Kite opened the fridge and grabbed another beer. “Better get out there. Ream’s back and looks like he’s pounded back more than a few of something burning.”
“Shit,” Logan said. “Crisis?”
“Riling it up.” Kite opened his beer, and a hiss sounded.
“Fuck.” Logan let my legs go, put his hands on my hips and helped me off the counter. “I have to deal with this, Mouse.”
“Okay, I’ll finish up here.”
Logan snagged my hand. “No. You’re not staying here cleaning up. I’ll do it tomorrow.”
We went outside to the pool, Kite followed. Crisis, Kat, and Ream were there and it was heated. Gray slate cobblestones gleamed under the lights that surrounded the pool. The water glistened, and the moonlight reflected off the smooth surface.
“Back the fuck off, Ream,” Crisis shouted. “What’s your problem?”
“You’re my problem, asshole. Get your hands off her.” Ream’s eyes shot to Kat. “You gonna fuck him too? Going to screw every fuckin’ guy that looks at you? Ever thought of asking for money? You’d be rich by now.”
Kat’s face paled, and I suspected if Crisis didn’t have his arm around her waist, she would’ve collapsed. Her expression was so damaged—eyes wide with horror, mouth open with shock. “Are you offering to compensate me for services rendered?”
“Fuck,” Logan muttered. “Stay here.” He started to walk toward them.
Ream was in Crisis’s face, slurring his words. “Fuckin’ Crisis, Kat? Man whore? This isn’t going down. No fuckin’ goddamn way.”
“Ream, you need to walk away man,” Kite said approaching.
“Ream.” Logan’s voice was more of a warning sound, and I recognized it well.
“You don’t own me, Ream. Remember. You think I’m a piece of shit, so it doesn’t matter what you think of me.” I was close enough to see Kat’s tears teetering in the rims of her eyes.
Ream’s face dropped, and he ran his hand twice over his shaved head. “Where’d you get that shit from? I never said that. I never fuckin’ said that.”
“You look at me like I’m garbage. I might as well play the part.”
Logan’s body was tight, ready. Like he looked before a fight—controlled and calm but deadly. He chin-lifted to Kite then they walked up behind Crisis and Kat.
“Jesus Christ, I don’t think that. But you keep this up and I’m changing my mind. Fuckin’ hell, Kat, why are you doing this? The men. Jesus.”
Kat slipped from Crisis and backed up. “You wouldn’t even talk to me afterward.”
Ream ran his hand through his hair, and he staggered a step as he lost his balance. “Kitkat … I couldn’t … I couldn’t face—”
Kat erupted. “You couldn’t face it? Are you serious? I fuckin’ face it! I knew it. I fuckin’ knew this would happen. I never told anyone for this very goddamn reason.” She walked toward him, her hands balled into fists. “I still face it, Ream. Me.” Kat shoved him in the chest, and he staggered back a step. “You have no right telling me who I can be with. None.” She slammed both palms into him again.
“Oh shit,” Logan swore as Ream lost his balance and went back several feet then slipped over the edge into the pool.
Crisis roared with laughter.
It took several seconds before he came sputtering to the surface. Crisis was still laughing while Kat frowned, her gaze focused on Ream as he swam to the side and pulled himself out.
His jeans and T-shirt clung to his body like a second skin, and when I looked at Kat, she was staring at Ream like … she was in love with him.
Crisis was bowled over, clutching his stomach laughing.
But it was the look in Ream’s eyes that had me worried for Kat. Logan got that look, a twinkle in his eyes that I knew meant mischief. Ream shook his head and droplets of water dispersed like a dog shaking after his bath. He looked nonchalant, casual, and that was dangerous.
“Kat—” I was too late. The moment I said her name, Ream dove for her. His head was down as his arms wrapped around her waist and heaved her over his shoulder. She squelched and kicked and struggled.
“Ream! Let me—” He jumped. Kat’s scream was cut off as they disappeared beneath the surface of the water.
Logan looked at Kite. “We need to step on this shit.”
Kite smacked Crisis in the arm. “You’re no fuckin’ help, asshole.”
“Me? He needs to wake the fuck up. I’m helping him.” Crisis’s held up his hands, feigning innocence although his lips were twitching. What a shit disturber.
I bit my lip. Logan scoffed.
Ream and Kat came up from the beneath the surface of the water and Ream had his arm hooked around her waist, helping her to the side of the pool.
Logan met my eyes and I recognized the spark, knew it, felt it, and I remembered. I remembered when I’d first fallen in love with Logan.
He approached, a slow, casual stride. I stepped back one foot after the other. His eyes slid down me then back up again. Then, God that smile.
“Logan.” I held up my hand as I continued backward.
His brows rose to match his grin.
“Logan, no.”
“Yes, Emily.”
I turned and ran, but he was on me in two strides, looping his arm around my waist and carrying me kicking and screaming to the edge of the pool.
“Logan! Logan, don’t you dare.” I pounded my fists into his back. “No. Please.”
“Are you staying in my bed?”
“No, don’t. I mean yes.”
“I’m not understanding your answer. Maybe a little cold water will help.”
“Noooo.”
He leapt high into the air. I screamed.
I felt the cold water descend over my body, then my head as we went under. Logan’s hands were on me, holding me against him as we hit the bottom and he crouched and pushed off.
The moment I could suck in air, I struggled to dislodge his hands so I could swim to the edge of the pool. Logan was laughing so hard that he couldn’t hold onto me as I kicked out and hit him in the stomach.
“Bastard,” I yelled. I was trying my hardest to hold in my laughter and act all pissy, but when he caught me at the side of the pool and dragged me into him, I felt his lips on the back of my neck then the touch of his hands under my shirt, his skin against mine. He was caressing my abdomen then up across my ribs and …