James's POV

"James?" my grandma called feebly from the living room the next morning. I came to her call, still drying my hair with a white towel after a shower.

"Yeah, Grammy?" I answered, but as soon as I entered the living room I didn't have to ask what was wrong. There was a golden picture frame lying face-down on the hardwood floor, shards of glass sprinkled everywhere. "Oh, jeez."

"Don't step on it with your bare feet," she warned, but I did anyway. I stepped toward her, the glass not bothering me, and picked her up to put her somewhere safer.

"It's okay, I have tough beach-bum feet," I teased, brushing my feet off.

"I'll get the broom."

My grandpa sat in his wheelchair beside the couch, staring as I picked up the broken frame.

"That was my favorite picture," Grandpa said sadly. I sat beside him, looking at it.

It was a black-and-white photo of my grandpa in his Navy uniform, my grandma smiling beside him. They were probably 19 in the picture and looked so happy.

Grandpa took the picture and ran his frail fingers over their faces.

"We can get another frame for it," I assured.

"This frame was given as a wedding gift from my grandmother," he said.

"Oh… I'm sorry, Grandpa."

Before I knew it, Grandpa was distracted again by the picture. He was laughing softly at something.

"She was a fighter," he laughed. "Didn't want to accept that someday I would make her my wife. Kept telling me to leave her alone."

I chuckled a little, watching his eyes glow.

"She didn't like you? That's hard to believe," I teased.

"No, didn't like me one bit," he chuckled. "But when you know you're supposed to be with someone… There's no dancing around it. You can't waste time- especially with someone like your grandmother. She woulda been snatched up by someone else while I was away in the Navy, for sure."

Then he looked up at me with a knowing smile.

"Did you win that girl back? The one you came to see?" he asked.

"Oh… Logan? No."

"Are you going back today to get her back?"

"No."

"Why not? I thought you wanted to marry her?"

I laughed a little, rubbing my face.

"Logan's a boy," I reminded him. "And I really want him to take me back, but… He hates me."

"You can't give up, boy," he said, shaking his finger at me. "Or he'll get snatched up while you're away."

I searched Grandpa's eyes, surprised at his advice, but before he could say anything else Grandma was trying to sweep up the glass and of course I had to help.

I kept trying to think of another approach to win Logan back. What Grandpa said about him being snatched up by another guy really bothered me and lit a fire under my ass. Of course I didn't want someone else to get him- I wanted him for myself.

So I came up with a new plan.

Logan's POV

"LOGIE! Can you come down here?" Mom called through my sleep, starting me awake. I groaned, rubbing my eyes and looking over, seeing that Kendall hadn't even twitched beside me.

I stumbled out of bed, in only my underwear and a hockey t-shirt.

I went down the stairs feeling like a sleepy zombie, rubbing my eyes. When I opened them, I was just a few steps away from the floor… Only about three feet away from a tall and handsome man holding a bouquet of red roses.

I must have gone pale as a ghost.

"Not a boxer type of guy, huh?" James asked, biting his lip to keep from laughing at me.

"Logie! Put on some clothes!" Mom hissed from beside him.

"It's fine, Joanna," James waved. "Nothing I haven't seen before."

He said that as a general statement, like maybe he was talking about how he had seen other men in their underwear, or maybe himself, but he winked at me in a knowing way- he had seen me in my underwear. And he had known that I wear briefs beforehand.

"What're you doing here?" I asked breathlessly, staring at the roses.

"My grandpa suggested I bring you these," he said with a dazzling smile, holding them out to me. I stared at Mom, whose hands were over her chest as she melted. I stepped down to take them, a gust of the smell of the flowers hitting me. Before I could take them, James pulled a single rose from the bunch and offered it charismatically to Mom.

"Oh, it's been so long since such a handsome man gave me a flower," she chuckled, taking it.

"Okay, break it up," I teased, taking James's hand and leading him upstairs. "Did you come to hit on my mom or what?" I asked him on the way up. I led him into the extra bedroom, since Kendall was in my room and would hate to see James here and me with a dozen roses- well, eleven roses now.

