Chapter 7

Author's Note: Hi readers! I needed to make some changes to this chapter so I deleted the previous version and posted this one. Sorry for the trouble/confusion (but I seriously think this version is WAY better)!

Georgia had a certain bounce to her step that morning as she made her way to the library. Just the thought of Louise having even the slightest potential of a future romance was exciting and entertaining. She'd never seen Louise with Rudy and couldn't imagine her holding hands or cuddling, but if she knew Louise like she thought she did, then that kind of romance would be fierce, full of drama, and something she wanted to see.
She kept replaying the previous evening in her mind – the way Max had stepped in and how Logan had seemed eager to meet him, how jumpy Louise was about it all, and how Logan had let her drag him out of the theater. She snickered at how ridiculous the two had looked when they left because Logan was so tall and Louise so small. They seemed so comfortable with each other. Georgia was enjoying all of it way too much. The truth is, Georgia felt like Louise was a long lost sister, or a friend-soulmate she never knew could exist, and she was very protective of her.
The library was an old brick building with vines crawling up the sides. It looked ancient and had that intoxicating, old paper smell. The library was the only reason Georgia hadn't failed out of college. If Georgia spent too much time with her roommate they inevitably ended up getting into mischief or just wasting time in general. She was making her way to her favorite study spot and passed the library's café. She happened to glance over, and there, right outside the entrance, was a man that looked exactly like Logan.
"Can't be…." she thought to herself. She stopped walking and ducked in between two rows of books to get a better look. It definitely looked like him, but in place of the casual hoodie was a dark blue dress shirt and a silver/blue striped tie. Instead of jeans and tennis shoes were grey slacks and shiny, black, dress shoes. He had his hair parted and swept up and back to one side and draped over his arm was a suit jacket.
"Mmm Louise! Girl got taste!" Georgia was thinking when she saw a few women come up to Logan and he clearly knew them by the way he greeted them. They were all dressed professionally and it looked like there was going to be a formal-ish meeting. "Well there goes my study session…" and she waited until they had gone in, got their drinks, and were sitting before she made her move. She snuck into line and ordered a green tea. She crept over to a lounge chair close enough for her to listen, and far enough away to be undetected. She shifted the chair so that her side was facing them. She cracked open her rhetoric book and feigned interest in the material. Tucking her hair back behind her ear, she strained to pick up some of the conversation. From what she could make out, their conversation centered on work involving writing or a book. It felt like the meeting lasted forever but when she checked her phone, they had only been there just under an hour. In her periphery she caught Logan checking his watch and then heard him explain that he had another meeting right after this one. Georgia untucked her hair and let it cascade over her face like a curtain. She turned her body away from Logan to make sure he wouldn't see her.
The voices had left so she turned to scan the room. As her head made it over her shoulder her eyes met a very sleek belt and light grey slacks, with a dark blue shirt tucked into them. Her cheeks flashed red. Logan crouched down next to her so he could make eye contact.

"Well well well…what are the chances of me meeting the 'Voice of God' again? Must be my lucky day! Did you enjoy listening in on my meeting?" he asked, calling her out for eavesdropping.
Georgia looked embarrassed and panicky, but attempted to deny the charge brought against her.
"Huh? Do I know you? Oh wait! Uh, that guy with Louise, right? How random seeing you here! How's it going?"

Logan grinned. "I am the king of eavesdropping," he said and got up from his crouching position to sit down in the chair opposite Georgia. "I spent years listening to my parents' 'conversations' and bickering. If practice makes perfect, then I'm flawless."
"You ARE flawless!" Georgia thought, now getting to admire him up close. I have GOT to help Louise snag this guy!
"Alright then, Logan. Yeah, I was trying to listen in. See, you've peeked my interest because I know Louise is lying about you and I saw you over here and thought I'd do some recon."
"Lying about me?" Logan had a surprised look on his face. "What did she tell you?"
"I believe her words were, 'he's a punk I hated back home'. So were you guys like, childhood friends?"
Logan laughed. "Friends. No. Not even close. She didn't lie to you, we did totally hate each other. I was her bully and she was such a brat! Always made it a point to get on my nerves. Drove me crazy, but it was entertaining at the same time, if that makes sense."
"It makes perfect sense where Louise is concerned," Georgia agreed with an eye roll.
"Yeah. Like her nasty gut punches and slaps. Hilarious when it happens to someone else – awful when it happens to you. Man…" Logan put a hand to his face and remembered how sensitive it had been last night.
"Holy shins she did slap you!?" Georgia asked with laughter in her voice. "Why?" and she picked up her tea to take a drink.

Logan took a second before answering, a devious thought planting itself in his brain. "I'll get revenge for the slap AND the punch, Four Ears."

"She didn't tell you? She uh…asked me to marry her…"

Georgia choked on her tea, coughing violently.
"WHAT!?" she cried in complete astonishment.

"Guess she did lie about some things then. We've been secretly dating for awhile…I was the one who asked her to keep it quiet. Doesn't matter now though. Really not surprised she didn't tell you about last night cuz' I, umm, said no…." he paused and hung his head down in feigned turmoil. "It was probably really embarrassing for her…hence the slap and dragging me away from you guys. You know how she keeps to herself and hates looking foolish…" Logan let his posture slip into a slouch and hid the wicked smile dancing on his lips by putting his hands up and resting his head in them.
Georgia was lost as to what to say or do…it didn't make sense…well, it could make sense, depending on other details.

"I can't believe it! She wouldn't do something like that!"
"But I mean, would you really expect her to let a guy propose to her?"
"Huh" Georgia thought. "No, I can't imagine that…Ok. She said she tricked you out of some money and CDs. And a book or something. What was that about?"
"Tricked?" Logan looked up after straightening out his expression. Then he put on a sad smile.
"She originally bought those things for me as kind of a lead-up-to-the-big-question date. She told me to meet her at the mall to go shopping and to see a movie. She took me to a few stores which I thought was kind of weird. The book store didn't have the book I wanted so we were going to order it. But then after the movie she asked and well, you know…..so I made her take those things for herself." he dropped his gaze down again.
Georgia was totally dumbstruck. It sounded semi-plausible.
"But how have you guys been dating? Just, like, long distance? Have you come to town before?"
"Mostly online but I've come a few times and she snuck out to see me. She's such a sneaky bunny."
"Oh my gosh! The bunny thing! With the hat! I've seen that hat. But why keep your dating secret?"
"Her parents hate my parents and don't approve of me. And I'm a lot older than her."
Georgia was nodding as if things were becoming clear…if it were anyone other than Louise, it would be too crazy. But Louise didn't do anything unless it was crazy.
"And what was up with the business card?"
"Sheesh," Logan thought. "She's really grillin' me."
"Oh that? I recently got a new job and wanted to show her the business cards I had printed." Logan decided that he needed to duck out before the questions got too specific and he tripped up. "Look, hey, I really appreciate you being a good friend to her and it's a relief of sorts to have this out in the open, but I can't talk about it anymore…it's just too embarrassing. I've gotta head out anyway, so uh, say "sorry" to Louise for me?" Georgia nodded silently.
"Thanks, hope you have a good rest of your day," and with that Logan stood up, picked up his jacket, and waved goodbye. It was all he could do to keep his mirth contained until he was out of the building. Once he stepped outside into the crisp air he let loose and laughed until his sides hurt and tears were threatening his eyes. Everyone he passed looked at him like he was crazy.
"Revenge hath no fury like I have, Louise."