Earl had the weekends off, so Callum drove to a small brunch spot just a couple of blocks away from the office. Callum knew the owners and had set up a table in a quieter part of the restaurant that had a window with planter boxes. In them had an assortment of purple and blue flowers that looked too real to be fake if Callum hadn't known any better.
There was less tension in Logan's shoulders and posture than during their dinner the other day or the company dinner yesterday. He ordered an avocado toast and an iced latte with ease. When Callum asked about the toast, Logan simply replied he followed a few Los Angeles-based celebrities that adored it and had never tried it before. Callum almost didn't believe him until he saw the way Logan's eyes widened when the server brought it to him. He took a couple of photos of the plate before digging in.
It didn't take long for them to realize they were hungrier than they thought.
Callum ordered another side order of bacon and a french omelette to share between them. Logan tackled the omelette first, practically mewling over how good it was as Callum watched in amusement. "That good?"
"Best omelette I've ever had."
Callum grinned. It was a pleasant surprise to see Logan this at ease around him, and yet he worried whatever happened last night in his drunken daze hadn't made him look like a complete fool. The last thing he remembered was grabbing that second bottle of champagne and crashing on the couch. He hadn't even remembered grabbing Logan's phone and texting Chris.
He still felt absolutely ridiculous over it, despite how many times Logan had reassured him in the morning. They both laughed at Chris's childlike remarks about the texts.
Callum let Logan pay for their brunch—more like Logan forced Callum to put his wallet away—before they thanked the owner and headed back to the car.
Callum's car was just around the corner, but Logan stopped dead in his tracks before they could reach it.
"Oh no," Logan said, turning around completely, his face pale like a ghost. Callum glanced in that direction, spotting the same man from last night storming their way.
"Shit." He bent his knees to look Logan in the face. "What do we do?"
His whole body shuddered. "I–I don't know? Your car is right there, though."
"We could go back to the restaurant or a nearby shop?"
Logan shook his head. "And cause a scene? How did he know where we were?"
"Maybe he saw the license plate? Hopefully, he won't spot us." But as Callum said that, Chris had already spotted the two, walking briskly over to them. "Shit."
Before Callum could think to step between them, Chris had already stormed over, his anger directed straight at Logan. It was as if Callum was invisible in Chris' eyes.
"You've got some explaining to do," Chris snapped, gripping the collar of Logan's or Callum's shirt in this case.
"Let go of me," Logan spat, shoving Chris off of him. "You shouldn't be here."
"Me?" Chris was exasperated. "You should be in New York! Why the fuck did you move without telling me—no, without me?"
Logan scowled. "Did you think this was some kind of game? You can't fucking stalk me like this, Chris. We're done with. You have no right being here."
"Oh, yeah? Then who the fuck is he?" Chris jabbed a finger at Callum.
Callum stepped forward, his eyes narrowed, and jaw clenched. Logan had shot out a hand before he could step between the two. "No, don't."
But Callum didn't back down at first, remaining still until Logan cleared his throat. Chris chuckled in amusement as Callum obliged and stepped back.
"Fucking hell, Logan," Chris said. "Already on to the next."
Logan let out a noise in disbelief. "Chris. You shouldn't even be here."
Chris rolled his eyes. "Your new fucking boy-toy isn't going to last. You know you're going to miss this."
"Oh, fuck off. So what if he is my boyfriend. You have no right to come to L.A., Chris. No right!" Logan sighed frustratingly. "And if you think you're just going to continue following and stalking me, I will gladly call the cops. Get out of my sight."
Chris lunged, extending his arm to grab Logan's arm, but before Callum could even process what was happening, Logan had grabbed his arm first. Callum hadn't expected it, and neither did Chris, as Logan swung his leg back before directing the tip of his shoe into Chris's shin.
"Ah! Fucking hell!" Chris hunched over to rub his shin. He glared at Logan, but Logan glared just as intensely back.
He lunged forward again, but before Callum could think to intervene, Logan said in a chilling venomous tone, "don't fucking touch me."
Chris halted, and Callum thought the world around them stopped for a second. A pin could drop and echo in the deadly silence between the two. All he could do was follow them like a tennis match with his eyes.
"You have some fucking nerve to—"
Logan scoffed before baring his teeth. "Me? You're the one flying to a whole other state to stalk me! We are done with Chris. What the fuck do want in coming here? Haven't you messed up my life enough?"
Chris rolled his eyes before landing his glare on Callum. "So you run away and fuck some other guy now. What a fucking cheater."
"Cheat—you know what, Chris?" Logan pointed the finger at Callum. "He's a better guy than you ever were to me—than you'll ever be."
Chris scoffed. "You've got to be joking."
