The small gray shrimps lay in piles on the counter as Logan stood, shelling and listening for the doorbell. He had promised her a shrimp spaghetti dinner and his gut said if he didn't make the most of this opportunity, he might never get the chance again. Ingredients lined the stove, standing at attention, ready and waiting.
"That looks absolutely awful," Brian said, walking into the kitchen and pulling some cookies out of the cabinet.
"Hey, don't knock it until you try it," Logan said, peeling away the shell down to the milky white underbody.
"Well, don't call me 'til it's ready then." Brian took the cookies into the living room and set them on the coffee table.
"What time's she supposed to be here?"
"'Bout three," Brian said, pulling a cookie out and checking his watch. "Actually any time now."
"So what else did you get for snacks?"
"Popcorn, which I thought we could start on after dinner, chips and French onion dip, some cupcake things, Red Vines, skittles, and a gallon of Rocky Road. Rory wanted to get more but I had to cut her off."
Logan nodded even though Brian couldn't see him. "How about drinks?"
"Cokes and Sprites for Rory, Coors Lite and Bud for us."
As he scooped up the plate of peeled shrimp, Logan's heart dropped like a roller coaster. The fact that Brian knew Rory didn't drink often spoke volumes about how much Brian knew about her. Somehow Logan had convinced himself that Brian had fallen only for the illusion they had made up. But somewhere in the middle of that illusion had to be some truth, and that fact felt like a knife stab to his heart.
As he dumped the shrimp into the pan to sauté, the doorbell rang, and Logan's heart jumped into his throat. He heard Brian's footsteps fade to the door even as he willed himself to stay calm.
"Hey," Brian said when the door clicked open.
"Hello, you," Rory said happily.
Logan set his jaw at the familiarity of the greeting as he brushed the last shrimp into the pan and replaced the lid with a clatter.
"Come on in. We're just getting the food ready."
"Cookies? Impressive," Rory said, and the teasing tone in her voice brought a smile to Logan's face.
"Trust me. It's better than what Logan's making."
"Why? What's Logan…" Rory said, but the sentence stopped the second she glanced into the kitchen. Brian draped his arm firmly over her shoulders and led her into the kitchen.
"Shrimp surprise," Brian said, wrinkling his nose.
"Shrimp spaghetti," Logan corrected, forcing a smile onto his face as the heat of the memory of the two of them in her kitchen burned its way to the tips of his ears.
"I think I'll stick with the cookies," Rory said, leaning against Brian as he leaned against the counter. Casually Brian rested his arms on either side of hers.
In gray dress sweats, a white and gray striped shirt, and a peach sweat jacket, she struck the perfect balance between really dressed up and really casual, and something told Logan he wouldn't be watching much of the game.
"That's fine," Logan said, stirring the bubbling concoction in the pan and struggling to keep his voice nonchalant. "Keep your cookies, I wasn't going to share my spaghetti anyway."
Rory laughed. "That doesn't surprise me. You never were much on sharing."
"Oh, yeah? Well, see if I bring you donuts again. I'll just say 'No, sorry. I don't share. Go get your own.'"
She smirked at him. "You would do that, wouldn't you?"
"Yes, I would." Logan smiled at her, and their gazes met for one second, but Brian's presence wrapping around her slammed Logan back into reality, and he looked away to concentrate on the dinner preparations.
"Oh, man, you've got to come see the models we've been working on," Brian said, sliding away from the counter and leading her into the living room as Logan shifted his jaw again. "This is a park. It's the first one we did."
"It's amazing," Rory said.
Logan dried his hands on the first available towel and threw it onto the counter. Seeing her reaction to the models was every bit as important to him as it was to Brian.
"Look at this bridge." She sat on her heels to get a better look. Carefully she reached through the surrounding trees and touched the bridge as though walking through the park in her mind. "And the bench. It's so perfect."
"I designed it, but Logan put it together," Brian said before he smiled over her head at Logan who forced a smile onto his own face.
Brian's hand reached down and rested on her back as Logan's protective side jumped out. With a shove, he forced it back down, but his eyes didn't miss the familiar way Brian rubbed his hand across her back as she sat, chin on wrists, examining the model.
