Last Christmas

Chapter Seven

December 2009

"Hey, doll," Logan said, as he came into the diner around noon. He knew that only on Wednesdays did Georgie work the lunch shift because he college classes were primarily on Tuesday and Thursdays this semester.

She smiled as he sat down at the counter. "Don't you work days?"

"Everyone gets a lunch break and this is my favorite spot in town."

Her smile grew. She was about to take his order, when Georgie's smile turn to a frown, and he glanced over his shoulder to see why. He bit back a groan at the sight of his ex-girlfriend.

Lulu asked Logan "You blocked my number?"

Logan said "You called me 10 times in a row in the middle of the night. You're lucky I just blocked you and didn't get a restraining order on your ass."

Lulu said "You're being ridiculous! I called you because we need to talk...about us."

Georgie said "You can't do this in here. You used to work here. You know better than to bring your drama in here."

Logan stood up. "She's right. Let's take this outside."

He headed for the door. Lulu said to Georgie "I hope you know this is the same for him as the sex bet with Maxie. When he's trying to get my attention, he uses another girl to do it, but he always comes back to me."

Georgie put both hands on the counter and leaned toward Lulu, with fire in her eyes. "He always came back to you before...before he was with me. I wouldn't hold my breath waiting on Logan to come back to you this time."

"He'll be back in my bed before yours is even cold," Lulu said before flouncing back out the door in dramatic fashion.

Logan shook his head at her antics and followed her outside. "You need to leave Georgie the hell alone. She's not the reason we're broken up. We were done before I got involved with Georgie so stop blaming her for this," he motioned between them "being messed up. It's messed up cause we ain't right for each other."

Lulu quickly kissed Logan, but he pushed her away. She was panting in frustration at that point.

She wiped at her mouth. "You know you're coming back to me. We're fate. You even said it before yourself."

"I was wrong." He turned on his heel and went back into the diner. He sat down at the counter again.

Once Georgie was done waiting on some customers, and after she went into the kitchen and came back, Logan said "Sorry about all that drama, darlin."

She poured him coffee, which he drank every time he was there so it was a safe bet he would order it again today.

She gently wiped some lipstick off the corner of his mouth. "Are you okay? She's a lot sometimes."

"I'm good, girl. I hate that she is aiming her venom at you."

"Don't worry about it. I knew that she was part of the deal when we got together. All I can say is thank God you didn't marry her or have a kid with her or both. The only thing worse than your crazy ex-girlfriend would be your crazy ex-wife or crazy baby mama."

"I shudder at the thought." He visibly winced. "Let's just forget all about that unpleasant business and get back to why I'm here."

"What can I get you for lunch?"

"BLT with fries but I'm here to ask you on a date."

XXXXXXXX

Her heart leapt into her throat, even though she knew that this date was just part of their fake dating scheme. A small smile tugged at her lips. "Oh, yeah, is that right?"

"Nadine wants us to double date with her and Coop."

Her heart sunk. She knew it had to be part of the fake dating scheme cause they were not really into each other but still it stung to hear him say it aloud. "And you want to?" She leaned over the counter and dropped her voice. "Do you really think we need to?"

"Coop insists and I couldn't tell my roomie and my brother and my best friend, all rolled into one, no. I was put on the spot, love."

She couldn't remember him calling other women love but he must have, just when she wasn't around. Still what if she was the only one? That was a silly thought though, right?

"Okay. I'm in. Text me the details but if I'm doing this for you then you need to do something for me."

"Quid pro quo, huh? Hit me with it. What do you want?"

"It's what my Great Aunt Ida wants. She insists on hosting my new beau for tea. She's staying with us until after the wedding. I've been putting her off all week but she mentions it every day. Maybe Saturday afternoon?"

"Tea with an old lady? Georgie, come on, have mercy on me."

"I told her you would love to have tea. Are you going to make me a liar? I'll put in your order and give you time to think about it. Think carefully, Logan."

She walked in the kitchen. She felt like his eyes were locked on her retreating form but maybe she was just hoping that was the case. After not really making much of an impact on any man in the last three years (at least not any guy she wanted back), and after her short lived marriage ended with infidelity and divorce, it was a nice thought to think a hot guy like Logan Hayes might find her attractive.

It sure felt like he did when they were kissing but maybe his favorite thing about her was that she was easy. She would have never described herself that way in the past- she had feelings for every guy she had ever kissed- but whenever his lips were on hers, she just melted like butter for him.

It would be so easy for him to get her out of her panties. She just hadn't decided yet if she was going to let him. Maybe some kind of friends with benefit thing? They were more than halfway there already. What could be the harm?

XXXXXXXXXX

Logan ate his lunch, while chatting, flirting and joking with Georgie. After lunch, he popped a mint in his mouth. Later, he paid his bill.

"Here is my RSVP for tea with your great aunt," he said, before leaning over the counter, and pulling her into a quick kiss. "Count me in, since it means so much to you."

She looked a little dazed, like she always looked after they kissed. He felt like he was flying, like he always felt after they kissed. They had chemistry off the charts. But it wasn't like they had anything else going for them.

Just chemistry and shared goals of finding it useful for people to think they were dating each other.

"Bye, doll, I gotta get back to work."

"Bye, Lo," she murmured.

He blinked a few times, a little stunned at how her shortening his name felt like a new level of intimacy between them. The difference between kissing Georgie and Lulu were worlds apart.

Yet he had been so sure he had been in love with Lulu, and he had been so sure he barely liked Georgie. Maybe this was some kind of rebound thing?

Fake dating shouldn't be so complicated because the whole premise started with the word fake. No real feelings involved, right?

Logan hurried out of the diner. He needed to get back to work and he needed to put some space between him and Georgie. She made him wonder what he was feeling and he didn't want to start asking complicated questions like that. He just wanted to have some fun and get through the holidays. That was more than enough for him at this point.

Just. Have. Some. Fun.