Unlikely Hearts - Logan Huntzberger

Chapter One

The summer sun bathed the Adirondacks in a golden hue as Alouette Tudor lounged by her pool, her laughter mingling with the splashes of water around her. Her friends Madeline, Louise, and Amelia floated on colorful inflatable flamingos, their carefree spirits matching the warmth of the sun. The sweet scent of sunscreen and Pink Whitney wafted through the air, mingling with the faint smell of freshly cut grass from the surrounding woods.

"Letty, toss me that drink!" Louise called, her hand reaching for an empty cup as she kicked her legs playfully in the water.

"Only if you promise not to drink it like a toddler," Alouette teased back, leaning over the edge of her lounge chair with a mock-serious expression. "Last time I saw a spill that big, it was at a juice box convention."

"Shut up! You love me," Louise shot back with a laugh, sending a splash of water in Alouette's direction.

Alouette rolled her eyes, but her heart swelled with happiness. This was exactly what she needed—quality time with her friends before they all returned to the chaos of school. Just then, she caught sight of her brother Atlas pulling into the driveway, a couple of his friends piled into the backseat. She could already guess who they were, and a familiar irritation flickered in her chest.

"I'm going inside for snacks. Don't drown without me!" She shouted, jumping to her feet and abandoning her spot by the pool.

As she dashed through the house, she could hear the unmistakable sounds of laughter and shouts as Atlas and his friends made their way to the pool house. It was a typical summer day, and she didn't mind sharing the space with her brother and his crew—until she remembered that Logan Huntzberger would be among them.

Logan had a talent for getting under her skin, a skill he had perfected during their tumultuous, on-again-off-again fling at Choate. She could feel her annoyance simmering as she recalled how easily he'd slip into her thoughts and unsettle her with just a smirk. The last thing she needed was to deal with him while trying to relax.

Alouette hurried into the kitchen, the cool air hitting her like a breath of fresh air after the sun-soaked heat outside. Grabbing a tray, she started loading it with snacks: chips, salsa, and an assortment of fruit. As she reached for the drinks in the fridge, she froze. There, leaning against the countertop with that infuriating grin plastered on his face, was Logan.

"Hey, Lou. You're looking...summery," he said, unabashedly checking her out from head to toe.

She felt a rush of heat rise in her cheeks, a mix of annoyance and something else she quickly buried. "You know, I didn't invite you, so your presence is definitely not the highlight of my day."

He smirked, clearly unfazed. "You say that now, but I can sense you secretly enjoy my company. You're just playing hard to get."

"Hard to get? You should try harder. I'm more interested in the drinks than in whatever nonsense you think you have to offer," she replied, forcing herself to act indifferent even as her heart raced slightly.

"Is that so? I bet those drinks don't look nearly as good in a bikini as you do," he shot back, crossing his arms with an amused glint in his eye.

She turned away, pretending to focus on grabbing another bottle of Pink Whitney from the fridge. But as she twisted the cap, she quickly realized it wasn't budging. She grunted in frustration, trying to get a better grip as the bottle slipped in her hand. Just then, Logan moved closer, a cocky grin plastered across his face.

"Need some help?" he asked, his voice dripping with mischief.

Alouette shot him a glare. "I've got it. I don't need you to come in and save the day."