Page 6 of Forget Me Not

“Logan,” I reply. “And how old are the women you’re picking up? Can’t say I know anyone over eighteen who would go for that.”

“Hey, eighteen is legal.” He winks. “Also, you’d be surprised.” He shrugs, still smiling, clearly finding the humor in the situation. I laugh with him, then turn back to the bar just as the bartender makes his way over.

“What do you want? It’s on me,” Asher says, and I go to interrupt to tell him no, but he sees it coming and stops me before I get the chance. “Not because I think you’re going to stay and hang with me, but because you made me laugh. Take the drink and go,” he says to me before turning to the bartender. “Can we just get two more, please?” He nods to the beers inhis and Kade’s hands. The bartender nods and looks at me expectantly, as does Asher.

“Fine, thank you.” I smile politely at Asher. “Can I just get a ginger ale, please?” I say to the bartender who is patiently waiting.

“Sure thing,” he says and walks away to get the drinks.

“Did you seriously just order a ginger ale at a bar?” Asher looks at me dumbfounded.

Kade doesn’t lift his gaze from his beer bottle resting on the edge of the bar, but I can see the hint of a smile pulling at the corner of his lips. Before I can determine if it was real or my imagination, his face turns back to stone.

“Yeah, I’m not a big drinker and I’m just here with my friends. Plus, I like ginger ale.” I shrug.

“Most people who don’t drink don’t come to bars,” Kade speaks, still never lifting his eyes to meet mine.

“I didn’t say that I don’t drink, I just said it’s rare that I do. I don’t like to be out of control.” I let the words trail off, not meaning to say the last part. It’s not exactly a secret that I like control, but it’s not something I normally shout out to two hot strangers either.

“You people and your control issues.” Asher laughs. “Kade’s the exact same way, and when he does drink, it’s never more than a few beers.”

I don’t respond as I look at Kade, only to realize that his eyes are now directly on mine. He doesn’t say a word but continues to look at me as if he’s searching for answers I know he won’t find. He only averts his glare as the bartender slides two beer bottles, followed by my ginger ale, onto the bar in front of him. I look away from him, picking up my drink.

“Thanks again.” I smile at Asher who nods at me with a smile and a wink, not asking for anything more, just like he promised. It’s not that I wouldn’t be interested in him, like I said, he’s hot.I just don’t have the time or the energy to worry about men right now.

I’m not the sleeping-around or one-night stand type. But I’m also not the relationship type. Being in a relationship means opening up to people, something I avoid at all costs. Demi knows more about me than anyone and it took her years to pull it out of me. Even so, she doesn’t know everything. She doesn’t know about the guilt, the anger, or the pain that I’m constantly feeling. I wouldn’t know how to describe the pain even if I wanted to, and I definitely don’t.

With one last smile at Asher and then Kade, who doesn’t look up to acknowledge it, I turn to walk back over to the booth.

“What took you so long? I thought you died.” Theo says loudly, dramatic as ever. Gabby and Demi look over to acknowledge I’m back, then jump right back into whatever they were talking about.

“It was crowded,” I say simply, sliding back into the booth. He looks at me funny for a second before letting it go. He joins in on Demi and Gabby’s conversation, but I’m too distracted to listen.

I bring the straw of my drink to my lips, my gaze involuntarily searching across the room for those ocean-blue eyes. When I finally catch them directly in my line of sight, they’re staring right at me. With his blues on my greens, it feels like something unspoken passes between us.

We continue to stare at each other for what seems like hours but is probably only seconds. It’s deep-sea waves crashing against rolling green hills. It’s control fighting control. He quirks his brow as if challenging me and I can’t help the confusion that I’m sure is evident in my own expression. His eyes widen a fraction, and he smirks as if he’s somehow realized something. As if he’s somehow won.

My guard instantly goes back up and with a final glare, I force myself to look away. I focus my attention on my friends, pretending to listen to whatever it is they’re saying. But no matter how long passes, I can feel his stare burning into my side. It unnerves me.

My only comfort is knowing that after tonight I’ll probably never see this man again. With that, I ignore the penetrating stare from across the room and fully focus my attention on my friends.

If only it were that easy.

CHAPTER

THREE

Logan

It’s a strange feeling not being able to get the idea of someone out of your head. It’s been nearly three days, and the man barely said two sentences to me. Yet, I can still feel the reminiscence of Kade’s stare.

It’s not because I want him. I mean, yes, the man is ungodly hot, but I wouldn’t call what I’m feeling infatuation. Curiosity, maybe? Curious as to what he’s hiding, curious as to what I accidentally allowed him to see in me.

I’d like to think I’m good at reading people. While Kade emulated the classic cold, asshole exterior, it’s also obvious he’s hiding things. Why I care to know what he’s hiding is the question I can’t seem to figure out.

Seattle is a large city and my chances of ever running into him again are slim. Even though I now know Carl’s is most likely a place he frequents, us being there on the same day and at the exact same time a second time seems unrealistic. Even so, my mind can’t help but stray to thoughts of how his deep voice resonated in my chest and his magnetic stare clashed with my own.

Despite being busy these past few days, nothing has helped. You’d think that when you have no time to think, your mind won’t obsess over pointless things like men. But that’s exactly what I’ve been doing. Thinking of him.

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