Page 34 of To Love or to Lose
“What…” Winnie clears her throat. “are you wearing?”
“Have you guys never seen cashmere, or something?” He asks, smoothing his hands down his chest. “It's a sweater.”
Indeed, it is a sweater; a red cashmere one that’s clinging to every notch in Logan’s torso. I think Winnie’s drool is dripping on the floor like a dog waiting for dinner.
“You don’t like it?” He asks, and we know he’s directing his question toward Winnie.
The thing about Logan and Winnie is neither of them will ever question the possibility of being together. They both like each other—that much is obvious—but they are not desperate enough to risk the friendship they’ve been building for years.
“No, no, it looks good on you,” Winnie says in a rush. “It’s just not something I would imagine you normally wearing.”
“Oh,” Logan’s voice trails off. “Okay.”
“Why are we here?” I ask him.
“We’ll talk about that in the kitchen,” Wren cuts in. She and Chrissi walk past us in the foyer and into the kitchen.
Eloise, Winnie, and I take seats at the barstools, while Logan and Luke lean against the island in front of us.
Wren looks around quickly, then directs a question at Logan. “Where is Jameson?”
Dear God, no.
“I’m here.” Jameson rushes in before leaning against the fridge.
“Mom, why are we all here?”
“I have a proposal.” Wren sets down trays of snacks in front of everyone. “Except it’s not really a proposal, more so a demand to please your lovely mothers.”
“We have delegated homecoming!” Chrissi smiles, taking a sip of the iced tea she’s holding.
I look toward Winnie and Eloise, and they are both exchanging looks of horror.
“What do you mean by delegated?” Eloise asks, looking at her mother.
“You are all going in pairs,” Wren says.
“No,” I say, my brows furrowing. “Absolutely not.”
“Your mother is in full agreement,” Chrissi chimes. “We have word that a dress could be on the line.”
“Are you seriously blackmailing me using the dress my mother agreed to make me?”
Chrissi holds up her hands in mock surrender. “Take it up with your mother, I’m just the messenger pigeon.”
Everyone else in the room doesn’t seem to mind who they get paired with, but my apprehension is taking over.
“Luke has already agreed to go with Eloise,” Chrissi says.
“Mom.” Eloise grids through her teeth, almost in warning.
“I am well aware, and happy, with the fact that you are attracted to women, Eloise Ila,” Chrissi says. “We’re not saying you guys have to get married and have an empire of children, but it’s your senior year, and it’s fun to have a date to take pictures with and to buy corsages and boutonnieres for.” She’s directing that last statement atallof us.
“It’s perfect!” Wren is practically jumping with excitement. “Logan and Winnie can go together, and so can Gen and Jameson.”
That’s my last straw.
“I’m sorry.” I stand from my barstool. “I don’t feel comfortable—”