"I wasn't expecting you to accept the flowers, much less take me right to bed," James teased as I closed the door quietly.

I gently sat the bouquet on the dresser, staring at them a second. Was this what I wanted? Was I ready to make up with James? He broke my heart… And I'm going to let him get away with it this easily?

Well, I really thought I had punished him enough already. I wanted this.

"I'm indecent," I said, embarrassed. "Let me get some pants on."

"It's okay, I like it," James giggled.

James's POV

I had never expected to get this far.

I expected to come here and Logan see me at the bottom of his steps and immediately shut himself in his room. Then his mom would take the roses and promise to give them to him for me, and I would have to leave.

When Logan got back, he was in jeans and his t-shirt, hair still cutely disheveled and eyes still sleepy. He was adorable.

"Sorry- Kendall's here… Still asleep," he said, closing the door quietly.

I nodded, folding my legs under me to get comfortable. I wasn't afraid of Kendall. Let him find out I was here bearing flowers.

"I came to-" I began, but was interrupted.

"I know why," Logan said with a little smile. "I'm glad you did. I'm tired of being mad at you."

I squinted my eyes and cocked my head at him, puzzled. Just yesterday he was furious with me, and now he's almost flirting?

"I was just thinking a lot about it last night and decided that you don't deserve what I gave you," Logan sighed. "I treated you like shit…"

"But I treated you worse."

"No. You never treated me badly. Ever. You were always a perfect gentleman," Logan smiled a little. "So as a peace offering, I was wondering if you'd be interested in lunch?"

This is it, James! This is for real! Not a dream this time! Don't fuck this up.

I took both of Logan's hands and his dark eyes stared needily into mine.

"I would love lunch," I grinned excitedly. I knew this wasn't supposed to be romantic- maybe he was testing the waters and deciding what to do with me. Maybe he just wanted to be friends now. I had never known Logan to come out and really say something… So I had no clue.

Logan's POV

My heart was soaring as I went around my car to open James's door for him.

"I love a good gentleman," James said with a dazzling grin, walking beside me but keeping his distance.

I guess I was so set on hating and forgetting James, I forgot how good it feels just being with him. How free and happy I am around him…

His hazel eyes looked dazzled as he looked around at the beautiful dim lamps and romantic atmosphere.

"Woah," he breathed as he followed the hostess. She looked over her shoulder at James, who was still dazed by the scene, and giggled a little.

"He's never been here," I explained, and just to mark my territory added, "Seemed like a perfect place for a date."

"Of course," she said politely.

James sat down and gawked up at the dim lamp above our table with set napkins and silverware and rolls in the center.

"This is awesome," he beamed at me. I loved making him this happy- he was like a kid.

"I'm sure you've been to fancier," I said with a wave.

"But none like this. I love it."

I gave him a bashful and lopsided smile, picking up the menu.

"I've brought a few girls here, believe it or not," I said. "It's way more romantic when it's dark out."

"Logan dated girls, huh?" James asked with interest, resting his chin on his palm. "What was your worst date?"

"All of them were bad," I giggled, shaking my head before pausing to think. "But I think the worst was my last one with a girl. She was really into me for some reason and asked me out. So we went to the park one day. She forced herself on me, but I let it happen. We were making out a little and she kinda felt me up. Saw that I wasn't near as aroused as her. Got pissed off and that was it. I guess that was the day I knew I was all gay- not bi. I thought I could still give girls a try, but that showed me they really don't excite me."

"Interesting," James speculated. "So how is that the worst? Maybe it was the best."

"No, I think this is the best," I winked. "Besides- that was the worst because a girl both stuck her tongue in my mouth and touched me in places no girl should touch again."

"Okay, so Logie doesn't like girls," James noted.

"Does James?"

"A little. I find some girls attractive, but I don't know about having sex with them or being in a relationship with them," James shrugged.

"So… What about… The girl?" I asked tentatively. I knew her name- Mercedes- but I didn't want to even think it.

"Mercedes?" James laughed a little. "No. She tried to make me, but we never had sex. I didn't even like kissing her or being around her."

"I can't believe you were gonna marry her," I said in a daze. Of course I didn't like to talk about it, but it just slipped out.

