Poor Logan.

When Harper first mentioned the period cramp simulator idea to me over the phone last week, I was completely on board because I thought there was no way it really worked as advertised. After I'd shared Logan's fainting spell in the restaurant bathroom with Grace, her hand cuff against the back of his head had been enough retribution to me, so I'd assumed Harper's period cramp inducer was more of a joke than anything else.

The actual sensations hurt for sure, not necessarily like uterus contractions, but definitely throbs and vibrations of a dull pain shot out of my sensors' contact points once we got to level ten. While my uterus' reaction was 'Ha, I can do better,' apparently the simulator was painful for Logan and Wes. Charlie's unamused glance over at me while Wes crumpled onto the floor in a large heap showed she'd felt as little I had.

My laughs subsided right when Logan dropped onto the floor next to Wes. The sight of their two giant frames collapsed over pulled a giggle out of my mouth, but how Logan's lips quivered and combined with his softly strained, whispered begs of, "Off! Off! Off!" and tore into my heart.

Oh gosh, I didn't think it would be this bad.

Surprised was an understatement when he sat up and kissed me after I removed his sensors, then blinked up at me with wide eyes. A gleam shone across his ocean-blue irises as he gazed up at me with some mind-blown revelation, like I was Superwoman, or at least that he'd gained some newfound respect. I wasn't entirely sure which thoughts ran through his head at that moment but the intensity behind the look he gave me flooded warmth in my heart.

"Well, that was fun for Saturday night entertainment," Harper broke through the silence in Wes and Charlie's apartment. A ghost of a smirk crossed over her lips as she folded up her period cramp simulator device.

"Never again," Wes grumbled, pushed himself out of the fetal position he'd held since level seven, and, in his own Wes special way, resumed his seat on the sofa next to Charlie. "You owe me for that, Charlie."

"Break my sofa," she retorted with a grin. "And I'll buy one of those period devices and put it on you while you're sleeping."

Harper's smirk widened, then she redirected her eyes to mine. "What are we doing now?'

"What about your Dad?" I lifted my eyebrows at Harper since her direct tone implied she had a suggestion in mind, but she only shrugged and shook her head.

Guess he's working late.

"There has to be something you do, other than each other." She dragged a finger between Charlie and Wes, then me and Logan. "Thought I visited Seattle, not Snoozeville."

"We are pretty boring." I giggled softly and gently grabbed Logan's closest arm with my hand. "I'm okay with that."

"Me too," he replied and closed one of his eyes in an adorable wink that possibly fluttered my stomach.

"Okay, well now even my vagina has cavities." Harper frowned, then once my lips parted in protest, she waved a dismissive hand at me. "Yeah, happy for you and Adonis but still... bored."

Internally, every cell in my body groaned because I regretted the words as I said them, but still asked, "What did you have in mind?"

Her sky-blue eyes flashed and her lips parted into a full smile. "Let's go to a party."

"Still not sure this is a good idea," I murmured as Harper swiped one last brush of mascara over my lashes.

"Your lack of trust wounds me deep, Ellie." She smirked, capped the mascara, and pulled back. "You said your nightmares aren't triggered anymore by going to parties, so what can go wrong?"

"Because I have such a good track record with them," I replied in a voice soaked with sarcasm. My chest lifted and heaved with a slow sigh, then I stood up from my seat on the closed toilet lid in my bathroom, went into the bedroom, and looked over the clothes options we'd picked out earlier and laid out on the bed.

"And hey," I added before she responded. "Thought your Dad said not to go to any parties."

"What Dad doesn't know won't hurt me." Harper coughed slightly, her eyes darted around the room, and she shifted on her feet. "So... in here, you and Adonis, uhh -"

"Have sex in here, yes," I replied in a dry flat voice and suppressed the eyeroll that wanted to make its presence known.

"Smell like it," she admitted with a quiet laugh and brought her eyes to mine. "Although the sappy looks on your faces are more than enough."

"Does it bother you?" My arms crossed over my chest. "Real, genuine feelings."

"On you, no," she replied quickly and shook her head. Her lips pulled into a small, almost wistful smile that looked unfamiliar on her. "I'm happy for you, really. After you broke up, I'm... glad Logan didn't give up."

"Me too." I walked over to the bed and ran my fingers over my black sweater dress. "Why do feelings bother you so much?"

If I hadn't looked up at that particular moment, then I would've missed the shudder that quivered her shoulders. Her sky-blue eyes blinked a few times, she swallowed quietly, then averted her eyes. The sound of her voice, usually blunt, razor-sharp, and unapologetic, sounded hollow and unfamiliar.

"Feelings lead to attachment and..." She paused for a moment then slid her eyes closed.

"Attachment leads to disappointment," I filled in the words she'd repeated many times to me, almost like a mantra, and stepped over to her. Without any further words between us, I just gently wrapped my arms around her and hugged her.

Feelings aren't so bad, Harper.

"And disappointment leads to blue balls and angry vaginas..."

