Page 131 of Frozen Hearts
“That’s Royce’s default setting.”
That statement has Logan arching a brow. “I didn’t realize you knew Royce well enough toknowhis default setting.”
Shrugging a shoulder, I pick at an invisible thread on his bedsheet. “We’ve been hanging out.”
“At the club.”
“Yeah. So?”
My tone is defensive, and I can’t meet Logan’s eye. He lowers himself onto the bed beside me, his hand reaching out to squeeze my thigh just above my knee. “I think it’s good that he’s been hanging out with you.”
“You do?” I question, peering up at him.
He nods. “Yeah. He’s been… lost recently.” His eyes bounce back and forth between mine. “You’d be good for him. Royce doesn’t let anyone in. If he’s willing to open up to you then I’m glad.”
I nibble on my bottom lip. “I dunno if I’d say he’s opening up to me…”
“No, but he’s not pushing you away either,” Logan counters.
Well, I mean, he definitely has. However, Royce keeps coming back, and that’s got to mean something, doesn’t it?
“I’m sure wherever he is, he’ll be back soon,” I say, changing the subject and attempting to reassure Logan. And myself.
He grunts, mumbling, “Not until his knuckles are too bruised to fight.”
My lips flatten, brows lowering as a niggle of worry settles in my gut.
“In the meantime, just don’t antagonize Grayson.”
Oh great, we’re back to talking about Grayson. Yay!
I pout when he looks my way. “Me? I would never.”
“Riley,” he growls in warning. “I mean it.”
“Fine.” I sigh. ‘I’ll do my best, but you know he just has to look at me and it sets him off.”
“Then stay out of his way.Just keep to your room until Royce or I get back.Please.”
“Well, because you asked so nicely.”
He brightens my day with that boyish grin I haven’t seen in so long, and I swear it nearly sends my heart into an arrhythmia.Fuck, I’ve missed that.I don’t know what the dynamic between me and Logan is now. Do I forgive him? I’m honestly not entirely sure. But he believes me, and ultimately, that’s all that matters. Where we go from here… well, I guess we’ll see.
There are too many unknown factors to know anything for certain, and honestly, I’m not sure if I’m ready to jump back into what we had before. I’m not even sure if it’s possible to get back to what we had.
“Thank you.” He quickly kisses my temple before hitching his bag on his shoulder, and I follow him out of his room.
Standing outside my door, I watch him continue down the stairs. “Enjoy your game,” I call, and he glances up at me with a smile before disappearing.
Alone, I look up the stairs to the third floor where Grayson sleeps and silently send up a prayer that he remains there until Logan or Royce come home before I slip into my room carrying some science fiction book I found beneath Logan’s bed.
Since I don’t have my phone or any way to tell what time it is, I don’t know how long Logan has been gone when my stomach rumbles for the third time. I’ve been doing my best to distract myself, but the pangs are getting difficult to ignore.
Slamming the book shut—science fiction really isn’t my thing, so it’s doing fuck all to distract me from my hunger. Desperate times call for desperate measures and all that, so I drop it onto the couch and quietly creep toward the door. I press my ear to it, listening for any sounds of life within the house. I haven’t heard anyone walking around, but that doesn’t mean Grayson isn’t sneaking about like a creeper.
When I don’t hear anything, I slowly open the door and peek my head onto the landing. I hear the faint sound of music playing from Grayson’s room upstairs, thankful he’s still up there. I sneak down the stairs to the kitchen and grab myself some food.
Standing in front of the fridge, I laden my arms with stuff to make a sandwich and turn to kick the door closed with my foot when a dark shadow in the doorway has me jumping out of my skin.
