Heart Strings

“You shitting us, Logan?”

I tried not to laugh, instead stepping forward and holding out my hand to the taller of the two. “You must be Trevor.”

He shook my hand. “I am.”

I turned to Rex. “Hi, Rex. I’m Lottie.”

He beamed. “You’re real?”

“Last time I checked.”

Trev whistled low. “Holy shit. You weren’t kidding, Logan. She’s stunning.”

“And she’s taken,” Logan snapped.

“Now, boys.” A beautiful woman stepped into our odd circle, a wide grin on her face. “Hi, I’m Gretchen. Aren’t you pretty? Look at that hair! Logan, you were right. Amazing.”

I looked up at him. What exactly had he been telling these people?

Ten minutes later, it didn’t matter. They accepted me for me. Lottie. Logan’s girl. I felt as if I had known them all my life.

Rex and Gretchen sat with me on the sofa, handing me a coffee cup that was well laced with Baileys. Gretch, as she insisted I call her, perched on Rex’s knee, chatting away. She was tiny, with white-blond hair and huge blue eyes. Rex was average height, with sandy-colored hair, no doubt styled by Gretchen. He wore glasses that emphasized his dark-brown eyes and had full sleeves on both arms, the colorful ink a splash of brightness against his black jeans and T-shirt. They were a cute couple, affectionate and funny—finishing each other’s sentences and joking constantly.

“The way Logan talked about you, we were sure he was exaggerating,” Gretch admitted. “We never thought he’d get up the courage to talk to you.”

“Or that you were even real,” Rex added. “I was sure he was singing to some mystical being only he could see.”

“Nope. I’m real.”

“And he finally talked to you,” Gretch breathed out.

I looked over to the kitchen, where Logan was helping Trev chop vegetables. He caught my eye and winked, making my cheeks flush.

“He did,” I assured her. “I was so exhausted, I fell asleep in the subway, and he sat and watched over me until I woke up. Then we went for burgers and talked. We, ah, spent the weekend together.”

Gretch clapped her hands. “How romantic! Isn’t that romantic, babe?”

Rex grinned, his eyes crinkling behind his glasses. “Yep. Romantic. That’s our Logan.”

She slapped his chest. “Stop it.”

He grabbed her, kissing her hard, and I averted my gaze to the kitchen. Trevor was saying something to make Logan laugh, and I liked seeing him in his own environment. He was relaxed and happy. Trevor was about Logan’s height and a wall of muscle. He had a head of dark hair and hazel eyes. He was clean-shaven and wore a tight T-shirt that emphasized his chest and arms. Obviously at home in the kitchen, he chopped and stirred, talked and teased, all at the same time. Remembering the box I had brought, I went to Logan’s room then returned to the kitchen, sliding it on the counter.

“I brought dessert.” When Logan had said he was taking me to meet his roommates, I had insisted on bringing the cake. I was glad I had something to contribute.

“Awesome.” Trevor agreed. “Sundays are my lax days. I eat whatever I want.” He elbowed Logan. “Not all of us can chow down like this big guy.” He flipped the lid on the box. “Wow. That’s an awfully pretty cake. Special occasion?”

“Um, no. I just made what I felt like.”

“You made this?”

“Isn’t she talented?” Logan asked.

Gretch hurried over and peeked in the box. “That is fabulous.”

“And it tastes even better. Her cookies are to die for,” Logan assured her.

“Then let’s start eating and get to dessert!”

“Sounds like a plan. Stir-fry ready in ten.” Trev winked at me. “Dessert after that.”I curled up next to Logan, tracing lazy circles over his chest. I peeked at the clock, dreading the way the day was flying by. The brunch had been delicious, the stir-fry packed with veggies, shrimp, and chicken. The sauce was spicy, making me need lots of water. The cake had been devoured amidst groans of appreciation. I was fairly quiet, but the constant banter and teasing that flew around the table made me smile. I was thrilled to see my fears of Logan’s living conditions were way off. The apartment was comfortable and warm, and his friends supportive and caring. They were obviously a little family unit, and it made me happy that he had that. It was so much better than the shelter I’d worried about him being in, or the street I was scared he walked every night.

We had spent time with his roomies, and I saw a different side to him. He was obviously the leader of the group. They all seemed to defer to him as they discussed shopping, meals, paying the rent. There was a lively discussion about a new TV Rex and Gretch both thought the place needed.

“You mean, you need,” Logan snorted. “I am not bankrolling your obsession with a bigger TV so you can play even more games.”