Logan.”
He raised his hand partway. It hung there, suspended in the air for a moment. I didn’t quite know what he was doing, but he lowered his arm. “Of course, Raena. I’ll help you look.”
We searched the park, the school behind my house, and the parking lot of the church across the street. We wandered through the surrounding neighborhood, walking aimlessly up and down the streets, calling Nuada’s name. We didn’t find any sign of her. I stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and plopped down on the curb. I drew up my knees and rested my head on them.
I felt the lightest touch of Logan’s hand on my shoulder. “Maybe we should call it quits for the night,” he suggested.
My head shot up. “I’m not giving up! My poor cat is missing.”
He sat down next to me and put his arm around me, pulling me close to him. “I’m not suggesting we give up. I’m just suggesting I walk you home so you can get some much-needed sleep. I can pick you up bright and early in the morning and we can resume our search. It will be easier to look for her during the day anyway. Since she’s black, she kind of blends in with the night.”
I twisted my head to try to look up at him—even with us both sitting down, he still towered over me—without accidentally brushing my lips across his neck or something else embarrassing. I leaned back a little so I could get a clear view of his face. “I guess you’re right,” I agreed.
His arm dropped from my shoulders, and he stood, holding his hand out for mine. I placed my hand in his, and he pulled me to my feet. “Can I walk you home?” he asked.
“Sure.” I nodded. “I suppose that would be okay.”
As we walked back to my house, we still kept our eyes peeled for Nuada. Logan walked me straight to the door and just stood there.
“I’ll come by for you first thing in the morning, and we’ll keep looking, okay?”
“Sounds good. Thanks for helping me tonight.”
“Anytime. After all, I couldn’t risk you getting help from some other guy. I don’t want to share you.” He winked at me.
Great. He’d gone back to his old self. “Logan…”
“I know, I know. Stop being a jerk.” He stooped to kiss me swiftly on the cheek. “I can’t help it if I’m confident, Raena. I’ll see you in the morning.” He turned and jogged down the street.
My hand flew to my cheek and pressed against the spot he had just kissed. It still felt warm from the imprint of his lips, and felt as though it thrummed with energy. Did Logan like me? If so, I hated to break his heart by telling him about Andrei. Even though Logan acted like a jerk the majority of the time, he did seem to have a semblance of a heart buried somewhere in his muscled chest. I just needed to put him out of my mind. He was a friend—of sorts—nothing more.
I began to feel chilled. I didn’t know how long I had stood on the porch, staring at the spot where he had disappeared around the corner. I should go inside. I tried the doorknob. Good. They hadn’t locked it. I went in and closed and locked the door. I shed my coat and hung it up. No matter how tired and stressed I felt, I knew Genevra would throw a conniption fit if I left it lying around.
My coat now in its place, I trudged upstairs. Tanis waited for me in my room, perched on the edge of my bed.
“What do you want?” I asked.
“I just wanted to see if you found Nuada.”
Oh. I couldn’t be mad at her for that, even if she had come into my room without permission. “No, I didn’t. Logan and I looked everywhere.”
Her eyes widened. “Logan?”
“Yeah, I ran into him at the park.”
“Funny. What was he doing out at the park so late at night?”
“You know, I’m not sure. We got caught up looking for Nuada, and I forgot to ask him.”
“So, is something going on with you two now?”
“No! He was just being nice—for once.”
“Okay. Well, I can help you look in the morning, if you want,” she offered.
“Thank you. Logan said
He raised his hand partway. It hung there, suspended in the air for a moment. I didn’t quite know what he was doing, but he lowered his arm. “Of course, Raena. I’ll help you look.”
We searched the park, the school behind my house, and the parking lot of the church across the street. We wandered through the surrounding neighborhood, walking aimlessly up and down the streets, calling Nuada’s name. We didn’t find any sign of her. I stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and plopped down on the curb. I drew up my knees and rested my head on them.
I felt the lightest touch of Logan’s hand on my shoulder. “Maybe we should call it quits for the night,” he suggested.
My head shot up. “I’m not giving up! My poor cat is missing.”
He sat down next to me and put his arm around me, pulling me close to him. “I’m not suggesting we give up. I’m just suggesting I walk you home so you can get some much-needed sleep. I can pick you up bright and early in the morning and we can resume our search. It will be easier to look for her during the day anyway. Since she’s black, she kind of blends in with the night.”
I twisted my head to try to look up at him—even with us both sitting down, he still towered over me—without accidentally brushing my lips across his neck or something else embarrassing. I leaned back a little so I could get a clear view of his face. “I guess you’re right,” I agreed.
His arm dropped from my shoulders, and he stood, holding his hand out for mine. I placed my hand in his, and he pulled me to my feet. “Can I walk you home?” he asked.
“Sure.” I nodded. “I suppose that would be okay.”
As we walked back to my house, we still kept our eyes peeled for Nuada. Logan walked me straight to the door and just stood there.
“I’ll come by for you first thing in the morning, and we’ll keep looking, okay?”
“Sounds good. Thanks for helping me tonight.”
“Anytime. After all, I couldn’t risk you getting help from some other guy. I don’t want to share you.” He winked at me.
Great. He’d gone back to his old self. “Logan…”
“I know, I know. Stop being a jerk.” He stooped to kiss me swiftly on the cheek. “I can’t help it if I’m confident, Raena. I’ll see you in the morning.” He turned and jogged down the street.
My hand flew to my cheek and pressed against the spot he had just kissed. It still felt warm from the imprint of his lips, and felt as though it thrummed with energy. Did Logan like me? If so, I hated to break his heart by telling him about Andrei. Even though Logan acted like a jerk the majority of the time, he did seem to have a semblance of a heart buried somewhere in his muscled chest. I just needed to put him out of my mind. He was a friend—of sorts—nothing more.
I began to feel chilled. I didn’t know how long I had stood on the porch, staring at the spot where he had disappeared around the corner. I should go inside. I tried the doorknob. Good. They hadn’t locked it. I went in and closed and locked the door. I shed my coat and hung it up. No matter how tired and stressed I felt, I knew Genevra would throw a conniption fit if I left it lying around.
My coat now in its place, I trudged upstairs. Tanis waited for me in my room, perched on the edge of my bed.
“What do you want?” I asked.
“I just wanted to see if you found Nuada.”
Oh. I couldn’t be mad at her for that, even if she had come into my room without permission. “No, I didn’t. Logan and I looked everywhere.”
Her eyes widened. “Logan?”
“Yeah, I ran into him at the park.”
“Funny. What was he doing out at the park so late at night?”
“You know, I’m not sure. We got caught up looking for Nuada, and I forgot to ask him.”
“So, is something going on with you two now?”
“No! He was just being nice—for once.”
“Okay. Well, I can help you look in the morning, if you want,” she offered.
“Thank you. Logan said
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