Page 53 of The Things That Hold Us

I feel myself deflate at the thought of him leaving. I want him to stay. I want to get to know him some, but I’m just so damn awkward.

“You can stay, really. I just need to get comfortable, and relax. I’m not used to people coming over, let alone men.” the admission feels weird to say, but it also feels good?

“How can I help you get comfortable? What do you need?” Logan asks.

I think for a second, “I need to change. I’ve been in these clothes all day, and it's been a weird emotional day, and there's dog hair all over me.”

“You want to go change clothes?” he asks, and I nod.

“But you don't want me to leave?”

“I mean, unless you want to?”

He watches me for a minute, then says, “No, I really don't want to.”

I find myself smiling at him, “Ok. Then give me 10 minutes and I’ll be right back. Make yourself at home. The remote for the tv is on the table, you can put something on if you want.”

“Go do what you need to, I’ll be here.” He says, shooing me away.

I get up off the couch, and start walking to my room with Pudding in tow.

I grab a pair of joggers, and a sweatshirt, toss my hair up into a messy bun, then change quickly and wipe my face down. Just doing this has me feeling more like myself.

I walk back out, and see Logan is sitting on the couch, facing the tv, watching some cooking show.

This guy really likes food, doesn't he?

He hears me come back in and sits up, turning to look at me.

It's like someone hits pause on him, because he goes completely still.

His eyes travel up my body, and I swear I canfeelthem.

“Is..is something wrong?” I ask, looking down at my clothes.

“N..no. Nothing at all.” he stutters, then adds, “I can move back to the chair, I just couldn't really see the tv from there.”

“No, you're fine there.” I can't help the giggle that slips out of me as I look at him sitting on my couch.

My couch is a decent size, but his body takes up most of it.

He smiles, and my eyes land on those dimples. “What are you giggling about?”

I sit next to him, tucking my legs up under me. “I’m sorry, you just make my couch look like it was meant to be in a doll house.” I cover my mouth, trying to stifle my laugh.

He looks at the couch, then at himself and laughs. “It’s not that big of a couch.”

“It's a decent size couch, you are just large.” a laugh slips, and I can’t stop myself.

Logan shoves my knee playfully. He watches me for a second, then looks back at the tv.

“So, cooking shows? That's your thing?” I ask him, pointing at the tv.

“Yeah, sometimes. There wasn't anything else so I just threw this on.”

“You didn't have to turn the tv on.” I laugh, “It was just a suggestion.”

“In that case,” he clicks the remote, turning the tv off and turns to face me. “I’d rather talk to you, to be completely honest.”

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