Ever.I licked my fingers. “These are the best dumplings I’ve ever had.”
He hummed in agreement, slathering hot sauce on his and popping one in his mouth. He ate the way he did everything—with gusto. “Stick with me, kid. I know all the best places.”
The “best place” we were sitting in was a tiny hole-in-the-wall I would have walked past without a glance. But he had pulled me in, and although I was apprehensive at first, one sip of their jasmine tea and the hot and sour soup that appeared in front of me, and I no longer cared about the paper napkins or the mismatched tables and chairs. The food was delicious, and once again, Logan was well-known.
“Their son was in one of the classes I taught while his math teacher was off for a month. I could see he was struggling, so I did some one-on-one with him. His grades improved, and they insisted on meeting me. Kai’s mom brought me food, and I was hooked,” he elaborated.
That explained the hugs when we walked in and the effusive greetings from the kitchen.
“I’m hooked too,” I agreed. “I love Chinese food.”
A plate of noodles appeared along with a dish of spicy, crispy chicken. The aroma wafted up, and I groaned. “Oh my god.”
Logan smirked. “I know. I eat here a lot.”
I set down my chopsticks and took a sip of the fragrant tea. “Logan…”
He narrowed his eyes, warning me not to say it.
“Please. I want to treat you to dinner. You’ve paid all day.”
“Nope. Today is my day, and I’m showing you my world. But I tell you what—next day we spend together is on you. I want to see your favorite haunts.”
“And you’ll let me pay?”
“I won’t reach for my wallet once.”
“Deal.”
He lifted a piece of chicken off the platter, holding it over the table. “Now eat, my little Snow Queen.”
I leaned forward and let him feed me. I closed my eyes at the burst of ginger, garlic, and chili. “So good.”
He took one for himself. “I know.”
I chewed in silence, wondering how I was going to top this day. We’d been so many places. Little spots I didn’t know about. Small galleries where we looked at artwork. Parks I didn’t know existed where we’d sat on benches, gazed at unknown statues, made a snowman, drank hot chocolate. We sat in the library, and Logan had quietly read his favorite passages from a book of poems. He showed me beautiful, ornate houses. Diners. Coffee shops. The Koi House where we were eating. Each place he knew intimately and shared with me—all pieces of his life.
What would I share besides my desk?
“Hey,” he called, his low voice breaking the fog I was in. “Whatever we do, even if it’s sitting in your place and you knitting, I’m good with it, Lottie. No pressure.”
“Okay.”
We ate in sporadic silence, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Logan fed me bites, insisted we needed more dumplings, and ordered iced lychee nuts and served them to me, dripping and sweet with that unmistakable tang that bit a little as you chewed. His student Kai dropped by the table and chatted to him, telling him about an advanced course he was taking next summer. He eyed me with curiosity and smirked widely as Logan introduced me.
“My girlfriend. Lottie.”
Logan arched his eyebrow at me, daring me to contradict him.
Instead, I greeted Kai warmly and asked more about his studies. He was enthusiastic, filling me in on how bad he had been at math until Mr. Logan sat him down and unraveled the mystery no other teacher had been able to explain.
“Now, I’m in the advanced class. And I plan on being a teacher too.”
“That’s amazing.”
We finished our dinner and headed back into the cold. Logan pulled a beanie out of his pocket and, before I could protest, tugged it over my hair, and then pulled out another one and yanked it over his shaggy hair. We walked a few blocks and I expected him to turn in the direction of my condo, but he veered to the right. I let him lead, secretly thrilled the day wasn’t over.
We stopped in front of a small bar, and he scratched his head. “I sometimes play here on the weekends.”
“Oh.”
“My friend Mitch is playing tonight. He has a set at eight. Feel like listening to a bit of music?”
“I’d love that.”
He huffed a long breath, the vapor hanging in the cold air. “Good, because I’m not ready to give you up yet.”
He opened the door, bent low, and kissed my lips. “After you, my Snow Queen.”Chapter 7LottieHis friend Mitch was an amazing piano player and a crooner. His voice was clear and seductive, and he stroked the keys like a master. The bar was packed, and we were only able to say hello before his next set, but Logan promised him we would be back.