Chapter 20

“I can’t believe it,” Aimee announced, throwing her hands up in the air and letting them fall and hit her thighs loudly. “You have not one, but two men? What in the world is going on?”

I rolled my eyes at her theatrics even though I had to admit that it was thrilling to be desired by two different guys. It sure didn’t happen very often in my life. “I’m serious, you guys. I think Trent wants me back. In fact, I don’t think he does. I know he does.”

“I’m still surprised that Trent is back and in school. Seems like forever since he left,” Darren said. I was just as surprised as everyone else when Trent had stridden down the school hallway like he owned the place; like he hadn’t been gone for far too long. Even more surprising was the fact that students welcomed him back like he was their long-lost king, risen from the dead or whatever.

It made me remember that back when he’d been going here, Trent had been popular. Almost as popular as Logan.

Logan.

I hadn’t seen him all day. Even now, in the cafeteria, he was nowhere to be found. I wanted to go look for him, but what would I say when I found him? The tension from yesterday still hung over us and I didn’t know how to make it go away.

Okay, so maybe I did know, but I was tried of having to bring up the same conversation without getting any positive answers. I wasn’t okay with just being by his side or being the recipient of his delicious kisses. I wanted a label. Which was ridiculous because Logan didn’t do labels, at least not for long. I hadn’t heard of him being in a relationship that last more than two months. So, why on earth was I wishing for a label?

“I heard his dad gave a ridiculous amount in donation to the school just for Principal Donna to let him come back here.” Aimee shrugged.

Trent’s parents were loaded so it was a plausible rumor. Though, it didn’t make any sense that his father had taken a job so far away and had to move his entire family only for him to change his mind two years later and move back. Maybe if he hadn’t done that, Trent and I would still be together right now.

And there would be no Logan.

Speak of the devil, I immediately saw him enter the cafeteria. My heart picked up the usual speed it did whenever he was near and I watched in disappointment as he strolled to where his teammates sat eating. Letting out a small sigh, I leaned forward to rest my elbows on the table. Of course, he would sit with his friends. How stupid of me to think he was going to sit with me.

I was still watching him in dismay when he got to his feet and suddenly caught my gaze from across the large space. My breath hitched; I couldn’t look away. His green eyes seemed to captivate me, kept me in place. Then he smiled, and it stretched to his eyes. I returned the smile, not exactly sure what it meant. Was he over our little argument yesterday or was he finally going to clear my confusion regarding our status?

“Ew,” Darren murmured as he watched me look at Logan and I chuckled at the look on his face. “Why must you both look like you’re about to rip each other’s clothes off all the time?”

I blushed, easing my gaze back to Logan. Did we really look like that? I certainly hoped not. It would be too embarrassing.

“Still can’t believe you have two hot men in your life that want you. It’s not fair,” Aimee mumbled, her head blobbing as she shook her head at me, crossing her arms across her chest.

Then Logan was standing, walking. He kept his gaze on me as he moved and it was seconds later I realized he was walking to our table. My heartrate picked up alarming speed again. How was it that he managed to unnerve me so? I’d known him for longer than I could remember. Why now?’

But I didn’t have much time to ponder on that thought because suddenly, I could see Trent too. And holy shit, he was also walking towards our table.

“Uh oh,” Darren murmured, catching up as well. “Trouble in paradise.”

“This will not end well.” Aimee perked up, her eyes wide.

Me? I was silent. Sure, it had distinctly occurred to me that I was probably in what known as a love triangle, but never for once had I thought both boys would meet up at any point. But there they were, both striding towards me, both oblivious to the fact that the other was striding towards me.

“Hale—”

“Fireball—”

They both paused, turning their heads to meet each other’s eyes and I swear I thought I saw fire. But whom would I talk to without the other feeling like I was making a choice? Because I wasn’t. Hell, I wasn’t even sure what was happening.

“Hale,” Logan said, firmly this time, his gaze still on Trent and then on me. “Wanna sit with me?”

“That’s funny. I was just about to ask you the same thing, Fireball.”

“Uh…” I looked between the two of them, hoping they noticed the confliction in my eyes and left it alone. The last thing I wanted was to upset either of them. “I think I’ll just sit here with my friends. Thanks.”

“Is he the one you said wasn’t serious?” Trent suddenly asked, a suspicious gleam in his eyes.

I almost winced when Logan’s eyes widened. Shit. Why would Trent say that? What the hell was wrong with him? “I never said that,” I quickly added, shaking my head at Logan. “Never.”

“I’m pretty sure you insinuated it,” Trent added, nodding his head in opposition to me shaking my head. “I believe the correct term was ‘something’.”

The look in Logan’s eyes shattered my heart. I’d never seen him look so hurt and rejected. When he turned and walked away, it felt like he was walking away from me forever the way his shoulders lowered. I swallowed shakily, because this was all my fault. Why had I said that to Trent and why no earth hadn’t I spoken to Logan about the way I was feeling?

I almost went after him, then decided against it. He needed time. And if he wanted to end… us, then it was no fault of his.

“Now that that’s out of the way, wanna sit with me, Fireball?”

I dragged my gaze away from Logan’s retreating back and to Trent’s expectant expression. I couldn’t believe him sometimes. “No, Trent. I don’t want to sit with you. Could you please leave me alone?”

I didn’t bother to see his reaction to my words as I tore my eyes from his to the table. I hated feeling this way, conflicted and annoyed. Why was it so hard?

“Sucks to be you, Lexi,” Aimee sighed as soon as I heard Trent’s retreating footsteps. Thank God, because I couldn’t look at him after what he’d just done.

“I know this doesn’t happen very often, sugar.” Darren drew my attention to him with his tone. “But the wheels are already in motion and if you’re not careful, someone’s going to crash.”