"Me either. I guess I had nothing to lose- didn't expect to find someone that I actually wanted to marry, you know? But here you are."

I blushed a little, smiling.

"So you and Kendall seriously never-"

"Oh please," I giggled, shaking my head. "Kendall's straight as an arrow."

"Seems to me like he's kind of in love with you."

"Why do you say that?"

"Just the way he's protective of you. How he always seems to be touching you and isn't afraid to even kiss your cheek. Not to mention how he was about to do anything to keep me from winning you back."

Of course I had heard this theory a million times by people in school, my mom, even strangers. But I knew it wasn't like that. We were best friends, and that's just how Kendall is with people he loves.

"He's the same way with his mom and little sister," I waved. "Sometimes even my mom. He's just… Passionate."

"So why doesn't a handsome hockey star like him have a girlfriend?" James prodded.

"He did. But she broke up with him, and now he just likes to play the fields," I shrugged. "Can't tell you how much sex he had in California."

"I bet he loved it there," James smirked. "All the chicks in bikinis, all drunk and wanting something to fuck…"

"Oh yeah," I laughed a little, rolling my eyes. "I was supposed to be his chaperone- his mom told me to not let him do anything bad. So much for that."

"Did I keep you from fulfilling your babysitting duties?" James asked in a playful pout.

"I wasn't gonna stop him from doing what he wanted anyway," Logan shrugged. "He doesn't really abide by rules, especially not my rules."

The waitress appeared to take drink orders, interrupting. When she left, an unspoken question was on Logan's tongue- I could tell.

"What?" I poked. His dark eyes rose to me and I saw that he wasn't afraid to ask the question, but was afraid of the answer.

"How long are you here for?" he asked tentatively.

"I dunno," I shrugged honestly. "My grandparents are loving having someone to get things from shelves for them and someone to help them out…"

"What about your job?"

"Well… If I get fired, so be it," I said simply. "There's nothing in Cali for me but that job and Carlos."

"Don't say that," Logan said, shaking his head. "Your mom will eventually want to talk to you again."

"Doubtful."

Logan's eyes dropped. I knew he felt bad for me for losing Mom, but I didn't. Sure, it hurts sometimes, but I can take care of myself. And if she can't accept me, I don't need her.

"But that's okay," I said reassuringly. "I don't need her."

"Everyone needs their mom," Logan pushed. "I'd be lost without mine."

"But my mom and I aren't as close as you and your mom. We've got a different kind of relationship. Less loving. I mean, sure, she loved me and took care of me and everything, but she just isn't caring and mushy like your mom. Since I was a teenager, I think I hugged her maybe five times."

"That's weird, considering how compassionate you are," Logan noted.

"A lot of that comes from Carlos and his family. I spent a lot of time with him as a kid… Well, I still do."

"Is Carlos…?" Logan began to ask, and I laughed.

"No, I don't think Carlos is gay. It's questionable sometimes, but I think he's straight."

Logan gave a dimply grin, making me grin back, just staring at him. He didn't mind… He was staring right back. We didn't really talk much until the waitress came back.

Logan's POV

"Wanna come in and see my grandparents?" James asked as he unbuckled his seatbelt. We were sitting in front of his grandparent's house in my car. "They won't bother us if we sneak off into my room."

I giggled a little at James's forwardness.

"I guess that's a no," James smirked a little. "Am I ever gonna get back into your pants, Logan?"

"God, I hope so," I answered with a grin. "But not tonight."

Then came that awkward moment where James sat there, looking out the window, knowing he wanted to kiss me, but didn't know if I was okay with it.

"I'll see you later," I said softly, leaning over to kiss his cheek. "Come see me soon."

James smiled and turned to me.

"I'll come get you for a morning jog. How about… 6?"

"Hell no," I laughed. "Can you imagine me jogging?"

James gave me a dazzling grin and chuckled a little.

"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow," James said, taking my hand and gently kissing my knuckles. Gosh he was a gentleman. A real classy guy. "Bye, Logan."

I watched him get out of the car and waited to make sure he could get into the house before driving away.