Well, okay when she puts it that way.

Since I had no answer for that response, I only stood silently and held my arms around her. After a few awkward moments where she stood stiffly, she sighed quietly and her shoulders slumped.

"I'm sorry Ellie," she whispered over the top of my head, lifted her arms, and returned my hug. "Your brother randomly showing up here fucked me in the head, I just -"

"It's okay," I assured her and squeezed her tighter, even though her breasts, which still pleasantly smelled like vanilla, were back in their suffocation position against my nose. From the uncertainty that briefly flashed over her eyes as she pulled back, I kept my next thought to myself and the smile it inspired.

She has feelings for Jake.

I rolled my lower lip under and turned away from Harper because, like anything, if she wanted a particular topic discussed, then she would've said so.

"You get changed," she spoke up from behind me. "I'll go wake up the old men party poopers with Charlie."

"Know them post-game, they probably fell asleep," I called out of the bedroom as she walked out. "So be nice."

"Promise it won't be an airhorn." Her muffled laugh preceded the slammed front door sound as she left my and Logan's apartment and headed to Wes and Charlie's, where I assumed Wes and Logan had napped while Harper, Charlie, and I had gotten ready to go out.

I changed quickly but not into the dress Harper had suggested, but my own choice of black jeans and a long red sweater that I finished with a black leather belt but comfortable pair of tennis shoes.

Dressed up enough for me.

My thoughts drifted to Grace and Brody's departure, which had felt like it arrived too soon. Even though Logan had been less than happy when they talked about his dad, the relaxed, loving expression on Logan's face when we'd eaten dinner out with Harper and her dad and breakfast with Grace and Brody warmed me from the crown of my head to the tips of my toes. And I'd definitely seen the boyish-like grins he threw in our direction from his bench seat during the game.

After two years apart, I couldn't have imagined Logan was back in my life again but now that he was, for the first time in years, my life felt full of so many positive emotions that I struggled to keep them contained. He was a piece of my life that I hadn't realized was missing until it clicked into place. He was everything to me and a tiny sting poked into my forearm as I pinched myself at how lucky I felt.

Period defect aside, he really is perfect.

Harper had already straightened my long hair and applied neutral enough makeup, so I just grabbed my keys, stuck them in my pocket, then locked the apartment door. A few steps later, I knocked on Charlie and Wes' door, where muffled sounds came out from the other side. Since it was unlocked, I let myself in and stopped at the sight in front of me.

Charlie and Harper stood over Charlie's enormous couch, where they hit Logan and Wes with a few throw pillows. I caught the moment right when both guys changed from reclined and relaxed to being jolted out of the nap I knew they'd needed while us girls had gotten ready.

After a few confused eye blinks, Logan threw me an adorable, sleepy-eyed grin and I couldn't help myself and smiled back at.

In his nap defense, I did take a shower.

"You two are trouble together." I pointed one finger between Charlie and Harper while the guys groaned and wiped their sleepy faces with their hands.

"It was either that or leave them here while we went out," Charlie responded with a smile.

Her blonde hair was also straightened, with the top pinned back and the rest fell just past her upper back. She'd changed her usual casual post-game casual clothes to a black skirt and light blue top that brought out the same color in her eyes, and a bold red lipstick highlighted her lips. She looked oddly similar to Harper, who'd pulled her blonde hair back in a high ponytail and showed off every one of her curves in her sleeveless black halter top and gray leggings.

Logan stood up from his spot on the sofa then, a few steps of his long legs later, tucked me into his side. While he still wore the jeans and T-shirt he'd changed into after his post-game suit and his blonde hair was definitely tousled from sleep, he looked more than handsome enough for me.

With one hand around my waist, Logan leaned over and murmured into my ear, "You sure about this?"

"What do you mean by this?" I glanced up at him and gestured my fingers in air quotes at the word 'this,' but he looked at Harper by the time he straightened up.

"Uhh, football house party," he said in a quiet but firm voice. "Seth invited us. Well, only if we brought Harper."

Harper's ponytail slipped over one bare shoulder as her head cocked slightly sideways. "Which knuckle-dragger is Seth?"

"I'm sure he'll make himself known," was all Logan replied with a chuckle.

A few minutes and umbrellas grabbed later because Seattle always meant rain, we all headed down the hallway. My stomach twisted slightly with uncertainty, which must have been reflected in my face because Logan's fingers threaded between mine, then gently tugged me back at the top of the steps while Charlie, Wes, and Harper walked down.

"You okay going?" His eyes looked back at our apartment door before a small smirk curled up the corners of his mouth. "I'd rather stay, to be honest."

A faint throb pulsed agreement into my core area, but I'd never have forgiven myself if I'd abandoned my friends. "We should keep an eye on Harper," I admitted and squeezed his hand lightly. "Not for her sake but anyone who tries to mess with her."

"I resemble that remark!" Her voice echoed off the walls and railings as she called out from the stairwell. "C'mon, it'll be fun."