Addiction

Chapter 28-2

THE BAR WAS PACKED, a writhing mass of bodies already moving in unison on the small area designated as a dance floor. The heat was cruel with so many bodies packed into such a small space and Sophie fanned herself with a napkin, wishing they’d open the large doors on either side of the bar to let a bit of cross-breeze flow through.

“Hot in here, huh?” Logan watched her fan herself, amused. She guessed he was used to the press of the crowd and the heat they gave off, living here the last few years.

“Yeah,” she replied testily. “You’d think they’d install air-conditioning.”

“They have. Look.” He pointed to an AC unit behind the small bar, which was only just powerful enough to give the staff some reprieve from the heat.

“Oh, great. It’s the munchkin version of air conditioners.”

Logan’s deep laugh rumbled in her ear as he leaned in close. “Do you want to leave? We could take a walk on the beach instead.”

“No,” she replied quickly, not knowing why the idea of a walk on the beach – with her stepbrother, for God’s sake – would make her so nervous. That silly crush she'd had on him years ago had fizzled out. For the most part, at least. “It’s fine here.”

She gulped a mouthful of her coke as Logan settled himself onto the stool beside hers. They were lucky enough to just nab the last free table around the dance floor. Taking a calming breath she asked him about the new band.

“Oh you’ll love them,” he replied with a wide smile.

She noticed how perfectly white his teeth were, and found herself mumbling “all the better to bite you with, my dear.”

“What?” He leaned forward, a frown playing between his brows.

“Oh, nothing. I was just saying I hope there’s no fights in here.”

“No,” he laughed. “This is a nice place. I come here a couple of times a week.”

She wondered if he came here alone or took his various floozies, and then reminded herself that it was absolutely none of her business. “So tell me about the band.” She had to raise her voice to be heard over the screaming jukebox.

“They’re a cover band,” he began and Sophie followed his lips as they shaped the words. “They do rock, mostly.” Again he smiled, and she mimicked the movement, subconsciously attuned to his every tiny facial nuance. “But they do some Grunge, at the start of the set.”

“Nirvana?” she asked, excited. She’d loved Nirvana since he'd introduced her to them as a teenager.

“Of course,” he replied, with a shrug to indicate that her question was a silly one. It was, of course. Nirvana was the grandaddy of Grunge. “Later on, they slide into some heavy rock, but we’ll be gone by then.”

“So how was your day?” Logan leaned forward again, and put a hand to her shoulder. “I know I was gone all day, but work is pretty hectic. I’ll try to get a day off soon.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Sophie replied with a smile of her own. “I found your stash of science-fiction. I spent all day on the beach soaking up the sights.”

“Weren't you cold?”

She just shrugged.

“I feel bad,” he began, but she shook her head emphatically.

“Honest, I was okay. I only thought about,” she paused, grinning. “Champagne Chimp, a couple of times and even then,” she went on hurriedly as his face darkened. “It was only to tell myself what a fool I was to ever see anything in him.”

“You’re not a fool,” he growled. “He’s the fool.”

“My brother.” She put a hand to her chest in mock awe. “My hero.”

“Yup.” He grinned, leaning back again as the band came on stage. “That’s me.”

Feeling better that the awkwardness had passed – what had come over her? – she turned in her stool to watch the guys in the band as they took their places. The guy on lead guitar was hot. All flowing blond locks and chiseled abs under a tight black tee shirt. The jukebox cut off as they quickly broke into a rendition of Nirvana’s famous Nevermind, and she had to concede Logan had been right – these guys were great.

An hour later, the band took a break, and Sophie excused herself to use the bathroom. She had just locked the door to her cubicle when the door banged open and a group of giggling girls entered.

“But did you see Logan in there?” one of them asked in hushed tones.

“How could you not see Logan in there?” another countered, her simpering voice seeming to echo around the small room. “I gave him my number earlier,” she admitted, starting off another round of giggles.

“But he had a date,” the first girl shrieked in delight. “You’re such a ho.”

The sound of one hitting the other playfully came through the door, and Sophie’s cheeks burned. They thought she was his date. She wondered if she was cramping his style. What twenty seven year old single guy wanted to take his sister out? She sighed, flushing and decided that she couldn’t hide in here while the girls re-did their make-up all night. Putting on a neutral expression, she opened the cubicle door and stepped out, into a group of blonds and a cloud of perfume. “He’s not my date,” she stated to their general open-mouthed expressions. “He’s my brother.”

*