Page 79 of The Fall

“Thanks, Mom.”

She walks off, and as soon as we hear the back door close, Logan pulls me onto his lap so I’m straddling him. With wide eyes, I look toward the door his mom just walked through. “Logan! What if she comes back out here?”

“She won’t.”

“But—”

“Kiss me.”

He doesn’t give me a choice. He grabs both sides of my face and pulls me down to his lips. I don’t fight it, relaxing into him. As much as I don’t want to get caught making out by his mom, I want to kiss him even more.

I don’t know how long we’re out there just kissing as the sun sets. This man has seen every inch of my body, but having his lips on mine feels like something special. It’s not until the sun is completely down and my hands start to get cold that I realize we’ve probably been out here way too long. I pull back and look down at Logan.

His cheeks are pink, and his dark, hooded eyes are trained on me. I love when he’s like this. I can tell he’s so turned on, but he’s also looking at me like I’m the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen.

“Can I ask a favor, Savannah?” His voice is deep and gravelly, sending a shiver down my spine.

“Sure?” Seems like an odd time to ask for a favor, but I’m intrigued.

“Don’t break my heart. Please. It’s been through too much.”

“Me?” I ask, surprised. I’m not sure I’ve ever broken anyone’s heart. Well, besides Max, I guess, but that was different. I usually don’t let people get close enough to break their heart or let them break mine, for that matter.

“Yes, you.” His hands run down my sides, settling on my hips. “I’m giving it to you. Handing it over willingly. Just go easy on it, alright?”

“I’ll do my best. But you have to promise not to break mine too.”

“Done,” he agrees. “Easiest promise I’ve ever made. Wanna shake on it?”

“I think we can think of something better than shaking on it, can’t we?”

He smirks. “We absolutely can. Let’s get out of here.”

I hop off his lap and we walk inside, quickly saying goodbye to his family before he drives me home and we “shake” on our promise.

TWENTY-EIGHT

LOGAN

“I don’t know why I’m so nervous,” Savannah says as she sprays a pound and a half of hairspray on the tight bun on the top of her head.

“I don’t know why either,” I tell her. “You’re great in front of a camera.”

“It’s different when I’m skating. I don’t even notice them. It’s going to be hard not to notice them when they’re literally there to take pictures of me.”

We have a photo shoot scheduled at our home rink today. Well, she and Max have a photo shoot. I’ll be there for moral support. U.S. Figure Skating is sending out a journalist and photographer to all of the top contenders for the season. I couldn’t be prouder that Savannah and Max made the list. I might be biased, but I think they’re the ones to watch this season. At least, that’s the plan anyway.

“You are beautiful. Stunning. Amazing. This photographer is lucky to get to photograph you.”

She looks over at me and smiles. “What did I do to deserve you?”

“You suck my⁠—”

She holds her hand up, cutting me off. “Stop! Don’t ruin it.”

I laugh and wrap my arms around her waist now that the hairspray cloud has gone away. “I’m the lucky one, baby. Trust me.”

I kiss her cheek, knowing her lips are off limits since she’s already applied lipstick.