"How did you come up with this?" she asked, turning to Brian, and although Logan couldn't see her eyes, he knew exactly how they would look.
Brian shrugged. "It's based on a park back in Denver. I always thought if the right person could get their hands on it, they could work magic with the space."
"The right person, like you?" she asked as her voice turned to liquid.
Logan's heart crashed into his shoes, and without announcing his departure, he tiptoed away from them back into the kitchen.
"This one was the second one we finished," Brian said, pointing across the room to the entertainment center next to the television. "It's a backyard."
Although he told himself looking was a very bad idea, Logan glanced out of the kitchen on to the cozy scene in the living room. Rory sat down on the floor as Brian pulled the model off the shelf and set it on the coffee table in front of her.
"Geez. Look at the detail in this walk," Rory said appreciatively tracing her finger across it as Brian folded himself beside her. "The shading is perfect for the rest of the plants – this peach and the pink – it really brings out these flowers."
"Logan did the walk," Brian said without the slightest hint of anything other than admiration in his voice. "In fact, we're going to start on one he came up with this week."
"Logan?" Rory asked, looking up in disbelief.
"Yeah, you should see it." Brian pushed himself up from the coffee table, and he ran up the stairs. "Just a second. I'll get it."
Rory's gaze never lifted from the model, and Logan enjoyed watching her examine the workmanship. True, it was mostly Brian's work, but Logan had had a hand in it too, and that kept his gaze on hers.
"How do you do these benches," she called, and for one split-second the words were on Logan's tongue in reply.
"Mostly I just start with something functional, and then I try to bring in something from the surrounding area," Brian said, descending the stairs two at a time. "Like this one, it has the pond in the background, so I did the frog detail on the bench. It pulls the two elements together."
"That's amazing," Rory said with an admiring smile.
"Here's the one Logan did." Brian sat next to her with the design Logan had worked on for five hours while Brian was out on Saturday night. Brian handed it to her, and Logan could no more tear his gaze from her face than keep the sun from rising the next morning.
"Oh my gosh. My mom would go crazy for this," Rory said instantly. "She's looking to redesign the landscaping for the inn she owns. Look at the little birdfeeder and the statue with the flowers around it. It looks like something out of a magazine."
"We're going to make that model next," Brian said, "although I'm not sure where I'm going to find a miniature statue like that."
"Well, when it's finished, I want to see it," Rory said, taking one more long look at it before handing it back to Brian.
"You got it," Brian said happily, as his gaze chanced on the television. "Oh, hey, it's kickoff." He picked up the remote, and the whole living room sounded like it had just been transplanted into the stadium.
Rory wrinkled her face as Logan come out of the kitchen, towel in hand.
"Hey, if the neighbors want to hear it, they can get their own TV," Logan said, stopping the television and dropping the volume six notches.
"Thank you," Rory said.
The Giants kicked off, and after only a short run, they dropped the Titan's return man.
"And hearts break all over Vegas," Logan said.
Brian laughed. "I'm going to put this away." He disappeared up the steps.
Without bothering to watch the next play, Logan turned back for the kitchen. He felt her presence following him, and it was everything he could do to keep his heart in his chest.
"So I guess this means the moon is full," she said, leaning against the counter in a way that made the wires in his mind short circuit.
"Yeah, and the tides are out on the East Coat," he said with a small smile. He lifted the pot lid with the bubbling tomato sauce. "Here, taste this."
She wrinkled her nose at him. "Is it safe?"
"I haven't put the shrimp in it yet. Come on."
Gamely she pushed away from the counter and walked over to his side. He dipped the sauce-coated wooden spoon into the red liquid.
"Careful, it's hot," he said, cupping a hand under it and offering it to her.
"Whew!" She jumped back the second it touched her tongue. "You're not kidding that's hot! Geez." Quickly she ran to the sink and cupped her hands under the streaming water before drinking as much as she could get to her lips.
"It's not that hot," he said with a touch of annoyance before he dipped the spoon back in the sauce and put it to his own lips. "Or maybe it is."
She laughed as he took her place at the sink. When he came back up for air, his eyes had liquid in them.
"Holy Moly that's hot."
"I tried to tell you," she said, crossing her arms petulantly.
"Yeah, and next time I'm going to listen to you."
