Just when looking into those deep topaz eyes was getting too much, he chuckled. “But,” he said, shoving himself forward, “an awkward Chloe would suck, so please stop begging and we’ll forget this conversation ever happened.”
With a devilish smile over his shoulder, he walked upstairs and left me speechless in the living room. I’d forgotten what drunk Logan was like. Pretty amusing if you weren’t the one that had to deal with him and if you weren’t the one whose heart rate was all over the place.
“Is he okay?” Julia asked.
I snapped out of it and turned to her, plastering on a smile and rolling my eyes. “Yeah, he drank the water so I sent him to bed.”
“Good. Are you staying tonight?”
“That okay?”
She pointed at me and arched a perfectly plucked eyebrow. “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear you ask. Night.”
Smiling for real, I replied, “Night, Julia, Daryl.” Daryl nodded and followed his wife up to bed. Cass hadn’t come out of the kitchen so I went in. “You okay?”
She looked up from staring at the worktop. “Yeah, sorry. I’ve not seen him like that in a while. Thought it was behind him.”
“Like he said to me, people have setbacks. Like you’ve told me before, he’ll be fine.”
“Don’t let him fall, Chloe.”
“Don’t plan to.”
I sat down and she opened the fridge, pulling out a bottle of white wine. “This late?” I asked.
“Oh, yes.”
“Logan’s good, Cass.”
“I hope so. Want a glass?”
Why not? “Please.”
“I’m worried about him. I lost one brother and I’m not prepared to lose another.”
I ran my finger around the bottom of the empty wine glasses on the counter. “You won’t lose him.” I won’t lose him. “It was a one off. We stopped by Jace’s grave a few days ago, that’s probably why he’s not dealing so well. I shouldn’t have suggested we stopped.”
“Don’t blame yourself for his drinking, he’s perfectly old enough to not get smashed.” She poured two very generous glasses of wine and immediately took a long sip.
“Thanks, Cass. I know he’s old enough to handle it but sometimes he just doesn’t. I’ll talk to him in the morning.”
“You think he’ll tell you more than I’m fine?”
I shook my head. “Not at all, but I’ll try anyway.”
“You’re good for him. He wouldn’t listen to any of us.”
“Not convinced he listens to me the whole time either. Guys are a nightmare.”
She laughed. “Yeah, don’t I know it? Fucking Rick.”
“Sorry, Cass. How’s everything going there?”
“Nothing new. I can’t wait for all this to be over, to go back to my maiden name and put him firmly in the past. I must’ve had a six year brain meltdown.”
“You didn’t. He was great before he turned into a selfish wanker.”
She blinked hard and opened her eyes wide. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say the word wanker before.”
“Don’t think I’ve used it much. Rick thoroughly deserves that title.”
She held her glass up and I did the same, ready to toast to whatever she wanted. “To moving on from wankers.”
I clinked my glass against hers. “To the next man in your life being worthy of your love.”
“Back atcha, chick,” she said. “Never know, maybe we’ll both get lucky this year.”
“I’ll definitely drink to that!”
Chapter Thirteen
Chloe
Nell leant in, shouting over the music, “So no more Rhys?” I shook my head. “No, he’s nice and everything but—”
“You don’t want to rip his clothes off?”
“I was going to go with there’s no spark but that works too.” I sat back, taking a sip of my vodka and lemonade. The whole situation was irritating. Here I was completely ready to move on and date again but I didn’t want anyone. The only guy I wanted to spend time with was Logan. Perhaps not wanting anyone was my punishment for moving on from Jace.
“Don’t fret, Chlo, you’ll find your Mr Right.”
“Hey,” Ollie said, holding out his arms, “you could always settle for a Mr Right Now.”
Logan kindly slapped the back of Ollie’s head for me.
“I think I’ll pass, Ollie, but thanks.”
“Yeah, got someone else in mind?”
Logan thrust his empty glass at Ollie. “Your round, mate.”
He stood and rolled his eyes. “Same again, ladies?”
Not being ones to turn down free drinks, me and Nell accepted and downed our last few mouthfuls.
“Oh, I know what we can do!” Nell said. “Me and Logan can set you up with someone in here.”
“I don’t think so,” I replied.
“Oh, come on, Chloe. You’ll never find someone if you don’t meet anyone new.”
“I thought we came for a drink, not to pimp Chlo out,” Logan said.
I pointed to him. “Exactly, thank you!”
“Don’t be antisocial.”