The man had done a damn fine job as far as Elijah was concerned.
Elijah had seen a different side of Logan last night. It was clear to him that the man was making a point to get to know him and to share a bit of himself along the way. Something he doubted Logan did with everyone.
Now that he was awake, the empty house providing only deafening silence, Elijah suddenly missed the company. Even Luke and his prodding ways. Logan’s twin was a pain in the ass, but Elijah found he respected the guy. Cole had playfully informed him yesterday that Luke wasn’t trying to be an ass. He was just naturally an ass.
But Elijah held his own with Luke. He fully intended to see where this went with Logan and Sam and he wasn’t at all bothered by Logan’s brother being overbearing and overprotective.
Elijah was just making his way into the kitchen to make coffee when his cell phone rang. He retrieved the phone from the bar where he’d placed it when he’d fumbled through the house in the middle of the night. The screen lit up with Logan’s number and he answered.
“You can’t say you left something in my car last night. That won’t work since we went in yours.”
Logan laughed.
“What’s up?” Elijah asked as he continued toward the kitchen, phone to his ear. He needed coffee before he could handle any conversation, lengthy or otherwise.
“I have a favor to ask.”
Elijah wasn’t sure he liked the sound of that.
“I’ve got to head out of town. I just got an emergency call from Xavier, although you can bet your ass it isn’t as dire as the man made it sound. But, nonetheless, I’ve got to go take care of this for him. I was planning to take Sam to the art gallery tonight. There’s an exhibit she’s been wanting to see.”
“I’ll take her,” Elijah said, cutting Logan off. The man didn’t have to convince him. “I’d be honored to take her,” he clarified.
“I’d say thank you, but I don’t think it’s necessary,” Logan said, clearly catching on to Elijah’s intentions.
“No, it’s not. In fact, I think you’re doing me a favor.”
Logan was silent for a moment, except for the sound of movement on the other end. “Hey, I meant to tell you this yesterday… About the other night… You didn’t have to leave. I want you to know that.”
Yeah, he did, but he wasn’t about to tell Logan that. That night had been more than Elijah originally bargained for, but no less than what he expected after he met Samantha. Tonight, seeing Samantha again, he feared, would probably solidify what he was already suspecting. “I’ll remember that next time.”
“Look, Eli,” Logan began, “I don’t know what your experience is in these situations, but…”
“But what?” Elijah encouraged.
“Sam hasn’t been in a lot of these situations, but I can tell you that what happened that night… That was a first for us. And yes, for both of us. I’ve never wanted to share her. Not… like that.”
Elijah stopped working on the coffee and turned to lean against the counter. He was a little shaken by the direction Logan had taken the conversation. He was also grateful the man hadn’t opted to talk about it yesterday. Face to face. That would’ve been… awkward.
“The feeling’s mutual,” Elijah offered truthfully. “It was… intense.”
“Good word for it,” Logan agreed. “I don’t see this being something that is going to go slow. I don’t expect it to either. And about tonight, I’d really like for you and Sam to see where this goes. I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon sometime, so… Fuck.”
Elijah could hear the frustration in Logan’s tone. So, clearly this wasn’t easy for either of them.
“Take care of her for me. I think you already know that she deserves that and so much more.”
“So much more,” Elijah echoed. More than Elijah could probably give her. But surprisingly, he was willing to try. He hadn’t felt this way about anyone in four long, painful years and now that he remembered what it felt like, he wasn’t quite ready to let it go. “I’ll take care of her, Logan.”
“Thanks. Look, I’ve got to run. The gallery opens at six, I think. I haven’t said anything to Sam. I figured you’d want to have the honor of asking her.”
“Thanks,” Elijah said, at a loss for words.
The call ended and Elijah stood there, staring at the blank screen on his phone for the longest time.
Logan had just handed Samantha to him on a silver platter. What he chose to do with the offer could very well alter the course of their lives.