Logan

Gosh, where is he?

I look at my phone and realize it's still early, but that does nothing to stop the anticipation from building up in me. I'm excited to see him again.

I don't know why, but something about him just interests me. He has an allure, and it's unique, unlike anything I've ever experienced.

"Logan, can you please stop pacing around the shop? You're making me anxious."

"Sorry, Mom."

"It's okay. I know you're excited you're making new friends here, and so quickly, too, but this Tristan guy, he's just a friend, right? And don't lie; you know my intuition is aligned. I'll pick up on it."

I force a chuckle. "Of course, Mom, I haven't even known him that long."

"Just checking because, you know, if you're interested in him as more, I'm not sure he would be an ideal candidate for this position. Working with a friend is one thing, but a romantic interest that can go completely awry, especially seeing as how you're technically one of the bosses here."

She gives me a stern look, and I nod in compliance.

"I know, Mom."

I hate lying to my mom.

I am interested...so interested.

"Okay, good."

Just as I'm trying to navigate the feelings between lying awkwardly to my mother's face and the excitement of seeing Tristan again, I notice a black car pull up, and I just know it must be him.

My thoughts are confirmed as I notice him exiting the car and I feel my body growing warm and my heart start to pick up pace.

He looks amazing.

He's so well put together, and as he enters the door, I can't help but take him all in.

I notice he's wearing the pendant that he purchased from our shop the other day, which sits on his chest below the knot of his tie. His look is so thought-provokingly polished.

He's wearing all black and holding what looks like a portfolio. You can tell he put a lot of thought into his appearance, which makes me want him even more.

"Hello, I'm Tristan. I'm here for the interview." He approaches my mother, offering a hand to greet her.

"Well, Hello Tristan, right on time, I love the punctuality."

"My son Logan over here has told me a lot about you." She gestures over to me, and I feel myself get nervous.

"Hey Tristan, glad you made it." I can tell I have an awkward grin on my face, and I'm annoyed.

Come on, body, work with me here, stop snitching.

"Hey, Logan, of course. I appreciate the opportunity, and I love this shop. It's so cool and so magical."

My mother chuckles. "Well, liking the shop is a start."

"Hey Logan, could you give Tristan and me some time to discuss a few things surrounding the position? Once I'm done, I'll call you to see if you have any additional questions, and we can take it from there. Sound good?"

"Sounds great." I lie.

I want to be there in case he trips up or something. I can help divert her attention and give him time to think.

I'm overthinking it. He'll be fine.

I make my way to the office of the shop, which is located not too far away from where my mother and Tristan are sitting, and I leave the door slightly ajar so I can eavesdrop on their conversation to gauge where it's going before I get called to step in.

I try to stay as quiet as possible, but both of them are so soft-spoken that it's hard to understand full sentences, so I can only pick up on bits and pieces here and there.

It's nothing interesting. I don't know why I thought it would be. It's an interview, after all.

The conversation consists mostly of details about the shop, questions about whether he's comfortable with customers from different religious backgrounds, and the unusual scheduling.

Everything seems to be going well, and before I know it, my mother calls me back into the room to continue the interview.

"Mr. Tristan Blake seems like a good match for our shop. Do you have any questions or concerns you would want to bring up?"

"No, I think you've asked everything we need to know already."

My mom gives me a side-eye. "And how would you know what I've asked him so far?"

"I mean, I don't. I'm just uh... assuming, I uh... trust your judgment!"

She chuckles before turning to Tristan. "Sorry, Tristan, I know this isn't your traditional interview, but as you can see, we're anything but traditional."

"So, since Logan here has no additional questions, why waste time? I'd love to offer you the position if you're still interested, of course."

It is impossible to miss the enthusiasm that instantly takes over Tristan's face.

His eyes are glistening with a childlike glee that sparkles even brighter than any crystal in the shop, and it makes me so happy to see him like this.

"I would love to. I mean, yes, I accept! Thank you so much, Mrs..."

"I'm sorry, I don't..."

She interrupts him.

"You're so well-mannered, ha-ha, you can just call me Fay."

"Thank you so much, Fay!"

He stands and turns to me. "And thank you so much, too, Logan. I won't let you guys down."

He offers us both a handshake and makes his way outside.

My eyes instantly react, and I begin to observe his body as he walks away.

The way his shirt hugs his body so tightly in all the right places, and his jeans grasp his...

"Ahem." My mom coughs.

"Just a friend, right, Logan?"

I feel my skin get hot with embarrassment. "Just a friend, Mom."

There it goes, that look of I know what's going on in your head.

Damnit, why does mom have to be so aligned?

"Well, by the looks of it, your friend there is waiting for his ride. Show some hospitality, go keep him company the way a FRIEND would."

I love my mom, but the emphasis she's putting on the word friend is annoying the hell out of me.

