“Candace, are you seeing anyone?”
She barks out a laugh. “When have I got the time? Before or after my shifts at the school and District? Oh right, maybe I can pencil the bloke in for a quick lay on Sunday evenings. Then it’s lights out by ten so I’m not a total snooze at school on Monday morning.”
Her friends are approaching, and I only have a few more seconds. I have to know—do I even have a shot with her?
“So that’s it? You’re too busy for me?”
“For you?”
“Don’t act surprised. I admitted my crush the other day.”
She looks like she needs to lie down or maybe soak herself in an ice bath.
She’s rubbing her forehead and looking away, frustrated. “I do remember that, though I thought my brain was having a go at me. Listen, you’re lovely, just the sort of guy I’d go for if I could, but I can’t.”
I reach out for her hand so I can grip it and assure myself she’s real.
“Why? Why can’t we try this?”
Her blue eyes pierce through me when she replies, “Because you’re off limits, I’m afraid.”Chapter SevenCandaceOh dear. Logan looks like I’ve just shot him straight through the heart with an arrow.
Maybe this is how David felt right after he hit Goliath with that rock. How in the world have I managed to inflict pain on a man as gorgeous and charming as Logan? I feel horrible.
My hand shoots out to grab his arm. It’s a real hulking muscle, and I do get distracted for a moment, squeezing it under my fingers and feeling just how bulky it is. God, he must eat loads of protein. Hopefully he’s not one of those wankers who shoots raw eggs down his gullet in the morning though. Blech.
Then I drag my attention away from his hard-earned muscles and up to his eyes…the lovely brown eyes that look utterly wounded right now. I feel bad all over again. I don’t want to be David.
“Listen, okay, it’s not that bad. It’s just I don’t know the rules at The Day School yet. This teacher got axed last year for having sex with a student’s dad, and I know you’re not Briggs’ dad, but you’re his uncle, and maybe that’s just as bad? I tried to—”
“We’re back! Finally. My feet hurt just from walking to the loo and back. This place is huge,” Kat says, sounding as if she’s just climbed Everest and she needs to take a load off.
“It really did take forever what with all the doors. I swore we went into like fifteen bedrooms before we ended up in the line for the loo,” Yasmine agrees. “Anyway, who’s this?” She looks Logan up and down, her brows shooting up to her hairline like she’s mighty impressed. “Oh right…”
She’s finally connected the photos of him from Google to the real-life thing.
“This is Logan,” I say, motioning between the three of them. “Logan, these are my flatmates, Yasmine and Kat.”
“Right. So you’re Logan, Mr. Celebrity Athlete and all. Real pleasure to meet you.” Kat extends her hand. “Quite a nice set of bricks you have here. What’s the square footage on a place like this?”
Yasmine groans and cuts in before Logan can answer. “Kat, you can’t just ask someone that. It’s so crass.”
“What? Seems like if someone is going to spend this much on a flat, they’d want to show it off.”
He shakes her hand then looks to me with a pleading expression, as if hoping I’ll explain that these aren’t my friends at all, but rather two psychos I plucked off the street as a joke. Funny, right? Anyhoo, they’ll be leaving now. But alas, it is what it is. Crazy attracts crazy, and we three come as a trio.
“Now that my friends have introduced themselves, I think you should take us out to your pool.”
“Yes!” Kat agrees, clapping her hands together enthusiastically.
“Okay sure. Let’s go,” Logan agrees. “Let me just grab a drink first.”
We head to the bar, and he asks the bartender for a water.
“Are you sober?” I ask, trying to keep my voice down. “No judgment or anything. I’ve got an uncle who did AA.”
He looks confused for a second before seeing my gaze on his water. “Oh no. I just don’t drink much. I already had a beer earlier, so I’m cutting myself off. My trainer can always tell if I’ve been drinking the night before a session, and it’s not worth the extra sprints.”
“Right. Then I won’t drink either.” I turn to the bartender. “Water for me too. On the rocks.”
He looks thoroughly confused. “What?”
I fidget a bit. “I was just being cheeky. Can I just get it with some ice, please?”
He still doesn’t laugh, but he does get me a cup of water with loads of ice. Once Yasmine and Kat have their wine, we set off toward the porch. I expect it to be freezing once we step outside, and I nearly run back in for my coat. But then, instead of icy air blasting my face, I’m met by pockets of warmth. There are huge heaters set up around the perimeter of the balcony, making it so you can stand anywhere outside and still feel comfortable, so much so that there are a good number of people in the pool. They’re brave souls who’ve stripped down to their knickers and are splashing around in the water. One of the guys shouts for Logan to come over, and Logan waves to him before turning to us.