What "Logan Curse"?

Pins & Needles

It's been a few weeks since the NY trip and things have quieted down in my life since that wild time.

Things were definitely different now though. We all got lucky during the trip. Jackie and Clyde had ended up hooking up the night I was with Charlie, which was no surprise to me, but Jackie was so quiet about it. Hannah had been doing some kinky shit with Adam, which I remember hearing through the walls of the suite. And then, Sam had apparently run off and found herself some guy named Toby to rock her world that night, too. It was quite an evening, that's for sure. I'm just beyond grateful that I met Charlie. He and I clicked so well, it was hard to deny how he made me feel.

Afterwards, we had all made it back to West Virginia and spent a few more days together as just us girls. We even took Sam to have some real American barbecue, which she absolutely loved. Nights of staying up late, watching movies and swapping stories were such a joy. Although, when we said our farewells to Sam as she left to go back to London, we were all in tears at the airport.

Charlie and I have kept in contact since the day we met. Normally, one-night-stands don't end up this way, but Charlie is different. He was so much deeper of a person than that. Not only was he a wonderful father to his son, Henry, but he was a caring, doting and loving partner. I wake up daily to a text from him saying "Good Morning, Beautiful!" and we FaceTime every night before bed. His smile makes me weak in the knees and his voice is such a comfort. I'm steadily falling for him. Hard.

"Have fun at your girls night tomorrow." Charlie says with a smile. He's FaceTiming me from New York.
I chuckle, "Oh, I'm sure I will. Jackie will make sure I will." I say with certainty. I clutch my chest, feeling the thud of my heart as I watch Charlie's image on the screen.
"I really miss you." I say sweetly, looking down, away from the screen.
"I miss you, too." He replies, his eyes looking gentle and disarming.
"The last girls night we had, I met you. I can't wait to see you again. I would love another night like the one we had there." I remark, biting my lip. His expression changed to a look of pure lustful desire for a split second, then looking over his shoulder to see Henry in the background playing with his toys.
He looked back at the camera with a smile and cleared his throat, "I'd, uh, I'd really like that too." I snigger as I realize he's holding back.
"Well, I gotta get someone to bed. We've got a big day tomorrow too. Sweet dreams, Ruby." He says, waving to the camera.
He leans to the side as I see Henry waving to the camera, "Goodnight, Ruby!" He shouted. I smile and feel my heart flutter.
"Sweet dreams, both of you. We'll talk again soon." I reply, waving back. I kiss two fingers and place them on the camera lens and Charlie reciprocates, the screen then going blank.

As I close my computer screen, I look around my office, feeling lonely. I stand up to head to the kitchen and I feel the floor come out from under me. It was like the room went sideways all of the sudden. I catch myself on the edge of my desk and take a deep breath, steadying myself. "That was weird." I make it to the kitchen, grabbing some tortilla chips and queso dip, heading to my living room to get absorbed into some good TV before bed.

**
**

The next night, Hannah, Jackie and I went to Duck Tape. It'd been a while since our last girls' night, so we needed to get away and let loose. I sat at the bar for a bit, chatting with Clyde in between him serving patrons and watched Hannah and Jackie live it up on the dance floor.

Clyde was watching Jackie with an intensity. His heart was on his sleeve and I could tell that ever since the night he had slept with her, it wasn't the same. He was head over heels in love. He shook his head and wiped down the bar, looking to me as I watched them.

"Sure you just want a water? I'll make you a real mild margarita again, if you like." He asks.
I smile as I glance at him, shaking my head, "No, but thank you for the offer. I've had some weird headaches lately and I don't think alcohol will really help." I say, sipping my water. Clyde nods in silent response, continuing to wipe the bar and glance to Jackie. She's very openly flirting with some guy who has wandered onto the dance floor.