Page 51 of The Things That Hold Us

“Yeah.” he waves me off like it’s really no big deal, so I go and sit at the table, and take a sip of my wine.

“So, the military. How long were you in?” I ask, hoping it’s not a touchy subject. “If you don’t mind me asking. We don’t have to talk about it.”

I see his shoulders tense a little, but he smiles at me over his shoulder, “I don't mind. I was in for about 4 years, mainly schooling and learning the basics starting out, then deployed fora couple months. This last time though, I had been deployed for 8 months. It was one of the rougher goes.”

“Ah. I’m sorry. It must be hard being away from family for that long.”

He shrugs his shoulders, then sips his wine.

“I don't really have family besides Sarah, and Hazel.Thatwas hard though. She’s a single mom, so a lot of the time I stepped in as the male role model is Hazel's life. But being gone so much made that hard.”

I can't even imagine. “I’m sorry. She seems like an amazing kid.” I say, and then realize he doesnt know I've met her.

“You know Hazel?” he asks.

“I don'tknowher. She came into my shop one day to buy a teapot with birthday money. She’s cute.”

His head nods as he turns, and slides some delicious looking food onto my plate, then his.

“She has a weird obsession with those things. After I brought her that set, the one I bought from you, she insisted on going back and looking for more. The one she got is beautiful. She keeps it up on its own shelf at all times.”

I smile, knowing that she’s loving that teapot as much as I did.

“What about you?” he asks.

“Hm? What about me?”

He chuckles, “Family. Do you have family.”

“Oh. Yes. Well, just my mom. And Cassie is basically family. I’m sure I have some long lost cousins or something somewhere, but it’s just me and my mom.”

“I saw your mom, at your party. You look just like her.”

I don't know why, but the compliment makes my cheeks flush.

“Thank you. I actually get told that quite a bit.”

He smiles at me, and takes a bite of chicken. I do the same, mainly because my stomach just growled at the smell of this, and because I don't know what to say to him when he’s looking at me like that.

I take a bite of chicken with some of the pasta, and before I can stop myself, a moan slips free.

“Oh my god this is incredible.” I tell him.

He watches me intently. “It must be if it's making sounds like that come from you.”

Heat fills my face in embarrassment.

“I..it’s good. Ok? Don’t judge me.” I tell him

“Hey, I’m not judging. Moan all you want, I won't mind one bit.”

My fork slips out of my hand, and makes a loudclankon my plate.

Logan starts chuckling to himself, clearly enjoying watching me fall apart at his words.

He probably would, like that.

No.

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