My Lustful Arrangement With The Hockey Player

6

ISABELLA

I spun around so fast that my shoes nearly skidded on the polished floor, my heart leaping into my throat. Logan was here. In this restaurant. With a woman. Probably the lady he had been speaking with so flirtatiously on the phone. I lowered my head, angling my face away from him as I approached the counter, trying to keep my cool. The scent of grilled peppers and seasoned meat wafted through the air, but it did nothing to soothe the knot tightening in my chest.

I stole another glance, my eyes drifting to the woman sitting across from him. She was stunning—tall and willowy, with sun-kissed blonde hair cascading down her shoulders in perfect waves. Her blue eyes sparkled under thick, dark lashes, and her cheekbones were sharp enough to cut glass. She looked like she belonged on the cover of a European fashion magazine, effortlessly elegant in a fitted cream blouse that hugged her slim figure. She laughed at something he said, her red lips curving into a dazzling smile that could probably stop traffic.

My chest tightened, my fingers curling into fists at my sides. Of course, Logan was with someone like her. Someone perfect. Someone who probably never had to worry about making rent or working double shifts. Someone who definitely didn’t stumble through a takeout order like an i***t.

I cleared my throat, trying to steady my voice. “Uh… can I get…” My mind went blank, the words slipping away as I watched him lean closer to her, his eyes crinkling with laughter. My stomach churned, a bitter taste rising in my throat. How could he smile like that after what we’d done? After the way he’d used me?

The woman behind the counter raised a perfectly arched brow, her red lips pursed in polite impatience. “Yes?” Her accent was clipped, refined, like she’d stepped out of some high-society event.

I forced myself to look away from Logan, my cheeks burning. “Uh, yeah… I’ll have the… um…” My voice wavered, my gaze dropping to the menu behind her. I could feel Logan’s presence, his laughter echoing in my ears, taunting me. “The… carne asada tacos. To go.”

The woman scribbled on her notepad, her expression bored. “Name?”

I opened my mouth, then hesitated, suddenly paranoid that if I said my name too loudly, Logan would hear. But that was ridiculous, right? He was too wrapped up in his perfect date to notice me. “Isabella,” I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.

She frowned. “Sorry, what was that?”

I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry. “Isabella.”

A cold chill ran down my spine. The laughter behind me had stopped.

I dared to glance over my shoulder, my heart plummeting as my eyes met Logan’s. His smile was gone, his face blank with surprise. For a moment, we just stared at each other. My heart raced, pounding against my ribs as if trying to escape. I felt exposed, vulnerable, like he could see right through me.

And then, just as quickly, his face hardened. His eyes slid away, his head turning back to the woman in front of him as if he hadn’t seen me at all. As if I didn’t exist.

My chest tightened, a sharp sting of humiliation burning behind my eyes. He wasn’t even going to acknowledge me. After everything we’d done, he was just going to pretend I was invisible.

I forced myself to face forward, my fingers trembling as I gripped the counter. I could feel the woman’s eyes on me, but I didn’t dare look at her, didn’t want to see the judgment I knew would be there.

A minute later, she slid the paper bag across the counter. “Your order, Isabella.”

I snatched it up, muttering a quick, “Thanks,” before bolting for the exit. My legs felt like jelly, my chest tight with embarrassment as I weaved through the tables, my gaze fixed on the door. I needed to get out of here. Away from him.

I was nearly out when I heard his voice. “Isabella.”

I froze, my heart stuttering. I could pretend I didn’t hear him. I could keep walking, climb into a cab, and leave him behind like he’d done to me. But I wasn’t like him. I had a spine. I turned around slowly, squaring my shoulders as I met his gaze.

He was standing just outside the door, his hands shoved in his pockets. His jaw was clenched, his expression unreadable. “What are you doing here?”

I blinked, my shock quickly replaced by anger. “Oh, I don’t know. Getting Mexican food. You know, because I can afford it now. Thanks to you.” I made sure to emphasize the last words, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

His brows furrowed, his lips curving downward. “There’s nothing more to this than s*x, Isabella. I thought I made that clear.”

I laughed, the sound bitter. “Oh, you did. Loud and clear. I don’t care, Logan. I really don’t. But if you left your precious date just to remind me of that, then you’d better hurry back before she notices you’re gone.” I gestured towards the window, my lips curving into a mocking smile.

His eyes flickered, a strange emotion passing over his face before it vanished. “She’s not my girlfriend.”

“Good. Then go back and finish your meal,” I snapped, my chest heaving. I was done with him. Done feeling like this. Hell, I didn't even care.

A cab pulled up, its tires screeching against the curb. I didn’t spare him another glance as I yanked the door open and slid inside, my fingers digging into the leather seat as I fought to keep my composure.

“Where to?” the driver asked, glancing at me through the rearview mirror.

I gave him my address.

As the car pulled away, I finally allowed myself to look back. Logan stood there, his hands still in his pockets, his shoulders tense. But he didn’t move. He didn’t call after me. He just watched me leave, his expression unreadable.

Good. He didn’t deserve a second thought. And I wasn’t going to give him one.

Soon enough, I was home. I'd successfully passed through the dark alleyway and thankfully, a few days ago, the cops had come to cart most of the jaywalkers away.

I shut the door behind me, the old hinges creaking in protest, and leaned against the chipped wood, letting out a long, shaky breath. I crossed the cramped living room, my shoes echoing softly against the worn linoleum floor as I set the envelope on my low-budget table, the surface scratched and faded from years of use.

I stared at it, my mind replaying the scene at the restaurant. The way Logan’s face had turned to stone, his eyes flicking away from me as if I were nothing. The humiliation of standing there, invisible, while he fawned over that perfect woman. A bitter laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it. I should’ve known better.

But then my eyes drifted to the envelope again. With a deep breath, I reached for it, my fingers trembling as I slid the bills out. The crisp notes felt foreign against my calloused skin, their scent a mixture of paper and possibility. I counted them, the numbers adding up to more than I’d ever held in my hands at once.

I glanced at the crumpled eviction notice I’d torn off my door yesterday. The bold letters screamed at me, a reminder of just how close I was to losing this tiny excuse of an apartment. But now… now I could pay it off. Hell, I could move to a better place tomorrow if I wanted to.

But I couldn’t afford to be reckless. Logan might never give me this much again, and I wasn’t about to start putting all my eggs in one basket. No, I’d pay my rent tomorrow, secure this roof over my head for another month, and then I’d see how far I could stretch the rest.

My stomach growled, pulling me back to the present. I unwrapped the tacos, the warm aroma of seasoned meat and grilled peppers filling the room, mingling with the faint scent of must that clung to the old walls. I ate quickly, the food barely registering as I tried to push thoughts of Logan out of my mind.

Once the meal was gone, I tossed the wrapper into the overflowing trash and headed for the bathroom. The water was lukewarm, the pressure weak, but it was enough to wash away the grime of the day. I scrubbed my skin until it tingled, trying to rid myself of the memory of his touch, his laugh, the way his eyes had passed over me as if I were nothing more than a stranger.

I collapsed onto my lumpy mattress, the springs digging into my back, and pulled the thin blanket up to my chin. My eyes drifted shut, exhaustion weighing me down as sleep claimed me.