Your Exception (5 page)

I try to catch my breath as I whisper, "Good night."

As I crawl into bed, my thoughts are racing
.
What a perfect night—the night I spent getting to know this perfect man who asked me for my number and if he could see me again.

The night I'm pretty sure I got over Alec.

How the hell am I supposed to fall asleep when I can’t stop thinking about that kiss? What a perfect first kiss that was.

Or was that our second?

Logan consumes my every thought the following day. I know I need to stop making comparisons between him and Alec, but Alec is all I’ve ever known. I’ve never dated or been with anyone besides him. In reality, there is no comparison. None. Logan beats him by a mile. It’s so different with him. So right.

As soon as I get home from the shop, I start the coffee pot. This is going to be a long night, but it’s worth the wonderful evening I had.

"Why are you so tired today?" Cassidy asks as we head out towards our cars. It would have been nice if a garage had come with the house, especially once winter hits, but the driveway is big enough to fit both of our cars so we can’t complain.

“I was up late. Couldn't sleep.”
Or stop thinking about that kiss.

She stops at her car. “How did it go yesterday?”

“What ever do you mean?”

“You know what I mean. Did you see Logan?”

“Logan? Oh, right. Yes, he was laying on my bed when I walked out of the shower, half naked. I’m furious with you about that, by the way.” I get in my car and drive.

When we meet again in the parking lot, Cassidy continues our conversation. “So, did you or did you not have a good time?”

“After my humiliation died down, I ended up enjoying myself. But you’re not off the hook.”

“Did he kiss you?” she asks.

“Why do you always ask that when you know the answer?”

“Because you’re not answering me. So did he?”

“What do you think?”

“I think he did, and you don’t want to tell me.”

The Edge is dead on Tuesdays, so one of us usually gets to leave early during the week if it stays slow. It's Cassidy's turn, but she tells me to go ahead and get some sleep. “After you admit that he kissed you.”

“Oh stop. Just let me go home so I can go to sleep.”

“Not a chance.”

“Fine. He kissed me. Are you happy?” I say, smiling.

“Thrilled. Good night,” she says, satisfied.

I am eternally grateful when I get home, and my head hits the pillow. I’m used to staying up until all sorts of hours, but it’s starting to weigh on me. Moving sucks. I don’t want to do it again for a long time.

*****

Logan and I text every day over the next two weeks. He comes over when he can, and when I’m not working until ungodly hours of the night. I love it when he asks when he can see me next. I’d spend every waking moment with him if I could. Sometimes I expect him to be lying on my bed when I get home, and that small part of me hopes for it, but he hasn
’t since the time he caught me coming out of the shower. He seems to be quite busy during the day working at a powersports dealership or playing a show somewhere on the weekends. I wish I had more weekends free to watch another one of his shows, but he should be having a show at The Edge soon.

Logan has started coming into the bar every now and again to see me while I
’m working, and I get distracted every time. I can’t help but look over at him every chance I get. I find myself smiling with a stomach full of butterflies. He always sits up at the bar and waits for me to come and talk to him. There are plenty of females who approach him, and as I watch him laughing and talking,it makes me wonder if he flirts with everyone
.
Maybe I’m not so special.

***
**

Logan: Did
you want to come over tonight?

I’ve never actually been over to his place before, and it makes me
nervous just thinking about it.

Me: Sure. W
hat time? I’ll need directions.

He sends me his address and directions
. It looks easy enough to find.

Logan: I can’t wait to see you.

I pull up and park next to his black motorcycle and green Dodge Ram. His house is covered in beautiful stone and large windows
—
gorgeous
.
He’s waiting for me in the doorway as I follow the cement path and walk to his front door. I enter his kitchen and noticegranite countertops that I long to have in my own. His kitchen is at least twice the size of mine. Actually, his whole house is bigger
.
And nicer.

It looks nothing like a man lives here, except for the bare walls and lack of decorations. It’s clean. That makes me like him even more.

He walks me through the living room and shows me a bathroom around the corner. Then we ascend the stairs, and I see two bedrooms filled with music equipment, guitars, and sports memorabilia. He brings me to the third bedroom, and I notice a large four post bed; the posts are wooden and designed like something out of a log cabin.

I see a few more guitars hung up around his walls and some in stands along the floor. A large widescreen is hung on the wall beside multiple framed awards and jerseys. I see trophies and medals from motocross, football, and other various sports from his high school days.

“I’d love to get to see you race someday. You must be pretty good if you have all these awards.”

“I told you I was good.”

“You always say you’re good at everything.”

“That’s because I
am good at everything.” He laughs.

“You’re so cocky.”

“Let me show you how good I am at things.”

He takes me into his arms and kisses me. I wrap my arms around him as he lifts me up and brings
me to his bed. He sets me down on top of his lap, and with my legs on either side of him, I move my hands into his hair and kiss him. After several minutes, he finally pulls away and takes a breath.

“Damn, I’m so glad you came over!”

“Me too.”

He puts his hand on the back of my head and brings my lips back down to his.

As we venture back down the stairs to his living room, he mentions that he owns the house and his friend Josh, rents the basement. Logan has raced all over the country and was sponsored by none other than Troy Lee Designs. He is an adventurous man with many talents, though I have yet to see some of those talents. He knows I don’t sleep around, and I know he’s taking it slow with me, but I really like him and our make out sessions are no longer enough. Yes, it’s only been a couple of weeks, and we’re not exactly official, but I’m so attracted to him. It’s nice to feel wanted.

