Without bothering Jakey, I held my phone so I could scroll back through our conversation. Everything he said rang true to what I’d seen from him so far. Even him saying he was only going to his parents didn’t seem too far-fetched based on the stories he’d been able to sneak in while I served other customers at lunch. Of course, it had only been one week the cautious side of my brain reminded me. But in that week, he’d shared lots of little things. I knew he went to the gym five days a week, that he’d loved playing high school football but that he hadn’t been remotely interested in playing in college but had to for the scholarship. He said he also spent as much of his free time with his best friend as he could, even if that meant hanging out with his men, that he enjoyed his job as a financial analyst, and that he had to eat on schedule or he got really hangry.
Yeah, I was probably a complete idiot. There was no telling what Creed really wanted from a shy bartender with a kid, but for once, I was going to risk it to find out. Well, if he actually kept showing up.
Chapter Six
Creed
Another full week had passed since I met Logan. After two weeks of going to eat lunch at the end of the bar every day he worked, and now a full week of texting him each night on top of that, I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that I was interested.
Truth be told, I’d known I was interested that first Monday that I couldn’t wait to go to lunch to see him again, but what he’d overheard Shane saying that first night wasn’t inaccurate. My track record with women since I’d graduated from college had been less than impressive. From outside appearances, it looked like I treated relationships like I needed a new flavor each week, but I didn’t want that. It was just what happened. Everyone who knew me thought I was in the game to play as hard as I’d played football, but really, I likened myself to a hunter searching for the perfect prey. Not to devour it, but to overtake it and make it mine.
Logan checked every box. The man’s lumberjack beard, burly body that even I’d have to climb, and lickable tattoos were the smallest part of it, though. He wasn’t my usual type, not if you considered my type pretty little ladies with spunky personalities. Or the type that no one knew about, a preppy-dressed jock who had to be the star all the time. But he was the type my heart and soul longed for: responsible, dependable, and devoted. Those were the qualities I’d been seeking most. Unexpectedly, I was pulled to the vulnerability that he thought he hid. His hesitant responses and the quickly hidden grins tugged on everything in me to hold him close and shield him from the world. If you scrutinized him without truly seeing him, he appeared to be a mountain of self-sufficiency. But if you got lost in those grave gray eyes, like I so often did, the truth revealed itself. This man needed to be sheltered. He deserved to be cherished.
After pacing my apartment all morning, I bit the bullet and sent Logan the text I’d been wanting to send since last Saturday.
Me: How are you doing today? *smiley face emoji*
Logan: Good. I just cleaned up the breakfast dishes.
Me: What did you make Jakey this morning?
Logan: We had breakfast sandwiches made with pancakes, eggs, and bacon.
Me: Wow. I should’ve come to your house for breakfast. *winky face emoji*
I sat and watched the bubbles come and go, chuckling to myself. It was fun to fluster Logan. And not too hard to do, either, but I wanted more and that wasn’t going to happen if I didn’t lay my cards on the table. Especially since I knew he thought I was straight. If I waited too much longer, he might think I was closeted and looking for a little behind-the-scenes action—especially since I flirted with him constantly. The last thing I’d ever want was for him to feel insecure or minimized when it came to me. Finally, he responded.
Logan: It’s not like it’s a hard one to make for yourself.
Poor baby. It took him a long time to figure that one out. I decided to take pity on him and get to the point.
Me: What are you guys having for dinner?
Logan: We just had breakfast. I haven’t even thought about dinner yet.
Me: You should have pizza. *smiley face emoji* Jakey likes pizza, doesn’t he?
Logan: Are you hungry? I think you should go eat something. You're obsessed with food today. *laughing emoji*
Logan: And yes, he loves pizza.
Me: Cool. Wanna have pizza tonight?
And bubbles…and more bubbles…and bubbles again.
Me: I can pick it up and just bring it to your house. Or we can meet somewhere. Whatever is easiest.
Logan: You mean together?
I could picture him standing there with his mouth hanging open, clutching his phone in those massive hands tight enough to crush the poor electronic device.
Me: Yessss… That’s the whole I’ll pick it up thing… *eye roll emoji*
Logan: I have Jakey
Me: Well, duhhh. That’s why I asked if he likes pizza. *winky emoji*
Bubbles. Geesh. My stomach cramped with anxiety as I plotted out how to convince him to share a pizza with me tonight.
Logan: Okay. Um, Jakey doesn’t do that well off of his routine, so would you really be okay coming here?
Dancing with the hint of victory, I responded quickly.
Me: Absolutely. I’ve been dying to meet your little guy. *smiley face emoji*
Logan: Really?
Me: Yeah, of course. He sounds awesome. *smiley face emoji* *smiley face emoji*
Logan: He is. So, should I just send you my address?
Me: Yep. And what you guys like on your pizza. Is six tonight good?
Logan: You’re really coming over with pizza?
Me: Send me your order and address. I’ll see you tonight, Logan. *smiley face emoji*
I waited for him to respond with the information, sent one more smiley face, and then dropped my phone on my coffee table before falling back onto my couch with relief. I didn’t fight the smile crossing my face; Logan had just agreed to let me into his sanctuary.
I pulled up in front of the cute, blue two-story ranch taking deep breaths in an attempt to control my nerves. What if Jakey doesn’t like me? This new pressure weighed me down more than the first time I picked a girl up on a date and had to meet her parents. Jakey meant everything to Logan. If the little boy took one look at me and turned his nose up, I’d be doomed.
Okay, Creed, you’ve got this. I hadn’t been around kids too much until recently. Shane had made friends with a couple who used to come into a restaurant he worked at. Since then, Clark and Bailey, with their kids Todd and Sydney had become a fixed part of our social circle. Through them, we’d also been spending time with another couple, Ryan and Cameron, and their son, Stuart. But all three of those kids were a few years older than Jakey, and I hadn’t been around any of them at three. Shit.
When I glanced back at the house, I saw Logan standing in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest. Good grief, the man filled the whole doorway. As intimidating a picture as he made though, I knew if I didn’t get out of this vehicle, he’d get more anxious than I was. One of us needed to pretend we knew what the hell we were doing. Jumping out, I adopted my usual swagger to stroll around to the passenger’s side and pull the two pizzas and a bottle of soda out.
I plastered a smile on my face as I approached the doorway. Logan returned it hesitantly, but I didn’t miss the way his gaze shifted down to his feet nervously. As soon as I pulled the screen door open, I saw why. The cutest doe-eyed little boy I’d ever seen sat on his feet. Figuring Logan would forgive me, I ignored him other than to shove the pizza and soda at him, and then hunched down. I still couldn’t quite get to eye level with the little boy, but close. “Hey there, you must be Jakey.” I held my hand out for a high five. “I’m your uncle’s friend, Creed.”