Page 18 of Filthy Liar

“I don’t think he’s dangerous. He’d rather die than hurt you. His loyalty to Dante is what’s got me worried though. He wouldn’t intentionally get you into trouble, but he’s blindly following his brother. We need to be careful with that.”

“You’ll let me talk alone with him though?”

“One thing I’ve learned over the past few months is that I don’t have toletyou do anything. You’re an adult, and keeping you wrapped in bubble wrap isn’t keeping you safe, it’s making you resent me. Do I want you going off alone with him? No. I’d love it if you’d meet up with him somewhere public and sit in a booth together so we can watch from a distance though.”

His jaw was tight and his voice was tense, a small smirk taking over my face.

“That was really hard to say, wasn’t it?”

“I promised I’d try to not be such a controlling asshole. This is me trying,” he huffed, leaning down to kiss me. “You want to talk about Logan?”

“What about him?”

“I know it’s not really my business, but I love you both. You’ll take him back, right?” I stiffened in his arms and he continued. “I don’t mean right this second. Once you guys talk things out a little more. He won’t admit it, but he’s hurting seeing all of us together with him still on the outs.”

“The shit between us has been discussed multiple times, but it’s not my fault that he’s hurting. He did that to himself,” I hissed, pulling away from him. “Of course I love Logan, I always will, but I’m not there yet.”

He cringed, crossing his arms. “I’m not trying to push you, I promise.”

“It feels like it.”

“I’m fucking this up,” he groaned, moving to sit on the edge of the bed. “You’re not the type to play games, I’m not accusing you of that. I just wanted to know if you intend on getting back with him eventually. Not just because I’m his friend, but also because I’m your boyfriend and I like to know what I’m in for. I want you both happy.”

“I need you to see this from my perspective. Logan has been my best friend forever. I gave him my virginity, and I fell hard for him once we took that step. I know he didn’t mean to make me sound like a fling, but I can’t just erase how I felt when I thought I’d just been an achievement to him and a trophy in the fight amongst you guys. I don’t want to feel like that when I look at him, but it’s hard. He wants to build trust with me again, and it’s a good idea. I’m a girl, surprisingly, so I’m hormonal about it and want to make sure we do things the right way this time. He hurt me more than you did because he already had me when it went to shit.”

“No one’s surprised that you’re a girl,” he said dryly, taking my hand and pulling me closer so I was standing between his legs. “Would you like us to all go out together when it’s safe to?”

“Like a date?”

“Yeah. We could go see a movie and do dinner, even if it’s the drive-in and getting burgers to eat in the car on the way home,” he suggested, reaching up to tug the ends of my hair gently.

“We can’t afford?—”

“We can, Raven. I’ll organize something.”

“How about we go to the track soon? Just to hang out without the stress?”

I could tell that wasn’t what he wanted, but he shrugged. “If that’s what you want.”

“I just want things to feel normal,” I mumbled, his face softening.

“Me too, baby.”

“We should get going. It’s getting late, and Diesel said the kids will be at their house soon.”

“Grab your stuff. I need to stop by Riley’s to grab a few things on the way,” he said as I turned to grab my things. Not having our own place was getting uncomfortable. I didn’t care if it was a tiny house with peeling wallpaper and a mattress on the floor, as long as it was our own space.

Beckett was still cursing Ander out under her breath when we returned to the kitchen, and Logan appeared beside me and leaned down to talk. “You okay?”

“Yeah. We’d better head to Rory’s. Diesel said they’d meet us there after,” I replied, taking his hand and giving it a small squeeze before letting it go again.

He shared a silent conversation with Reid, but Zavier took my bags and gave me a grin. “I think we should convince one of the guys to give us their keys so we can go for a quickie.”

“Not happening. You’re with me, Lopez. I need to stop at Riley’s on the way,” Reid stated, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at his attempt to put me and Logan together.

I didn’t mind, but I wasn’t having a quickie with him either.

Zavier grumbled but agreed, handing my bags to Logan, who happily took them.

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