knee against the armrest. “Have you ever noticed how many guys are attracted to dudes who could be their twin? I follow a few couples on Instagram, and sometimes I can’t tell who is who. I guess straight couples can be like that too, but it usually happens over time. And then there’re people who end up looking like their dogs. I shit you not…my parents’ neighbor and her French poodle are dead ringers for each other. They’re both tall and skinny with curly black hair, and they both wear red nail polish.”
I squinted. “She paints her dog’s nails?”
“Yep. I couldn’t make that up if I tried.”
“Wow. All right. I’m not sure what we’re talking about now.”
“You asked me if I had a type, which is pretty much the exact question Kelly asked me the night I told her I was into dudes too. And I told her…”
I circled my wrist meaningfully when he didn’t continue. “What?”
“You.”
“Me what?” I asked, still confused.
“I told her you were my type.” He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel and flashed an intense look my way. “See, here’s what happened. I bumped into her outside of the bookstore two weeks ago…maybe less. I was looking for the journal Professor Blansky said was only available on campus. We had to have it ASAP, and I’d waited till the last second to get it…as usual. A cute redhead with a ponytail directed me to the aisle where you were stacking some new textbooks. She was kinda flirty, but I didn’t think too much about it. She said she was a hockey fan. I smiled and nodded, looked up, and there you were…bopping to fuck knows what song was playing in your head.”