Page 81 of That Last Secret
Dammit, Logan and his abs.
“Oh my god,” I shout, reaching for a roll of paper towels that is nearly empty, attempting to wipe up the disaster I just created. “Of course, this would happen when I use my last peppermint mocha pod.”
Logan comes up behind me with a dish rag, bumping his shoulder with mine before helping clean up some of the mess. “Lucky for you, it’s the holiday season. You have an endless supply at your fingertips.”
I pause, facing him and resting my hip against the counter while I cross my arms. “Are you making fun of my addiction to iced peppermint mocha lattes?”
“Me?” Logan asks, hand flying to his chest as if pretending to be shocked. “Never.”
I gently snatch the dish rag from his hand and swat it across his arm. He laughs, backing away from me, holding his hands up in defense as I continue. “You think you’re so funny, huh?”
“I’m a hoot.” He laughs.
I roll my eyes. “I can’t help that I like what I like. What about you? Don’t you have something you can’t live without?”
Logan brings his fingers to his chin as if deep in thought. “You’ve put me on the spot here, Emiline. That’s a tough question to answer. It’s like asking me if I was stranded on a deserted island, what would be the number one thing I’d bring.”
I can’t help but smile because, for a brief moment, I forgot I had a final exam this morning. I forgot that I’m usually studying last minute before I leave my house.
It feels so good to laugh like this the morning of.
It feels so good to laughwith him.
“I guess you make a very valid point.” I nod in agreement with him. “But I’m going to jump in the shower since this mess has delayed my caffeine intake, and I’ll need to stop and get one on my way in.”
Smirking in my direction, Logan asks, “Do you want to tell me which one you plan to stop at so I can avoid it? You know, so I don’truninto you again?” He winks.
I point a finger in his direction, attempting to narrow my eyes, but it’s hard with how cheesy my grin is. “If I didn’t needthis shower and caffeine, I would pick up that rag again and use it to its full extent. You’d end up with a bruise or bloodshed.”
“From a dishrag?” he jokes.
I nod confidently before turning on my heel and making my way down the hall toward the bathroom. “You’ve been warned. I’m sure I’ll see you at the coffee shop in about an hour.”
I hear him laugh from the kitchen before I hear the jingle of keys. I wait for my front door to close before releasing a sigh from the other side of my bathroom door.
Unable to wipe the smile off my face, I glance at myself in the mirror. Holy hell, I truly look like a hot mess. Hair flies out of my bun in every single direction, and there’s absolutely a pizza sauce stain on my shirt.
How embarrassing.
But then my gaze falls on my own reflection in the mirror.
Even feeling embarrassed by how Logan just saw me, I’m more relaxed than ever.
I jump in the shower quickly so I can get in and out with enough time to look over my study guide one more time and then grab a coffee on the way to campus. I know I don’t have enough time to dry it, so I pull it into a side braid in before getting dressed in black leggings and my university sweatshirt.
This sounds insane, but I always wear this to exams.
Call it a superstition, but I passed the first time I wore it. So my mind tells me I have to wear it for every test.
Grabbing my purse off the chain in my bedroom, I make my way to the living room to find Logan sitting on my couch.
“I thought you left,” I say, crossing the room to stand directly in front of him.
Logan stands from the couch. “I did. But only to get you your iced latte.” He gestures toward the kitchen, where I see a medium latte sitting alone on the island.
I look back at him, lips slightly parted. “You went and got me caffeine?”
He nods.