"You should be grateful I stuck with you that long," Logan said. He narrowed his eyes. "Leave before I call the cops. I have more than enough evidence to give them. For multiple reasons. I'm not an idiot."
A sneer made its way to Chris's face. He took a step forward before stopping, almost realizing the truth behind Logan's words.
"I suggest you leave," Callum said darkly. Chris glanced at Callum before turning on his heel, walking away from them.
It wasn't until Chris had walked across the block did Logan slump his shoulders and let out a heavy sigh. He sank so much that Callum reached his hands up, thinking Logan was about to pass out. Instead, Logan ran his fingers through his hair, gripping a few locks tightly.
Logan's breaths were ragged, heavy as he attempted to calm the nerves of confronting Chris.
Callum couldn't imagine it was easy for him. Callum's hand reached forward without much thought, just grazing Logan's forearms in a paltry attempt to console him. He nearly jerked his hand back, but Logan grasped Callum's arm back like a life preserver. "Thanks."
Callum's grip squeezed back gently. "Will you be alright?"
Logan nodded meekly, his breaths still as labored as earlier, but the tension in his shoulders had lessened. He leaned into Callum. "I...I will be."
"Let's head to the car."
"Yes," Logan rushed out, letting go of Callum's arm but remaining close enough that their hands brushed each other's. Callum resisted the urge to grab hold of it. Logan didn't make a move to walk to the car, though, his legs still shaking from what happened.
"I didn't think he'd walk away so easily," Logan muttered. "Yet, it doesn't make me feel less stressed or freaked out."
Callum didn't know what to do; he felt as powerless as in that elevator, watching Logan nearly go through a panic attack. His desire to reach a comforting hand or merely step closer for reassurance felt more like a wedge between them, and Callum didn't want their relationship—if you could call it anything quite yet—to worsen. Not with Logan on edge like this. He preferred the bantering and carefree Logan that shared brunch with him earlier.
But Logan surprised him. He took a step closer to Callum, leaning further into his arm for support. Callum's heart racked against his chest as Logan steadied his breathing.
"I've never done something like that."
Callum didn't move, not wanting them to separate from each other's side. "Like what?"
He gulped. "Like telling someone off before, standing up for myself. Usually, I avoid any confrontation or run away from my problems. Quite literally. But, as much as that was stressful...It was rather...."
"Freeing?"
Logan let out a breath. "Yeah."
"You handled it well."
"That's pretty subjective if you ask me. My heart's pounding away, and I think I haven't collapsed into a puddle on the floor because I'm leaning against you with all my body weight. Sorry about that, by the way."
Callum laughed. "Well, you handled it better than I would've."
"Yeah, maybe." Logan eased his weight away from Callum but still remained close enough for their fingers to brush. "Sorry about what I said to him. About you and me. It just came out naturally and I didn't think about what it meant."
"About what?"
"Insinuating that there's something between us. Luckily Chris doesn't really know who you are, but if it does get out and become a rumor, I'm sure that can't be good."
"Oh."
"Using you against him wasn't my intention." Logan pursed his lips. "I promise."
"It's fine." Callum gave him a tentative smile. "I didn't mind being your fake boyfriend. Or boy-toy or whatever ridiculous thing he called it. We could've rolled with the idea further if we had more time to plan it out. Kiss in front of him or whatever. Wouldn't have minded if it was real...."
Callum bit his lip as they reached the car. He hadn't meant to voice out the last part. The idea of actually dating Logan for real was not the right thing to mention, Callum figured.
"Oh."
"Shit," Callum said, rubbing his temple. "Forget I said that. The alcohol still must be messing with me and—"
"It's fine," Logan interrupted, offering Callum a half-smile.
"No, it was uncalled for, and I'm just—"
"Just my boss?"
Callum blinked. "Well, yes. No. I don't really know anymore."
Logan held up his hand. "I think you're mistaking what I'm saying."
"I am?"
"I think we passed that line between just being boss and employee a while ago."
Callum blinked, his face scrunching up in confusion. "But—"
"What I'm trying to say," Logan trailed, avoiding eye contact. "I wouldn't have minded either. Wouldn't mind if it could be real."
Logan's words were just above a whisper when he finished, but Callum heard it. "Really?"
Logan smirked before opening the car door, looking up at Callum, who expected an answer from him.
"It's not like I kissed your cheek last night," Logan said with a cheeky smile, glancing away to buckle his seat.
"What?"
Logan laughed, unable to hide the pinkish hue on his cheeks. "You going to drive?"
Callum hid his face before mumbling a "yes," going around the front of the car to the driver's seat. Maybe Logan had been lying about the kiss, but why would he? And why couldn't he have remembered that part of the night?
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