“What in the fuck are you doing with Lori?” Brandon snapped
Logan stifled a sigh, decided to counter-attack. “Why didn’t you tell me about Cassie?”
Brandon’s teeth clicked together.
“I know you two are friends,” Logan said. “But I like Lori, a lot.”
Brandon sniffed. “Sure, you do. I know all about how you like women,” he muttered.
“Because you saw me trying to cope when the worst shit of my life happened. Yes, I was drinking. Yes, I was fucking. Yes, I was absolutely out of my mind.” He sucked in a breath. “Look. I know we both hold a lot of stuff to our chests, but I’m not the asshole I was a year ago. I fully admit I was a fucking mess then. I didn’t know what I was doing. Who I was any longer. My friends were severely injured or dead and—”
Cassie gasped.
Logan dropped his chin to his chest. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said it that way—”
She crossed over to him. “Logan. No. Oh my God, I’m sorry. I—”
Brandon touched her shoulder, tugged her back. “Hey, I get it. You were running.” He glanced down at Cassie. “That seems to be a Smith trait, but that doesn’t mean you’re good enough for Lori. She’s my best friend, and her ex was an asshole. She deserves someone who isn’t bogged down by the past, who can live in the present. No offense, Log, but you’ve got a lot of baggage.”
He did.
That much was true.
“And I know Lori is beautiful and convenient but—”
“I love her.”
Both Cassie and Brandon’s mouths fell open.
But it was the gasp in the hallway that set his heart sinking.
Lori was there, Brandon’s condo door wide open, her face pale, keys dangling from her fingers. “I-I sh-shouldn’t have heard t-that,” she stammered. “I’ll g-go.” She spun around and ran .
The backpack hit the ground as he chased after her, snagging her arm just as she made it to the hall.
“Shit, Lori,” he said. “I didn’t mean for you to hear that. It’s too soon, I know. I—why are you here?”
She shakily held up her cell. “Heather had to cancel. I figured I’d come back and change.” A shuddering breath. “Did you mean it?”
Fuck.
But he couldn’t lie to her.
“I did,” he said and hurried to add, “I know it’s insane. I know we’re just starting to learn each other, but Lori, you’re the most incredible woman I’ve ever met. Hands down. I want to learn you more, for us to spend more time together, for you to forget you heard me declare my love so that I can take you somewhere romantic in a reasonable amount of time and tell you then.” He cupped her cheek. “I want to do this right with you and—”
“I love you, too,” she blurted. “I agree this is insane and too fast and—well, you can just forget you heard it, too”—a smile—“so I can tell you again later.”
His heart had been pounding out of his chest, but at her words, it relaxed. “Really?”
Her finger came to his lips. “Shh.”
“Tell me again.”
“Later,” she admonished.
And then she dropped her hand to his shoulder and rose on tiptoe. He didn’t need any further encouragement. Logan bent his head and kissed her. Then kept on kissing her until Cassie and Brandon came out of the apartment and caught them.
“You boys will talk the rest of this out later,” Cassie said, waving as she tugged Brandon toward the elevator.