***
“Why are you sitting over here all alone?” Logan asks as he joins me at the table in the corner of the semi-quiet bar we found off the strip. The music isn’t too loud, the drinks are decent and there are enough pool tables to go around our lively bunch.
Not to mention, there aren’t many people in here tonight, so the celebrity members of our group don’t have to worry about being approached.
“I’m just watching,” I reply with a smile and sip my drink. Mark is currently bent over a pool table, his back to me, making me drool. Dear God, what that man does to a pair of slacks!
“I’ve never seen anything like this group,” Logan says with a laugh.
“I’m pretty new to it too. They’re fun and welcoming…”
“And overwhelming,” he finishes. I lean back and study the man next to me. His brown hair is messy, his green eyes lit with happiness and humor.
“I like you.” I hold my glass up to clink with his. “I’m glad Jax found you.”
“I like you too, gorgeous,” he replies and tips his glass to mine. “And it was me that found Jax.”
“Really?” I lean on my elbow and give him my undivided attention. “He never told me how you met.”
“In the grocery store.”
“Seriously? Picking guys up in the frozen pizza section works?”
“I believe it was over the bananas,” he says and sips his beer. “I don’t know, he looked up at me and something in me just clicked.”
He’s watching Jax across the room chatting with Natalie and Jules. I can hear them laughing. I don’t reply, I simply wait for him to continue.
“I’ve had a different experience than Jax,” Logan says and takes another swig of his beer. “My family is awesome. I never came out to my parents, they just always knew and accepted me for me.”
“I’m happy for that,” I murmur.
“Me too.” He clears his throat and shifts in his seat. “I know that Jax’s experience has been the opposite of mine, and to be honest with you, Mer, I want to hunt down his family and kick their asses.”
“Get in line.”
“I don’t understand how you turn away someone as awesome as he is.”
I follow his gaze to watch Jax tuck Nat’s hair behind her ear. “He has an easy way about him,” I say. “He’s physically affectionate. Always has been. Like that, right there, when he tucked Nat’s hair behind her ear?”
Logan nods.
“He’s always doing stuff like that to people he knows and feels comfortable with.”
“It took him until the second date before he’d let me hold his hand,” Logan says with a rueful shake of his head.
“That’s because he was trying to figure out if he could trust you or not.” I bite my lip, unsure how much to say to this man who clearly loves my best friend very much. “Does he know you love him?”
“Yes.” He sighs and swigs his beer.
“And Jax?”
“He feels the same.” My heartbeat speeds up at the pure joy on Logan’s face.
“Oh my.” I sigh wistfully. “It’s finally happened for him.”
“And for me. Although I never had the issues with my family that Jax did with his, I’ve been selective about who I choose to have a relationship with. I’ve never told a man that I love him before.”
“I’m so happy for you.” I rub his arm soothingly, then lean in and kiss his cheek. “So happy for both of you.”
“Mer, you need to know, I’m going to ask him to marry me.”
I bite my lip as the tears fill my eyes. My gaze finds Jax again across the room. He’s laughing and gesturing with his hands as he tells the girls a story. He’s my friend, but more than that, he’s my brother.
“Today is the day for wedding talk,” I murmur with a soft smile.
“You don’t think it’s too soon?”
“I think it’s wonderful.”
“You do? I need to know you’re okay with it.” Logan rubs his fingers over his mouth. They tremble slightly. “You’re his family, Mer. Your opinion matters.”
“I love Jax with all my heart,” I answer honestly. “He’s one of the best men I know. But you know what, Logan? I think you’re one of the best men I know too. You’re lucky to have each other.”
He lets out a gusty breath, as though he’s been holding it during the whole conversation. “Thank you.”
“I want to be in the wedding.”
“We wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Chapter Twenty
“You wanna talk about what the hell crawled up your ass and died before or after class?” Jax asks as he leans against my desk and crosses his arms over his chest. Little girls are filing in for their after-school ballet class, chattering and laughing, excited for class.
“I’m fine,” I reply with a sigh.
Except, I’m not fine.
“We’ve been home for two days and you’ve been damn moody,” he mutters then pushes his fingers through his hair. “Are you and Mark fighting?”
“No, we’re great.” It’s not a lie. Mark and I have been fantastic.
“Something is wrong, KitKat.” He tilts my head back to look me in the eyes. “If everything with Mr. Hot Tamale is so great, why do you look so sad?”
“I’ve just been in a funk since the wedding,” I admit softly.
Jax tilts his head, watching me closely. “Why?”
I jerk my shoulder up in a shrug. “It’s stupid.”
“I doubt it.”
I sigh and wave at a mom as she sits on a bench on the far side of the room.
“It just reminded me that Mom, Dad and Tiff are gone and if I ever marry Mark, they won’t be here for it.”
“That’s not stupid.”
“It’s not stupid, but it’s silly to still be brooding about it. That would just piss Mom off.”
“You’re grieving, sweetie. It’s okay to be sad sometimes.”
“Yeah.” I blow out a gusty breath. “I’m starting to piss myself off, though, so it’s time to shake this mood off.”
“GGN tonight?” Jax asks.
“That would be fun! No plans with Mr. Lovey Pants?”
“I can rearrange things.”