"Hey, are we cooking or watching football?" Brian said, striding into the kitchen.
Instantly they stepped away from each other, and their laughter evaporated.
"Football," Rory said, moving from Logan's side, and he felt the chill with every step she took away from him.
OoOo
"Here you go, Ace," Logan said, turning the plate around as he offered it to her.
"If I die, I'm sending you the bill," she said, accepting the plate with concern.
Logan handed Brian the other plate. "Send it on." Without waiting for their reaction, he walked back into the kitchen. "What do you want to drink?"
"Coors Lite, "Brian called.
"Coke for me," Rory said, and then Logan heard their stifled laughter, and he willed the jealously down. Tonight was about having fun with friends, and he wasn't going to do anything to mess either friendship up.
"Okay, on three," Brian whispered just loud enough for Logan to hear. "One, two, three."
The only sounds from the living room were the commentators' voices.
"So?" Logan asked, carrying the drinks out.
Rory nodded as the surprised crossed her face. "It's good."
"I told you," Logan said as her smile warmed him right to the core. "See, you should learn to listen to me."
"One thing, and he thinks he's got a lock on all the secrets of the universe," Rory said to Brian teasingly.
"Be careful we won't be able to get his head out the door," Brian said with a shake of his head.
"Thank you so much," Logan said in mock annoyance. "Yes, Logan, it's really good, Logan. Oh, really? Where did you get the recipe, Logan? A childhood secret recipe you say? Could I have it?" He turned as though answering his own question. "Well, I could give it to you, but then I'd have to kill you."
"Oh, sit down and shut up," Brian said, picking up the remote and punching the volume button to drown out Logan's theatrics.
"Fine," Logan said petulantly. "If nobody likes my cooking, then I'll just leave." He started for the kitchen.
"It really is good," Rory offered seriously.
Logan smiled at her gratefully before ducking into the kitchen to get his own.
"No!" Brian screamed, jumping to his feet.
"Yes! Yes!" Rory screamed as she set her plate on the coffee table. "Touchdown, Titans! There's seven!"
Plate in hand, Logan ran back into the living room and turned to watch as he took his seat in the chair. "What happened?"
"End run around the right side," Rory said still celebrating.
Brian sat back in disgust. "I never should have taught you about football," he said turning to Rory. "And how could you betray me and cheer for the AFC team?" he said planting a kiss on her cheek.
"Ahh, poor baby." Rory ran her hand up and down Brian's leg. "I'll remember to send you a sympathy card tomorrow."
"Uh-huh, you do that," Brain said.
From his chair, Logan watched them, and as much as it hurt, he had to admit they seemed very happy together. If he couldn't have her, he knew that Brian would take good care of her. She was lucky to have him.
OoOo
"Hey, Logan, what did you say your numbers are?" Rory asked as he was finishing the kitchen.
"2 and 1, why?"
"Who's which?"
"Titans 2." Logan grabbed his beer from the counter and crossed in front of them to the chair. "Why?"
"They have 12 right now," Rory said. "Remember they had that safety in the second quarter?"
"I'm not holding my breath," Logan said, genuinely liking everything about this situation other than the seating arrangement. "My luck they'll score again."
Brian grabbed a handful of popcorn. "Don't count on it."
"Hey," Rory said, taking a pillow from the couch edge and whacking him with it. "Don't talk about my team like that."
"Two months ago you knew nothing about football, you can't have a team," Brian said, surprised by the attack.
"Yes I can, and tonight it's the Titans, so watch your mouth."
"Do you see what I have to put up with?" Brian asked, picking popcorn off the front of his sweater.
"Well, you were dumb enough to ask her out," Logan said, tipping his beer bottle at them.
"Hey, I was on your side," Rory said petulantly.
"Oh, yeah, I forgot. Sorry." Logan smiled sarcastically at her and took another drink.
Suddenly Rory sat straight up. "He caught it! Yes! Go! Go!"
"Oh, no, no, no," Logan set his beer on the little table as he grabbed a pillow and rolled onto the floor.
"Touchdown, Titans!"
"Ah, man." Logan slapped the floor. "There goes $400 down the drain."
"Too bad," Rory said teasingly. "But hey, good for me."
