Page 51 of Wedding Wrecker

“Yeah.”

His self-satisfied smile is pretty much expected. “Knew it. And it’s a secret?”

“Not to Logan.” I manage not to squeak that out, but this conversation is a reminder of my inadequacy.

Kai gives me a sad look and bites his thumb. “Oh, no… Kyleee…”

I sigh. “I know.”

“Come here,” he says and before I know it, gives me a big squish. A giant weight drops from my shoulders, but while the fear of losing Logan is choking, it feels good to have someone understand what I’m going through.

Once he pulls away, that playful smile is back on his lips. “Now I’m sure you’re a bottom.”

He laughs and I smack his ass with a dish towel. “That’s what you really wanted to know, wasn’t it?”

Quinta, who uses the quiet time at the cafe to read a textbook, clicks her tongue at me. “Your sugar daddy’s here,”

I want to protest but end up dipping my fingers under the tap and spraying water at her.

“Truth hurts!” She sniggers, turning away from the micro shower as Logan pushes the door open with his shoulder.

I wonder if he’s come early, but one look at the clock tells me my shift is finished, so I take off my apron, toss it over my shoulder and step from behind the counter.

He’s gotten so proficient with the crutches he insists on going shopping and everything, so I’m not surprised he’s got his backpack on. He doesn’t like wearing it but resorts to it so he can get stuff done. He hasn’t given up on his Stetson though, and with it being so sunny outside, maybe he’s got the right idea.

I’m also pretty sure it’s the constant use of crutches that got his arms even more drool-worthy than ever before. The sunny weather allows him to wear a tight white T-shirt, which looks so good paired with gray sweatpants, I’m pretty sure he turns heads in the street.

“Hey! You finished? You can grab an iced coffee for me. It’s boiling out there.”

I turn on my heel, ready to crawl all the way to Quinta’s feet and ask her to bestow a free iced coffee on my man, but when I get there, she’s already tamping the grounds before putting the portafilter in the machine. I can smell the perfect espresso even before hot water pours through the coffee and into the cup.

“I got us the good bacon,” Logan says with pride, but as we wait for the coffee, he looks around and I can see his hesitation when he spots his ex.

They eye each other, but then exchange a vague wave of hello neither of them cares to follow up. My heart aches for Logan, because I can already see he’s simply not getting together with the right people. First—a lesbian, then a guy with whom he wasn’t compatible in bed, which maybe shouldn’t matter in an ideal world, but I think it does.

I flinch when Quinta pushes the cup into my hand, and I smile at her before heading straight for Logan. I can see the ex glancing our way, and the desire to kiss Logan and show that dude what he missed out on burns deep inside me. But the fear of being rejected again is enough to stop me.

I slurp some of his coffee as we make our way down the street, and since his hands are occupied, I put the straw to his lips so he can drink. This isn’t even the first time we’ve done this, and I can’t help but think that he’s changed since I met him. The Logan from two months ago would consider himself too serious to be seen like this. But now he’s more relaxed, happy to drink from my hand and to accept help.

“That was another ex of mine,” Logan says unprompted. “Sleep with enough people in a small town, and the streets are littered with exes. Yes, this is a cautionary tale.”

I smile. “Are you telling me to stay true to just one guy?” I ask in a light tone but watch his reaction, because I want him to think about being that for me.

He takes a big sip of coffee. “Probably. And you were right to not accept my open relationship offer. It would have been a shitshow. Ask me how I know.” He rolls his eyes.

I’m glad for all the tidbits I got from Kai, but Logan is the person whose truth I want to hear.

“I’m sorry. I suppose… people can be built for different things,” I offer and have a sip of the coffee as we walk toward the car.

The sun is shining brightly, and even though I’ve been in Springton for barely two months, it already feels like home. Maybe because of Logan. Maybe because I can be myself here. Whichever it is, I’m in no rush to visit my family back in Texas.

Logan sighs. “I thought I was… cooler. That I could be that guy who has an emotional connection with one person but can also have lots of fun with others. But maybe we just both wanted to fuck around.” He laughs. “Don’t look at me like that! The breakup with him was painful and messy, but I now know we weren’t meant to be.”

I don’t think this time. My feet move, and I put my arm around him for a brief hug, because I can no longer just stand by and watch him being sad. “I think you’re very cool.”

Logan snorts but doesn’t push me away and, after a moment, hugs me back. “Aww… that’s too cute. Are you okay? Did something happen at work?” he asks with worry in his voice.

But all I can think of is that he’s holding me in the street like it’s the most natural thing to do and I love it so much, but it also makes me so unbearably sad. And now he’s the one having to cheer me up when I want to be there for him.