No Strings Attached

Chapter 12

Why did I care so much? I didn't know. It's not like he was even my friend. Not that I didn't like him, but we were just sort of acquainted. Not real chummy. But when I heard that noise, I panicked. Nothing mattered but the well-being of Logan. Maybe it was because I knew what abuse was like from Alex. And I understood that it was so horrible that I couldn't imagine that anyone else could live through it. Not even my worst enemy. Maybe I'm just a caring person, and want to make sure everyone is all right. Maybe I just needed a reason to go upstairs to his apartment.

My phone rang against my ear one last time, and I was about ready to give up. The noises had seemed to stop, and I didn't hear anything. I brought my phone down from my ear and had my thumb hovering over the "End Call" button.

"Hello? Hello? Tegan?" I heard ever so faintly.

"Logan?" I asked my phone.

"Yeah, what is it?" he asked as if nothing happened.

I was puzzled. "Um...are you okay?"

Silence. "Yeah, of course...Why?"

"Well I just..." I started moving my foot off the ground trying to think of what to say.

"Oh, you mean the loud bangs and stuff? That's nothing; don't worry about it" he said unconvincingly.

I began swinging my foot awkwardly. "Oh, okay." I swung too hard and hit the door. Shit.

"Hold on one sec, someone's at the door, I think," he said.

"No, wait." But he didn't hear me.

Next thing I knew the door opened and there I was standing in his hallway, lurking outside his apartment, on the phone with him when I easily could have knocked on the door...you know, since I was right there.

He stared at me. I stared back, my phone still glued to my ear.

"What the hell?" he asked finally.

I didn't know what to say. "Sorry," I muttered. You idiot. What's wrong with you?

"How-how long have you been here?" He closed the door and leaned against it.

I was frozen. "I-I..."

"This is about the noises, isn't it?" he asked.

I nodded slowly. "It just...sounded..." I took a deep breath. "My best friend was abused by her dad for years and now she's emotionally scarred and I heard a bunch of loud sounds coming from your apartment and I got scared and I just wanted to make sure you were okay and I was freaking out and please don't get mad I just want to help."

He sighed. "God, Tegan, I love my dad. He doesn't hit me. I promise." He took off his shirt to my surprise. Holy mother of Jesus Christ, he's hot. "See? No bruises."

I couldn't help but stare at his abs and back muscles. I almost reached out and touched him. His dark skin perfectly covered every inch of him and stretched over his toned abdomen.

I was pretty sure he rolled his eyes at my gawking. "I'm gonna put my shirt back on now."

It took me a minute to respond. "O-okay."

He put it back on as I tried to pull myself out of my trance. You can't blame me for looking. I hadn't had sex in three months.

"Well, if your dad doesn't hit you," I said, "then what's the noises?"

Logan pursed his lips. "I can't tell you," he muttered.

I was confused.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," he went on.