A Risk I'm Willing to Take

Twelve

"Clothes for the other two, diapers, some food to have the kids try." I shrugged. "I didn't have much time to prepare and we're currently staying in a hotel so I kept the list short."

Orion sat up straighter. "You got me clothes?"

I nodded and turned around to grab a bag on the floor.

I gently set Lavender down on my bed and walked over to Orion.

"Here's the first bag." I stepped backwards towards the rest of the bags. "I wasn't sure what you'd like so I got different styles."

Orion dug around in the bag. "There's so much color..."

My chest tightened. What if he didn't like the clothes?

"Is that a good thing?" I asked gently as I picked up the second bag.

He smiled. "Yeah."

That's a relief. I was so scared.

"How about you try on some of the clothes and put on what you want to wear to dinner tonight."

Logan looked at my. "We're going out tonight?"

I held my arms out at my sides. "I mean that's what I was planning on."

He gestured with his head towards the hall leading towards the door. "Can we talk?"

I handed Orion the second bag. Following Logan towards the door thoughts bounced around in my head.

What was he going to want to talk about? The kids were just prisoners on a military base, they shouldn't be prisoners in my hotel room. They should get to see what the real world looks like. I want them to get to experience normal things like going out for dinner.

"I don't think we should go out for dinner."

I put my hands on my hips. "Why not, Logan?"

Logan pursed his lips. "Gemma, you're a fugitive right now. The military has probably realized by now you stole three of their kids."

I rolled my eyes and dropped my arms to my sides. "I'm not a fugitive, Logan."

He scowled at me. "You're playing with fire, Gemma."

I glanced back at the kids. "So far there have been no stories about what happened on the base. No reports of anything being stolen. No arrests."

"You can't guarantee it's going to stay that way." He held my arm. "I want you to stay safe."

"Things will all be a lot safer tomorrow."

He raised an eyebrow. "What are you plotting?"

"I can tell you tomorrow. For today let's just live and have fun." I smiled. "I'm excited for the kids to get to be kids."

He sighed and nodded. "Ok."

I tensed as he reached out towards me.

He pulled me into his arms and just held me. His hand glided up and down my back.

I relaxed and rested my cheek on his soft graphic tee. Deep down I knew I shouldn't be enjoying this. Sure he was giving me attention now but tomorrow he was going to be back in LA. Back to living with his girlfriend. Back to be a popular musician.

I couldn't lie and say that it didn't feel good to be in his arms. It did. I wanted this so bad. I had to swim through a sea of frogs to get to Logan, but he was not available.

It didn't matter that he was being flirtatious. It didn't matter that he was here holding me. It didn't matter that he was co-parenting with me even though he believed at any minute to military could kick down my door and arrest me.

None of it mattered because we could never be together. It would never work. We were two shooting stars on two very different trajectories. We'd never be able to exist together as one unit.

His girlfriend deserved to keep him.