Dinner

BECCA

“Logan, how do you feel about me going to dinner with Drew?” At first, we were silent, just walking together. But I decided to use this opportunity to talk to Logan.

“Honestly? I don’t know.”

“You aren’t jealous, but you’re worried about Drew finding out about you and me?”

“True.”

“I think he needs to know… You haven’t heard how he has been talking to me.”

“Actually, I did. I saw how he was touching you.”

“You just confirmed that you aren’t jealous.” I couldn’t help it. I needed to tease him.

“Rebecca…” Logan groaned, stopped, and turned his head to me.

I stared into his eyes, feeling butterflies in my stomach.

“Of course, I will be jealous, sometimes. But I would never tell you about it. Making scenes, fighting with you only because you are beautiful, and other men see it—it’s stupid. I acted stupidly once when I ripped off your necklace. I would never do that again. I promise you.”

Without answering, I placed my hand on the back of his neck and pulled him to me. Just like that, I needed his lips as if they were my air because he was my oxygen—it was that simple and that overwhelming at the same time.

His hands slid to the small of my back, pressing me closer to his body. I am not sure that there would ever be a time when I would feel indifferent to Logan’s touches or his kisses. Everything in me was responding to Logan.

Compared to the way it was between us when we kissed for the first time—it’s still the same. But the understanding that he was mine and I was his only added fuel to the fire. The fire and our passion for each other were becoming bigger with every second that I was near this man.

Suddenly, we heard a cough and ended our kiss. I turned my head and saw an old lady with an adorable puppy. She barely kept a straight face, trying to hide her smile from us. The dog leaned forward and started sniffing Logan, and then it turned its head to me.

“I am sorry, Mrs. Delaver. It’s just… Well, you know…”

“Oh, please, Logan! I was young too. I would have never interrupted you, but Cassidy wanted to go this way, and I obeyed.”

“It’s a girl?” Logan knelt and started petting the puppy. Cassidy was enjoying it from the very first scratch. Her owner started laughing from the view.

“Logan, I must say that everything is still the same. You are a ladies’ man through and through,” she said. She turned to look at me and extended her hand. I shook it without hesitation. “I am Veronica, or well, Mrs. Delaver.”

“I am Rebecca. It’s very nice to meet you. Your Cassidy is adorable.” I knelt near Logan, and the dog instantly turned to me. I put my hand on its fur; it was so soft. I started scratching its head near the ears.

“Mrs. Delaver, don’t get me wrong. I know that you’re a die-hard lady, but why are you walking alone at this time of night?” Logan straightened up, hiding his hands in his pockets.

“Oh… My husband wasn’t feeling well all day, but Cassy needed to go for a walk. So I just took her and went for a stroll.”

“Would you mind our company?” I asked, straightening up as well. I saw Logan glance in my direction. He was happy to hear me saying that.

“Would you two mind my company? You were so cozy just now, and I ruined the whole atmosphere.”

“No, Rebecca and I have our whole lives to recreate the atmosphere. So we would be more than happy to walk you and Cassy home,” he said, and my heart was ready to jump out of my chest.

He said we have our whole lives. Logan was completely serious about this relationship. We had only just started, and he was sure that nothing would break us.

“Thank you, Logan, Rebecca,” Mrs. Delaver smiled at us with gratitude. We started walking near her and Cassy. “How is your life, sweetheart? James and I have been watching all of your games. We’re so proud of you, even if you are just our neighbors’ kid.”

“Thanks, Mrs. Delaver. Everything is great. My team is one of the best, and we are very determined to win this season. I have my own home, and I've gotten used to living in Philly. But sometimes... I feel nostalgic and miss my parents and my life here.”

“James was lecturing me, saying that your team will win this year for sure. He can be very stubborn sometimes.” She laughed heartily, remembering her husband. “As if I have something against it.”

“The support of our fans means the world to the team. Believe me.”

“I am a little curious, Logan. Why is this the first time I am seeing this beautiful young lady with you? How long have you two known each other?”

“For eight years, right?” Logan turned his head to me with a smile. I nodded at him.

“Eight years?! But what about your recent girlfriends from the modeling world? I never saw Rebecca in any stories, but I saw plenty of other women near you.” Straight to the point. I liked this woman more and more.

“Well… I… We…” He was adorable, really.

“Mrs. Delaver, the thing is that we have known each other for eight years, but we haven’t seen one another for four years.

“I came here for Lily’s wedding, and so did Logan. And well, it just happened. I have had feelings for Logan; the same goes for him. So this time, we decided not to waste our lives and try to be together.”

“I see.” Her smile was warm; this old lady was radiating kindness and tenderness. “Does that mean that you two met in college?”

“Yes. I am older than Becca, and she was my little sister’s roommate.”

“I like the sound of this story more and more. So romantic and powered by destiny. I also met James in college. He was my first love and still is. He might be very grumpy these days because he’s feeling unwell. But I had so many happy memories of my life with him…

“”So many days filled with love and respect for each other. I hope that it will be like that for you two. It’s amazing that you were able to hold on to these feelings that you had for each other.”

She stopped, and I looked at the house. It was a small but very lovely cottage in white colors.

“Thanks for walking me home. It was nice of you two.”

“It was nice to meet you and Cassy. It’s a little husky puppy, right?”

“Yeah. I always dreamed of having this breed of dog, and my son, Richard, decided to make my dream come true. She has been with us for two months. I am really happy to have her. She’s my light these days.”

“She’s a very beautiful and very smart puppy,” Logan said, taking my hand in his. I leaned into him, placing my head on his forearm. I was starting to feel very tired and sleepy.

“What can I say? She takes after her owner,” Mrs. Delaver said, and the three of us burst into laughter. “Goodnight, Logan. Goodnight, Rebecca. It was a pleasure to meet you two.”

“Goodnight, Mrs. Delaver. Bye, Cassy!”

We started walking as soon as we saw that Mrs. Delaver had gone inside the house with Cassy on a leash.

“I know her son, Richard. He’s five years older than me. He’s a lawyer or something. I was never close to him. But his parents are real treasures. Mrs. Delaver used to babysit Lily and me when our mom was overwhelmed with work. Those were the good old days.”

“She’s a very nice woman…” I wanted to say something else, but my words got caught in my throat with a yawn.

“Let’s get you home, sleeping beauty. It would be sad if you fell asleep on our way to my parents’ house.”

“Why? Am I too heavy for you?” I could already see his home not very far away. I knew that we were close.

“You asked for it.”

With ease, Logan lifted me, cradling me in his arms bridal style. I started giggling, but when I locked eyes with his, I instantly stopped.

“I love you, Becca. And honestly, now I even breathe better knowing that I can say it aloud. That I don’t need to hide it. To deny my feelings. That I can be with you, and it will be enough.”

“Logan…” I placed my hand on his cheek and saw him lean into my touch. “I love you, too.”

He kissed me briefly for a few seconds, then pressed his forehead to mine. It was just the two of us. The whole world stopped and didn’t matter. I tried hard to keep myself awake, but I couldn’t help it and yawned again, just in time for when Logan started walking in the direction of the house.

He only let go of me when we were inside. The whole house was silent. His parents must have been asleep for a very long time. Logan took my hand in his, and we went upstairs.

As I fell asleep that night in Logan’s arms, I felt absolute bliss and calmness.

I should have known better... It was the calmness before the storm.