Logan shook his head. "Yeah, but the Giants have 14. That means they have to have two more touchdowns, so if you win, your teams loses."
"Yeah," Brian said, jumping into the middle of the conversation. "So there."
Rory sat back and pulled the pillow to her. There was no winning the argument so she didn't try.
"That shut her up," Brian said, tipping his bottle to Logan who nodded in victory.
Without taking her gaze off the TV, Rory leaned forward and grabbed a handful of popcorn. "Umm, good popcorn."
"So she changes the subject," Logan said, sitting up against the front of the chair.
"Fine." Rory leaned back. "I'll just sit here and not say another word."
"Now that I'd like to see," Logan said.
"It ain't going to happen," Brian said with a laugh as he put his arm around her shoulders. "Nope, not going to happen."
She made it without a word until the final 15 seconds of the game, the Titans were down 21-19, but they had the ball and were picking their way down the field.
"Come on, guys." Logan grabbed the pillow again and scooted closer to the TV. "Just get in Dawson's range."
"And where would that be?" Brian asked. "Right under the goal post?"
Rory leaned forward and cupped her mouth in her hands. "Come on, ten more yards."
"Don't fail me now guys," Logan coached from the safety of his living room. "Third and five. Oh my God, I can't watch." He rolled over and put the pillow over his eyes. "Tell me what happens."
"What do you say we don't tell him, and we split his money if he wins," Brian said.
"Deal," Rory said with a laugh. "Oh, no, come on. What are you doing? Don't do that!"
"What?" Logan yanked the pillow from his eyes just as the quarterback scrambled out of the pocket.
"You idiot!" Rory yelled at the screen. "Run! Look down the field! Throw it!"
Skirting the sideline, the quarterback ran out of bounds, stopping the clock, and then Dawson trotted out on the field.
"Oh, no, I don't believe this," Logan said, clutching the pillow. "Dawson, listen, man. I'm so sorry for every bad thing I've ever said about you. Just one field goal. Okay? Come on. How hard can that possibly be?"
On the screen little number 2 set up for the field goal as every movement in the living room stopped.
"It's up." Rory stood from the couch. "No, go left, left."
At the last possible second the ball clipped the right upright and fell through the goalpost.
"It's good!" Rory screamed, flinging both hands into the air in victory.
"Yes!" Logan turned, and their hands met in celebration. "They did it! Way to go Dawson! $400 here I come!"
"And the Titans won," Rory said with a smile as she flopped down so close to Brian, she might as well have been sitting on his lap. She patted his knee sympathetically. "Sorry, Honey."
"No, you're not."
"No, I'm not," she said with a teasing grin. "But there is good news"
"What's that?" Brian asked.
"The loser gets to give the winner a kiss."
"Oh, well, that make things much better." Oblivious of Logan, Brian wrapped both arms around her and twisted her into his lap.
In one instant all thought of victory vanished from Logan's thoughts. He had just lost the most important thing he'd ever wanted and there would be no comeback victory for him.
OoOoOo
Rummaging around the kitchen for anything to do to keep his hands busy, Logan loaded and then reloaded the dishwasher. The kitchen was clean. Everything was in its place, abut he couldn't escape – not with them saying goodnight at the door. Watching one more kiss might kill him.
After an interminable wait, he heard the door close, and finally he breathed again. She was gone.
"Well that was fun," Brian said, striding into the kitchen as Logan closed the dishwasher.
"Yeah, it was."
"So, what do you think of Rory?"
"She's great."
Brian leaned against the counter. "It's really weird how life works out something you know?"
"How's that?"
"Bumping into her at Rich's that night. I mean what are the odds? There must've been a million people at the mall that night, and it's not like that's one of my hangouts, and yet where I meet the woman of my dreams."
Logan nodded. His heart too much to say anything.
"She's just so amazing." Brian shook his head and smiled. "Well, I've got to get some sleep. I'll see ya tomorrow."
"Yeah," Logan said as the pain washed over him. He had thought he could handle the two of them being together. He had convinced himself that it wouldn't tear his heart out, but he was wrong. Terribly, terribly wrong. He had to find a way to tell her, or he might as well just lie down in a hole and let them throw the dirt in over him.
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