“Right.” Hilary sipped the juice in front of her.
“So how long have you and Josh been dating?” I asked, offering a reprieve from the tension.
“A couple weeks. It’s still new.”
That surprised me. As of last week, she still wanted Logan, as far as I knew.
“He still throwing all those parties at his place?” Hilary asked, an edge to her voice.
“A few. They’re fun. I’ve never spent much time in the country. It’s a different crowd than I’m used to. Josh was the first person to get me on a quad. I knew then he was what I needed…someone different than who I’m usually attracted to.” She looked back at Hilary. “What about you and Caleb? How long you two been together?”
“Long enough to know he doesn’t want anyone else,” she said defensively, then threw up her hand to flag the waitress. The young woman appeared almost instantly.
“A water. Thanks,” Hilary told her, then she was gone again.
“Water? Where’s the fun in that?” Natasha laughed.
Hilary’s eyes narrowed. I sighed under my breath, then finished off my drink and grabbed the next one.
“I’m DD tonight,” Hilary explained. “I also don’t need to drink to have a good time.”
“Right. You sure you’re not knocked up?”
Hilary paled for all of a second before composing herself, straightening her shoulders and lifting her chin. “Why? Were you hoping to go a round with Caleb after you blew through the frat boys? ’Cause I promise you, he’s not interested.”
Natasha blew out a sharp laugh. “Relax, I was joking.” She took a sip of her drink, then added, “Although it’s a shame Caleb wasn’t around when Logan and I were still together. Logan’s always had some fun friends. We all had a lot of memorable nights together.”
My stomach lurched. Had Logan shared Natasha with his friends? Would he want to share me—pass me around? No, I wasn’t even gonna go there.
“Yeah, well, Caleb doesn’t need Logan to share anything. I take care of him just fine.”
“Yet he’s still here every night, charming and eager to please. I bet your bed gets quite lonely.”
“Hey, stop it!” I snapped. The sneers they exchanged were fierce.
“No problem. So what was your mom doing at Logan’s tonight?” Hilary asked, changing the subject completely.
My body stiffened. My mom? “What? When?”
“Her squad car was pulling out of his driveway when I got to your place. Everything all right? Wasn’t sure if it had to do with…about…you know, Kurt.” Her eyes flickered to Natasha, then back to me.
I blinked, relieved when the waitress returned to take the focus off me.
“I don’t know why she’d be there,” I finally muttered between swallows, finishing off my drink before asking for another.
Kurt. I couldn’t think about him. Would my mom go to Logan with information before me? Probably—especially if she thought it’d protect me.
I pushed it from my mind. I’d ask Logan first thing in the morning.
“I’m sure it’s nothing,” Hilary offered. To my surprise, Natasha spoke up as well.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t worry about it. I’m sure if something’s going on, Logan would have told you,” she said with a small but sincere-looking smile.
“Thanks.” I took another drink and rested back against the booth.
Thankfully, the conversation took a lighter turn when a few frat guys took over the center of the dance floor. They had wild moves, and pulled girls into the routine with them one by one, tossing them around while the patrons cheered in a circle around them. I laughed with Natasha while Hilary stood on her seat hollering, enjoying the show as the young women tried to keep up with the guys’ smooth moves.
By the end of the night, I was mindlessly buzzed and barely able to keep myself upright on the dance floor. It wasn’t like me to get drunk when I was out, but between all the heated exchanges and the raucous crowd, I lost myself in it.
“You okay!?” Hilary shouted over the music.
I swayed to the music, keeping close to a brick column for support just in case.
“Yeah! Ready to go?”
She nodded. “Gonna use the restroom first. Stay here.”
I wasn’t going anywhere. A passing waitress handed me a bottle of water. Where she came from, I had no clue, but I gave her a grateful smile before taking a drink.
Hilary was back by the time the next song ended, and despite my drunkenness I knew something was wrong. I moved toward her, worried at her rattled state. She was trembling.
“What happened?” I asked, sobering instantly.
“Nothing, let’s go.” Anger edged her tone.
“What about Natasha? We can’t let her drive. She’s been drinking.”
“Fine. I’ll meet you both in the parking lot.” And with that, she was gone.
I turned around to find Natasha. My breath caught when I saw her exit the ladies’ room, looking more than a little pleased. Had they been in there together? Did something happen?
“Natasha!” I yelled, but the music was louder. I started toward her, yelling again until she finally looked my way, her smile growing.
“Hey, let’s dance!” she shouted, rolling her shoulders and rotating her hips to the beat.
“We should go. Hilary’s waiting outside. She can drop you at home.”
Natasha waved her hand dismissively. “No worries, I’ll catch a ride later,” she said, shamelessly turning her hungry gaze on a tall, built guy leaning against the wall next to her.
“You sure?”
“Positive.”
I nodded and had begun to move away when she grabbed my arm.
“Thanks for tonight, Cassandra. I don’t have a lot of girlfriends, so I appreciate you giving me a chance.”
I nodded once more with a tight smile, then headed to the coat check. I was exhausted and ready to climb into bed—Logan’s bed.
Chapter Eighteen
Running
I woke up in Logan’s arms, inhaling his masculine scent and trying to ignore the pounding present both in my temple and at his front door.
“Shit,” Logan grumbled, then flung the blanket from his side of the bed and stood.
The doorbell rang not just once, but twice in a row. My head dug further into my pillow, blocking it out.
“Stay here,” he said, crossing the room. “I’m going to kick someone’s ass.”
The banging continued between the constant rings of the bell. Someone has no patience. One of Jax’s friends, I assumed.
I rolled my head slightly, enjoying the view of Logan slipping into his white pajama pants. I smiled, memorizing the magnificent sight.
After he’d thrown the bedroom door open and stormed into the hall, I snatched my phone from the night table. My head protested the movement, so I kept it down on the pillow. I’d drunk too much the previous night, and barely recalled the drive home. Hilary had been quiet the entire time. She’d dropped me at Logan’s, and he was there in the doorway to welcome me in. The rest was a blur of pleasure.
Focusing back on my phone, I sighed. It was a little after eight o’clock, and I had twelve missed calls from Caleb and one text from Hilary.