Chapter 43 Picnic date 2
•••••
Later that evening, I stood in front of the mirror in Logan’s apartment, staring at myself with mild panic.
I wasn’t overdressed. I wasn’t underdressed. I was just… Ava,as usual In my jeans and a knitted sweater.
But for some reason, going to Devin’s with Logan’s friends felt like I was about to step onto a stage. And I hated stages, I hated attention.
“You look amazing,” Logan said from behind me, pulling on a clean black tee that fit him far too well.
“You always say that.”
“That’s because it’s always true.”
I rolled my eyes, but heat crept into my cheeks. He came up behind me and rested his hands on my hips, his eyes meeting mine in the mirror.
“They like you, Ava. Just be yourself.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” I muttered.
He laughed softly and leaned down to kiss the top of my head. “Come on, trouble. Let’s go.”
The walk to Devin’s was filled with a comfortable silence , but Logan kept his hand in mine the entire time, and somehow, that steadied me,made me feel a little better but didn't calm my nerves.
When we walked in, the usual sounds hit me music, chatter, clinking glasses. The place was always crowded , people making out here and there!,but Logan navigated us straight to the back where his friends had claimed a booth. Trey was there, obviously, along with Aaron, Devin and harper, Devin's girlfriend.
To my surprise, Harper waved enthusiastically the second she saw me.
“Ava!” she said, sliding over to make room. “Come sit with us.”
Logan gave me a light push. “Go. I’ll grab drinks.”
I slid in beside Harper, who smelled like citrus and vanilla. She offered me a bright smile.
“I’m so glad you came. We were talking about you earlier.”
“Oh?” I asked, trying not to sound like I was bracing for impact.
“All good things,” she promised, nudging my shoulder. “I said you’re the only girl who’s ever made Logan look nervous.”
That made me laugh. “Really?”
“Oh, totally. You should’ve seen him the day before the game . He walked around like he didn’t know what to do with his face.”
“Hey!” Logan appeared with two sodas, mock-offended. “No embarrassing stories while I’m gone.”
“No promises,” Harper sing-songed.
He handed me a drink and slid into the booth beside me. His thigh pressed against mine, creating warmth.
Conversation flowed easier than I expected. Trey made stupid jokes. Devin argued about fantasy football like it was a religion.
Aaron had a dry wit that made me wondered what was wrong with him?.
and Harper was effortlessly sweet and sarcastic at once. They treated me like I’d been there all along.
I found myself laughing. Really laughing. And every so often, Logan would glance at me, eyes crinkled at the corners, as if proud of how well I was fitting in.
I was actually proud of myself too!
After a while, Harper leaned over and whispered, “You’re good for him, you know.”
I blinked. “What?”
“Logan. He’s … much calmer now. Not in a boring way, just... more him. You bring that out.”
I didn’t know what to say. So I just nodded, feeling something warm bloom inside me.
Later, when the group started heading out in different directions, Logan and I walked back slowly. The air was cooler now, the sky was getting darker, but I didn’t feel cold.
“I told you they’d like you,” he said casually.
“Yeah, yeah,” I replied. “You were right.”
He bumped my shoulder. “Say that again. Louder.”
“Don’t push it.”
He grinned.
We reached his apartment, and I hesitated at the door.
“I should probably head back,” I said, though I didn’t really want to.
He nodded, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “Okay. But come over tomorrow?”
“I will.”
He leaned in, slower this time, and kissed me. Soft. Certain. The kind of kiss that made promises without saying a word.
Even if we didn't say the L word to each other,u could still feel the sincerity in him whenever we kissed.
When we pulled apart, I smiled.
“Logan?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m glad I didn’t run.”
His expression softened “Me too.”
When I finally made it back to my apartment, the room was dim and quiet. I slipped off my shoes and sank into bed, the warmth of Logan’s kiss still lingering on my lips.
My life has changed ever since I've known Logan Carter.
Not in a dramatic, life-just-changed-forever kind of way. More like a soft shift. Like the kind of peace that settles in your bones when something finally feels right.
I curled up beneath the blanket, staring at the ceiling.
It hit me then, slowly and all at once how far we’d come.
From the moment I met Logan, he’d been a hurricane. Loud, stubborn, cocky bastard and too confident for his own good. And I’d been… guarded. Waiting for the catch. The moment the floor dropped out.
But it didn’t.
Instead, he was the one catching me.
Even with the chaos Natasha’s games, the tension, the mess of emotions I felt grounded when I was with him. Like the world didn’t spin quite as fast when his hand was in mine.
I started suspecting myself,if I lost my mind ever since I've started dating Logan.
I reached for my phone, unable to stop the small grin spreading across my face.
Ava: That was the best worst dancing I’ve ever done.
His reply came almost instantly.
Logan: Admit it. You were into it.
Ava: Only because you made me laugh.
Logan: Good. I want to be the reason you laugh more. I love that!
I stared at the screen, my heart fluttering in that ridiculous way again.
Ava: You already are! And you're already doing a pretty good job 💪
Three dots blinked for a second, then stopped.
Then started again.
Logan: Ava… I want to make sure you get all love I could provide you. I like to see you smile Everytime especially if it's because of me.
I read it over twice before locking my phone and pressing it to my chest.
Those words echoed in my head, warm and terrifying all at once. Because somewhere along the way, I’d started to feel that way, too.
I wasn’t sure when it had happened maybe during the first late-night conversation, or when he let me stay after I had nowhere to go.
Or maybe it was tonight, when he looked at me like I wasn’t just a girl, but his girl.
The walls I’d built around myself were still there, but they were thinner now. Softer. And that's all because of Logan.
I turned off the lamp and let myself smile in the dark. Because for the first time in a long time…
I admitted to myself, that I might be in love with Logan Carter.