Snake Eater - THE BRAVO BOYS [book three]

Chapter EIGHTEEN

Shelby Quinn

Logan doesn't speak to me again for the entirety of the afternoon, instead burying his head in his work as Dallas and I run through her practice speeches twice and practice walking in the hallway outside The Hacker's office.. Not that I can begrudge him his desire to avoid me, after all I had done the exact same thing by shutting him down earlier when he had made an obvious effort to be supportive..

I don't know what it is about The Hacker and I, for some reason we never seem to be on the same page..

But what is the sense in wasting each other's time any more than we already had? It's not like there could actually be any kind of real future for us, not with his outspoken disdain for me and everything I stand for.. Better to end it before it begins, better to stop it now before either one of us gets hurt..

Only when Dallas and I are finished with our lesson and the pretty little cheerleader announces that she has to leave for one of her many extracurriculars does he even bother to look up and acknowledge our presence..

"Since you're gonna be working late, Lo-Lo, can I invite Wacey over to play Street Brawler with me tonight?'" Dallas asks with pleading sweetness, batting her lashes at her uncle who sighs flatly in response..

"You ain't fixin' to get up to no good are ya?" Logan arches a dark brow in disapproval and Dallas scrunches her cute face..

"Ew no! Don't be gross!" Dallas exclaims embarrassedly, the tips of her ears turning pink..

He chuckles beneath his breath at her overly dramatic response to what I can only assume was a taunt.. "I'll tell ya what's gross- Wacey's thirst traps-"

"They aren't traps, Lo-Lo! He's an athlete, they all post pictures of that stuff!" Dallas presses her palms together, imploring with prayer hands.. "Oh, pretty pleeeeeease.. I promise to be on my best behaviour! I'll even cook that chicken macaroni you love and save you some!"

"Alright.." He concedes, the smile falling from his face as a more serious set of rules follows his terms of agreement.. "But that kid better stay the hell outta your bedroom and he best be on his way before I get home.. I don't wanna see hide nor hair, ya hear?."

"Thanks Lo-Lo! You're the freaking best!" Dallas grins a victory smile before she turns to leave with a small wave in my direction before she skips out the door in her pleated mini skirt.. "See-ya next week Shelby!"

"Bye, Tex.. Have fun tonight.." I wave in return before moving to collect my papers, meanwhile Logan returns to his work, completely ignoring me..

"Uhem-" Once I've gathered all my things I clear my throat expectantly, forcing The Hacker to look up from his desk..

"You're still here?" He growls, looking me up and down as if I were a pox upon his peace and quiet.. "Why?"

"I thought you might want to talk about earlier-"

"Nope." He grunts dismissively.. "You can go.."

Maybe I am being too sensitive, but the tone he takes and the arrogance of his answer elicits an indignant response in me.. The man might not work for me, but he is not my superior either.. Maybe my CO could talk to me that way, but I won't be taking it from the like of him..

"Seriously? You're not going to talk to me at all.." I spit, propping my hands on my hips as my irritation quickly rises.. "Now you're just being childish!"

Logan pinches the bridge of his angular nose before he closes his eyes as though not seeing me would make.me truly disappear.. "I'm really not in the mood for all your attitude today, Shelby, so take it somewhere else.."