And there are times I
’ve definitely felt how much Logan wants me.

Me: I think I miss you.

Logan: Really? Good, because I’ve been thinking about you all day.

Me: Are you having a nice day at work?

So lame. Who has a nice day at work?

Logan: It’s better now that you’ve texted me.
When do I get to see you again?

“What are you so happy about?” I nearly drop my phone as Zach’s voice startles me.

“Zachary! Don’t sneak up on me like that!” I scold him.

He smiles. “So
, who is making you smile? Can’t be that blonde friend of yours. She’s not clever enough to think of anything amusing to say.”

“That is not nice. I love Cassidy, and she’s a very clever person.
”
Sometimes
.
“I happen to be making some plans with someone else, thank you very much.”

His smile disappears. “With who?”

“Logan. He’s just a guy I’ve been seeing for a couple of weeks.”

“Oh. I wasn’t aware you were seeing anyone.”

“Well, we’re not official or anything. Just hanging out. Having a good time.”

“Is that your choice or his?” I look down.
Why hasn’t he asked me yet?

“I see. Why wouldn’t he want to make it official? Who wouldn’t want to make you their own?”

“Zachary, it’s a mutual understanding. I’m fine with taking things slow.” This really isn’t any of his business.

“If you say so.” And with that, he leaves.

I look back down at my phone and reread the texts from Logan, smiling again to myself.

As Logan and I hang out at the bar during our thi
rd week of ‘unofficially dating’, more and more women seem to approach him. Especially Holly, the blonde bitch from the first night I met Logan. They seem like more tha
n
jus
t
acquaintances. I don’t know the extent of their relationship, and I don’t want to know.

Okay, I kind of do. He could be screwing her for all I know. I
’m not usually the jealous type, and we’re not in a
n
actua
l
relationship, but we spend almost every chance we can talking or cuddling in bed watching movies. That’s basically a relationship, right? It’s not a big deal, and I’m happy just to spend time with him, but I can’t help but wonder why he doesn’t want more yet.

I don’t like this newfound stress I’m dealing with. I blame my trust issues on Alec. I try to brush it off and enjoy my night out with Logan as he teaches me how to play darts and shoot pool.

*****

It’s a slow night at work, so I go in the back to send Logan a text asking if he’s coming over tonight. I see a missed call and voicemail from Alec and erase it immediately. I have another text from Cassidy asking me to call her right away.

“Cassidy?”

“Hey, Wren. You got a minute?”

“Sure. What’s up?”

“You know I love you, and I’m always honest with you, and I would do anything to keep you from getting hurt.”

“Yeah…?”

“I want you to know that Jack was saying Logan has a girlfriend down in Texas.”

“You mean had. He had a girlfriend who is currently residing in Texas.”

“No, he says they’re still together, and that Logan is just using you until she moves back to Minnesota.”

No. I don’t believe it. He would have mentioned she was coming back, wouldn’t he? Is that why he doesn’t want to be in a committed relationship? I want to throw up.

I’m just getting over being lied to and having my heart broken. I don’t need this right now. Not from him.

“This couldn’t have waited until I got home? You had to call me at work and tell me this now?”

“I’m not going to be home tonight, and I wanted you to know as soon as possible.”

“Well, it’s not true. We already had the ‘ex talk’. She lives in Texas, and I’ve heard nothing about her coming back. In fact, I’ve heard nothing good about her, period.”

“Okay, Wren. I just wanted to let you know what Jack told me.”

“Well, Jack is an asshole! It’s not true!” I fire back, slamming my phone down on the counter. I take several deep breaths and go back out to check on my tables. Praying it isn’t true.

I am still fuming the following morning on my way to work, and I still haven’t seen Cassidy. I get to the shop and walk past the front desk and straight to where Zach is.

“Give me something to do,” I demand. He raises his eyebrows, but says nothing as we silently delve into work.

About noon, Zach looks up at me from the car we are working on. “You wanna go grab something to eat?”

“Yes, please. I’m starving.”

We go to The Edge since Connor makes the best Juicy Lucy’s I’ve ever had. Jen welcomes us, and she subtly checks Zach out
, as she usually does. We are seated by Gale, the day waitress who should be long retired by now.

Zach and I have such easy conversation that for a moment
, I almost forget about the rumor. Almost.

I’m going to have to talk to Logan. I’m not one to let things carry on as if nothing has happened. I want to get to the bottom of this.
But not until I go home and take a nap.

I wake up to my phone ringing. It’s Logan. Moment of truth
.
Do I answer it?

“Hello?” I answer.

“Hey you. What are you doing today?”

“Nothing.”

“Can I come over? I want to see you.”

I don’t want to see him as much as I did two days ago, but if he comes over, I can get some answers and figure out what is going on.

“Sure. I’m home. Whenever you get here is fine.”

“I’m in your driveway.”

Shit!

I jump out of bed and rip off my skintight tank top that I like to sleep in, and get dressed as fast as possible. I run into the bathroom and quickly reapply some makeup, then throw my unruly hair up into a messy bun. There is no way I’ll be able to tame that wild beast right now.