I try to fix my clothes without making it blatantly obvious and head out of the glass door to sit next to Tristan.

"Oh, Hey, Logan." I see his skin flush, which must confirm that it's not all in my head. There's something there, and he feels it, too.

This is the moment, Logan.

Test the water a bit.

I inch closer and notice him divert his gaze to the ground.

"Hey Tristan, so are you excited to start?"

"Y-yea, I'm honestly so appreciative. I need a job. I'm trying to get my own place."

I'm making him nervous, I can tell, but something about him is making me want to try more, to do more.

"I really like your style choice today..." I reach for his tie, and he directs his gaze back into my eyes. I love it; I have his attention.

I lick my lips seductively. "...its very... sleek."

He's trying so hard to break our gaze, but I can tell he doesn't want to; that part is obvious.

"Thank you," he says, biting his lip in response.

I pull his tie to bring him a little closer to see how he'll react. He doesn't resist; he complies; he wants it.

*ping*

He whips his head down to his pocket, and I release my grip so he can grab his phone. I already know it's his Uber, and it's at the worst possible time.

Couldn't the driver be just a few minutes late, damnit?

"Um, I got to go. I'll text you later, though."

"Okay, get home safe."

"Thank you."

I stay outside a little longer for the view, of course, not of nature, the view of Tristan.

Hmm...

Where'd I leave off last time...

I watch as he walks away. His body is so perfect but in the simplest way.

I want nothing more than to spend a night with him, exploring every inch of his frame. The slender definition of his body is crying out to me and begging to be experienced.

But just like that, my fantasy evaporates into thin air as he enters the car and the driver pulls away.

I head back into the shop, still high from the slight interaction with Tristan that has my mind spinning with possibilities.

My last run-through of the shop before heading up to our apartment went fairly quickly. There weren't many customers, and I tidied up before Tristan came, of course, to make a good impression.

I take a fast shower and head to the kitchen, where I see my mother reading a book about connecting with apparitions for beginners. She's pretty quiet and peeks her head up occasionally, but I feel it coming-a talk, and probably about Tristan.

I try to make a quick plate and not disturb her, but she clearly has something she needs to say.

"Too old to have a family dinner?"

"But where's Ry?"

"She's sleeping. Come on, sit, spend time with your mother."

Oh, boy.

"Okay, sure, Mom." I take a seat at the table and begin to eat.

"You know, Mom, it's not exactly a family dinner if you're not eating too."

She chuckles. "Oh, did I say family dinner? Silly me, I meant a talk."

I force a smile, mouth full of spaghetti.

"It'll be quick."

I swallow my food. "Okay."

"It's about Tristan."

Shocker

"Okay, what about him?"

She smiles. "Now you know I support and love you, but if we're going to have him working here, you must be professional."

"I know, Mom. You told me," I respond, now trying to eat my food even faster so I can head to my room and process all of this.

"Exactly, and what I just witnessed outside. That was not professional."

Here I go again, embarrassed.

"You were watching me?"

"Come on, Logan, you know me, and you know I have to be sure of things, especially when it comes to providing for the family."

"Having a metaphysical boutique isn't exactly that lucrative. We need to maintain professionalism to maintain the clientele we attract. I'm not doing this to be cruel. I just need your head to be on tight."

She is right. We do need the shop to thrive.

Tristan's amazing, but there are other guys.

Or girls.

There's also Gunnar and Sadie.

"You're right, mom, I'm..."

"There is no need to apologize, Tristan. We've discussed it twice now, and I know you will do the right thing. You're my son, after all."

I can't help but smile.

"My son, who must've been starving because you devoured that food so quickly."

I burst into laughter. "Yeah, it's been a long day."

"I know, and once again, I appreciate everything you do. You can leave that plate in the sink; I'll take care of it. Get some rest."

"Thanks, Mom."

I put the plate in the sink and go to my room, truly exhausted, but thoughts of Tristan are still on my mind. I feel so guilty. I don't want to lead him on, but I also don't want to disappoint my mother.

I'm so confused. I need a distraction.

What was that app I met Logan on?

Love Match?

No.

Fish Pond...nah.

Crush!

It was Crush.

I quickly download the app, upload my picture, and type a quick bio.

In the interested in section, I check both men and women.

I want to see who's out there. Maybe Tristan isn't the one for me, and I'm just losing myself in the abyss of his enigma.

I keep scrolling, and no one catches my eye. Everyone looks so bland, so boring, so not Tristan.

At the thought of him, a notification pops up on my phone from him, thanking me again for the opportunity. I can't fall down that rabbit hole again, so I swipe it away and figure I'll get back to him tomorrow.

Just as I swipe away the notification, a second one pops up, telling me I have a new message on Crush.

I go into my inbox, and I cannot believe what I am seeing.

*New Message*

Seki: Hey honey, how are you?

Seki... Tristan's friend?!?

What the hell...