Sitting at the kitchen table with her knee up against her chest and the heel of her foot resting on the edge of her chair, Nora cupped a hot coffee mug between two hands while Logan bustled around her kitchen.
Lifting the mug to her lips, she sipped on the dark brew while gazing at her boyfriend of two years, who hummed softly as he flipped a pancake. Feeling as if she had actually run for her life rather than slept the previous night, Nora praised all gods that there might be for the fact that it was Saturday.
“Cheater.”
“What?” Nora’s brows shot up on her forehead as she stared horrified at Logan, her heart pounding rapidly in her chest.
Logan stilled and looked over his shoulder, a smile on his lips. “Hm?”
“What did you just say?” Her throat felt strained.
“I didn’t say anything, babe. I was just singing.”
Nora stared at him for a second, her heart still pounding away in her chest.
Unperturbed, Logan went back to the pancakes, his warm voice humming away once more. Shaking her head, Nora stared down into her coffee cup. A set of eyes looked back up at her from the surface of the dark liquid—black and lurid.
Swallowing roughly, Nora set her coffee mug down on the surface of the table and pushed it away.
“Bitch.”
“Excuse me?” Nora squawked, whipping her head to the side to stare over at Logan, aghast. He’d never once called her such a thing, even during their most heated arguments.
Once more Logan turned from the pancakes. This time his typically happy features were pinched with concern. “Babe . . . are you okay? Can I get something for you?”
Nora wanted to ask him what he’d meant by calling her a bitch, but second-guessed herself as well.
“I just heard you say something,” she said at last.
Logan only frowned at her with a look of confusion, making her feel like she was going crazy.
“Never mind.” Shaking her head, Nora ran a hand over her face. “Are the pancakes almost done?” she asked, forcing a false sense of airiness into her tone.
“Coming right up!” Logan didn’t seem convinced either, but they were both silently agreeing to ignore whatever was going on for the moment.
Breakfast was a quiet affair, with Logan casting her concerned glances from beneath blond lashes whenever he thought she wouldn’t notice. It did nothing for her sanity.
When she’d managed to pick away at all the pancakes she could manage to eat, Nora pushed her plate aside. “Thanks for breakfast, Lo.”
“You’re welcome.” He stood, picking up both of their plates. “I’ve got to get in to work now, are you okay if I leave the dishes for you?”
“Yeah, that’s fine. Get going so you’re not late.”
Logan leaned down to press a warm kiss to her lips. “Enjoy your Saturday. I’ll see you tomorrow night, okay?”
Nora nodded. “I hope your shift goes well and there aren’t too many accidents or stabbings.”
Logan chuckled. “Thanks.” He kissed her forehead, then headed into the kitchen with their plates. Setting them by the sink, he then moved to grab his wallet and keys, the dark blue scrubs pulling taught over his chest and biceps as he did.
He must look like an angel coming to the rescue in the emergency ward.
Winking at her, Logan was then out the door, leaving Nora to watch the early morning sunrise over the city in an apartment that felt too quiet and yet not nearly empty enough.
When the dishes were done, Nora sluggishly returned to her bed, curling up in the spot where Logan had slept, wanting to let his scent envelope her and settle the confusion in her brain.
As her eyes closed, she felt lingering exhaustion tug at her, and finally, she submitted to it. Perhaps she’d sleep better during the day than she did at night.
Logan’s scent and the weight of the blankets over her helped to ease some of the tension in her form, so as she slipped into sleep, it was more peaceful than it had been before.
This time her dream was something harmless. She was at work and trying to get through the day while also trying to remember where she had left her cell phone. Every time she thought she’d found the phone, it would turn out to be someone else’s who was also looking for their cell.
Just when she’d triumphantly found her missing phone, she was roused from her sleep by the feel of hands sliding up the inside of her thighs, spreading them.
In her hazy, sleep heavy state, Nora could only let out a murmur of appreciation at the feel of a firm thumb parting her to tease the small bundle of nerves between her legs. But she was also not yet fully awake, and she’d like to be a full participant if this was going to happen.
“Logan . . . why aren’t you at work?” Her hand moved down to wrap around his wrist, stalling his efforts.
Blinking open her eyes, Nora sat straight up in bed.
There was no one in the room with her.