Addiction

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

His dad had been trailing him all damn day. Drifting into lecture halls and libraries after him, frowning deeper with every heavy step. Logan could feel his father's disapproval. He knew Harry had always hoped that Logan would go into the accounting business as he had. Unfortunately, he just didn't have the head for accounts like his dad, and architecture was a legit business, dammit. When he came out the other end of college, he'd be earning twice what his father ever had. The man at least conceded that much, eyes widening in surprise when he figured out how much even a passable architect could earn.

“And these are the dorms. You'll notice that there's a curfew posted. Eleven pm is the cut-off, and if you're not in by then, you'll have to wake the custodian, and trust me, you don't want to have to do that.” The short, brown-haired lady pointed to a sign in the window that read:

Curfew – 11pm – 6am

Door locked automatically during these times.

If locked out, please report to the custodian

“Hmph,” his father snorted. “Didn't have a curfew in my day.”

“Not all universities do, Sir,” she replied waspishly. “But we pride ourselves here on our impeccable grade averages and won't gamble with those results for anything. Curfew at least makes sure our students are in their dorms at a reasonable hour.”

“I understand,” Harry muttered, though it was plain he did not. The man was so disagreeable today that Logan wondered why he'd even bothered to accompany him. He was hungover and pissed at Logan for the previous night. He should have known that his father – a notorious ladies man in his earlier life – would have spotted the attraction to Sophie for what it was. He hadn't hidden it well enough, it seemed.

“You think you like her,” his father had grated, finger pointing in his face. “But you don't. Trust me, you don't.”

Logan had shaken his head, denying the undeniable, but his dad was relentless. “You keep your hands off, you hear? She's off limits.”

With a nod as his only reply, he'd turned away from his father's pointing finger and walked his stepsister home.

“If you will just step this way,” the lady invited. “We can see the rooms before the end of our tour.”

“No need,” his father interjected. “Logan will be staying with us while he attends here.”

“Oh, well if that is all...”

“No,” Logan replied. “It's not all. I'd like to see the dormitory rooms, please.”

“Of course, this way.” She led them inside and to the right, where there was a common room with a TV in the corner and various couches slouched around the room. “The kitchen is that way,” she pointed straight ahead. “Nothing fancy, mind you, but it does the job. Laundry is in the basement, and if you'll follow me upstairs, there are various rooms available for viewing.”

Logan listened to his father grumble all the way back to the car, where he abruptly rounded on him. “I was under the impression that you'd be staying with us as you attended university. What was all that?” he motioned to the dorms.

“I just like to keep my options open, that's all.” That, and the warning was still ringing in his ears about his new stepsister. He was bound and determined to keep away from her as much as possible, and if that meant moving into a dorm, so be it. He'd keep his options open.

His father seemed to see right through him, once more. “I meant what I said last night, Logan. Your sister is off limits.”

Logan snorted. “She's not my sister.”

His personal space suddenly invaded by his father, Logan frowned. “As soon as I said 'I do' she became your sister. You'd do well to remember that, Son.”

“Like 'I do' means anything to you.” Logan about-faced and took off on foot, his father angrily shouting after him to come back to the car. Screw that s**t, the house wasn't far from the university, and he remembered the way. He'd come back when he was good and ready.

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