Chapter 26 He's different now
~Ava’s POV~
The night air was cool as Logan and I walked side by side, the quiet sounds of the city enveloping around us. My fingers curled around the plush wolf he’d tried so hard to win, and I couldn’t help but smile.
“So, what’s next?” Logan asked, tossing the last of his fries into his mouth.
I raised an eyebrow. “Next? It’s almost midnight, Carter.”
“And?” He smirked. “Scared to stay out late?”
I rolled my eyes. “I have work tomorrow, unlike you.”
Logan placed a hand over his heart, feigning offense. “Are you calling me unemployed?”
I gave him a pointed look. “You literally don’t have a job.”
“Technically, I do.” He grinned. “I play football. That’s a job.”
“Football isn’t a job, it’s a sport,” I shot back.
“A sport I get paid for,” he countered.
I groaned. “You get scholarship money for it. That’s different.”
Logan shrugged. “Details, details.”
I shook my head, but I was smiling. Being around him was easy, even when we were arguing.
We walked a little longer until we reached a small park. The lamp posts lighted softly, casting golden light over the pathway. Logan nudged my side.
“Sit with me?”
I hesitated but eventually followed him to a bench. The night was calm, the kind of quiet that made me feel like we were in our own little world. Logan stretched his arms along the back of the bench, tilting his head toward the sky.
“Do you ever just… sit and think?” he asked.
I scoffed. “That’s literally all I do.”
He chuckled. “Okay, fair.”
I turned to him. “What about you?”
Logan was quiet for a moment. “Sometimes. But mostly, I try not to think.”
I frowned. “Why?”
He exhaled. “Because thinking too much makes shit complicated, I don't want that”.
Something about the way he said it made my chest tighten. There was a weight behind those words, something he wasn’t saying.
“Logan…” I hesitated. “Is something wrong?”
He glanced at me, and for a second, I saw something vulnerable pass in his eyes. But just as quickly, it was gone.
“Nah,” he said, forcing a smirk. “Just tired.”
I didn’t believe him, but I let it go.
We sat there for a while, neither of us speaking. The night air brushed against my skin, and I found myself leaning against him without thinking.
He didn’t move away.
If anything, he shifted closer.
And just like that, the night didn’t feel so cold anymore.
My alarm rang violently, and I groaned, slamming my hand against my phone to shut it off. The moment I sat up, memories of last night rushed back.
Logan had walked me home again.
He hadn’t tried to kiss me this time just stared at me like he was trying to memorize my face before finally saying goodnight.
It was… different.
I started to think he was putting in effort to change himself.
I ran a hand through my hair, sighing. I needed to stop thinking about him so much.
Dragging myself out of bed, I got dressed quickly and grabbed a coffee on my way to campus. My tutoring sessions were stacked today, and I needed all the energy I could get.
By the time I reached the library, I barely had time to set my things down before my first student arrived.
“Hey, Ava!”
I turned to see Tristan plopping down across from me.
I frowned. “Uh… you’re not on my schedule.”
“I know,” he grinned. “I’m here for moral support.”
I sighed. “Tristan…”
“Okay, okay.” He leaned in. “I actually came to ask how your date went.”
I nearly choked on my coffee.
“It wasn’t a date,” I muttered, flipping open my notebook.
“Right,” Tristan drawled. “So you just accidentally spent all night together?”
I glared at him. “We hung out. That’s it.”
Tristan smirked. “Sure. And let me guess Logan was his usual charming, annoyingly attractive self?”
I huffed. “He was…” I paused. “Different.”
Tristan’s grin faltered. “Different how?”
I hesitated. “I don’t know. He just… I think there’s more to him than he lets people see.”
Tristan studied me for a moment before leaning back in his chair looking serious. “You like him.”
I rolled my eyes. “I do not…”
“Yes, you do.”
“No, I don’t…”
“Ava,” he deadpanned. “You like him.”
I groaned, dropping my head onto the table.
Tristan chuckled. “It’s okay. I won’t tell.”
I lifted my head. “There’s nothing to tell.”
He grinned. “Whatever you say, nerd.”
I shook my head, trying to focus on work. But deep down, I knew Tristan wasn’t wrong.
I was curled up on my bed, reading, when my phone buzzed.
Logan: You up?
I frowned, typing back.
Me: Obviously.
A few seconds later, my phone rang.
I hesitated before answering. “Hello?”
“Hey, nerd.” His voice was softer than usual.
“Hey,” I said cautiously. “What’s up?”
There was a pause. “Can I see you?”
I sat up. “Logan, it’s late.”
“I know.” Another pause. “I just… I need to get out of here.”
Something about the way he said it made my stomach twist.
“Where are you?” I asked.
“Outside.”
I blinked. “What?”
“Open your window.”
I scrambled to my feet, pulling back the curtain. Sure enough, Logan was leaning against his car across the street, looking up at me.
Didn't Charlotte see him?
My heart skipped a beat.
“Are you insane?” I whisper shouted into the phone.
He chuckled. “Maybe.”
I sighed. “Give me five minutes.”
I grabbed a hoodie and slipped outside, making my way to his car.
As soon as I slid into the passenger seat, I turned to him. “Logan, what’s going on?”
He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he gripped the steering wheel tightly, staring straight ahead.
Finally, he spoke. “My father called me today.”
I frowned. “And?”
His jaw clenched. “And he reminded me why I never answer his calls.”
I watched him carefully. “Do you want to talk about it?”
He let out a bitter laugh. “Not really.”
I nodded, giving him space.
For a while, we just sat there in silence.
Then, without warning, Logan reached over and took my hand.
I froze.
His grip was firm, yet… gentle.
“I don’t know why I called you,” he murmured. “I just… I knew I wanted to.”
I swallowed hard. “I’m glad you did.”
He finally turned to look at me, something passed in his eyes.
Logan Carter wasn’t just the arrogant playboy everyone thought he was.
He was so much more than that.
And I was starting to fall for him.
No! I already fell for him, and I hope he doesn't notice that!.