Page 70 of Just Say Yes

For the first time all afternoon, I could breathe.

“You okay?” he asked as he pulled open the car door, his voice low and steady, like it was meant to ground me.

Relief flooded my system. I had gone into the morning knowing I would face my father’s family alone, but something about Logan’s presence made me feel better. I was grateful to have someone to lean on when my insides were so frazzled.

I nodded, swallowing hard. “Yeah, just ... a lot to process.”

He didn’t push, didn’t ask questions, just opened the door and took over. “I’ve got it from here,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument as he grabbed the keys from my hand and retrieved my overnight bag from the back seat.

He handed the keys to the valet. I followed him into the luxury hotel, the warm blast of air from the lobby’s heaters hitting me in a way that made my shoulders sag. The staff at the front desk barely looked up as Logan handed me a key card and led me toward the bank of elevators.

I clutched my purse like a lifeline. My nerves hummed in anticipation, but whether it was from the overwhelming day or the thought of being alone with Logan tonight, I wasn’t sure.

Maybe both.

The elevator dinged and the doors opened, the hum of tension stretching between us. Logan stood close, his presence a steadying force that made me feel both grounded and breathless. When the doors opened and he stepped aside, his quiet confidence was strangely comforting.

I let out a breath, silently hoping for something—anything—to take away the knot that had formed in my stomach.

NINETEEN

LOGAN

MJ looked like shit.

Not likeactualshit—she was still stunning, but the red rim around her eyes betrayed her. Whatever had happened at that house had rattled her, and I had no clue how to make it better.

The slow elevator ride was fraught with tension.

Do I ask how it went, even though it’s clear what the answer will be?

I was stuck in a weird limbo of wanting to offer comfort while trying to give her the space she might need.

Her silence sliced through me. Every instinct screamed to wrap her up and shield her from whatever had shaken her, but I couldn’t tell if that was what she needed.

Our silence yawned and grew as the elevator stopped on the third floor to let in another passenger. The old man offered a polite smile and stood off to the side. I took a side step toward MJ.

We leaned against the back wall, side by side, not speaking. I ran my hands down my thighs and shifted her bag on my shoulder while some shitty instrumental music filled the small space.

The man must have also felt the tension in the elevator, because he started to whistle along with the music. When I realized the song was “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails and the old man was whistling right along to it, my jaw flexed to hide a smile.

MJ’s gaze slid to me as I bit back a giggle. Her lips flattened, and I tried to breathe through my nose.

We reached our floor, and the elevator dinged before the doors opened to let us out. I extended my hand to gesture that she should go first. As we skirted past the old man, I acknowledged him with a nod.

“Evening,” he responded and then went right back to whistling.

As soon as the doors closed at our backs, MJ doubled over with a laugh. I followed suit, dropping her bag and leaning against the wall.

“Holy shit, do you think he knew?” she asked, wiping tears from her eyes.

I looked at her. “He kneweveryverse.”

My deadpan delivery made her laugh again.

“Oh,” she exhaled. “I needed that.” She stood tall, walked down the hallway, and started humming the song to herself. The throaty vibrations paired with what I knew the lyrics to be made me grin.

Given the chance, I’d fuck MJ like an animal in a heartbeat.

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