Page 4 of Meaner Than Evil

Logan and I came from entirely different backgrounds, and if the sex hadn't been so incredibly mind-blowing, we probably wouldn't have made it as long as we did.

I was raised in a small rural, blue-collar town, and she was a wealthy socialite. I was a conservative, gun-toting badass, and she was a liberal, tree hugger.

Midway through the summer, she thought she was pregnant, and we were thrilled, so we eloped, not wanting the hassle of having to deal with her parent's reaction. But she miscarried at the end of August, and our little one was gone.

Lucifer misses the ball, and I snag it before it sails past. I throw it back against the wall, and we begin the game over.

Then the world stopped spinning on September 11, 2001. The face of America changed forever, and so did our lives. I responded, knowing I had to fight the evil that threatened our freedom and enlisted in the Navy to become a SEAL. She tried to support my decision, but all she did was cry. She didn't understand my need to serve, and I couldn't live with myself if I didn't.

So, we went our separate ways. But she owns my heart. Always will. So, I've kept track of her. She's done well for herself. Just like I knew she would, and I'm proud of her.

Crockett announces. "Sam-I-Am is ten minutes out. Let's roll."

Everyone stands, and Lucifer catches the ball and heads over to Jocko. He knows we're about to go to work.

Three

Logan

Gazing out the window, looking at the people passing by some stopping to window shop, most ignoring the world around them with tunnel vision, out of the corner of my eye, I see Bill tilt his head, place his hand on his earpiece. Not a good sign. His voice is low when he speaks. "Roger, that. We'll take the next right."

He glances in the rearview mirror at me, and I turn to offer him a smile. He nods but doesn't explain the change in our route to me. We rarely deviate, but it has happened before. Evan is taking precautions. That's a good thing.

My phone rings. It's Eric calling. Mom must have spoken to him. I almost hit ignore but then decide I have to start behaving more amicably toward him. He isn't aggressive, so it's been easy to remain platonic.

I swipe to answer the call and lift the phone to my ear. "Hey, Eric,"

"Hey, there! I hear congratulations are in order."

"Yes, the jury came back after only a few days of deliberations and gave us a guilty verdict."

"That's excellent. I know how hard you've been working on this particular case."

"Indeed," I laugh. "I've been working my fucking ass off."

He chuckles at my use of what he describes as gutter talk, giving me a break this time and not calling me out for cursing.

"Did mom get up with you about having dinner with us tonight?"

"Yes, she just called. I wanted to ask if you minded if I brought a date along. I wasn't sure if it would be appropriate or not."

I blink several times rapidly as I digest this information, and then a smile breaks out on my face. "Of course, who's the lucky girl. Do I know her?"

He clears his throat and then says, "Well, you may know him. It's Vance Rothchild."

OH. MY. GOD! I try not to giggle into the phone, but it's hard to stifle it. Eric is fucking gay. That's fan-fucking-tastic! I'm off the hook with my parents for not reeling him in to marry. "I don't believe I do. I look forward to meeting him. He must be a terrific person if you two are a couple."

I can hear the happiness in his tone of voice. "He is an amazing person. Thank you."

I pretend I have another call coming in, "Listen, I need to go. Dress casual. No suit and tie tonight."

"Congratulations again, Logan. We'll be there at 8:30 sharp."

I lower the phone and then laugh my ass off. My mom will shit a ton of bricks. She's put in such hard work looking for a suitable husband for me without success and pinned all her hopes on Eric. This news just bought me another three months, maybe six if I play my cards right.

I stare at my phone, trying to decide if I should ease the blow and let her know now or wait and let her be shocked when they walk in. I decide to wait. Not to be cruel but being selfish. This revelation will completely throw her and my dad off their game. I can slip out quietly after dinner and come home to a nice hot bubble bath.

The traffic stalls and Bill tells me, "Looks like there's a wreck in the intersection."

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