Caught Up in Between

As I entered the house, which was loud and full of people, Lily caught my wrist in a tight grip and dragged me with her. She was searching for her brother.

Kate was looking for Tim, so she also followed us. She even pointed us in the direction of the room where I saw Logan yesterday.

Good Lord, please help me.

We entered the room, and I felt a lump form in my throat. The same people as last night were sitting on the couches; it looked like they’d just started playing.

My eyes were glued to one particular man, but this time he wasn’t alone. He was making out with a girl with long black hair.

I couldn’t see her face; their embrace was so passionate, but I saw her body, and damn, she was hot. Slim waist, big boobs, and long legs.

She was wearing a floral bustier dress and stiletto heels, which were visible as one of her legs was resting on Logan’s thigh; his hand was stroking her leg in circles.

Kate had chosen the exact word in describing her. Logan’s girl looked like a real-life Barbie from Mattel. I wanted to vomit. I needed a drink, a strong one.

I wanted to forget this feeling of need, which I felt whenever I was close to him. I was planning to go and find the kitchen at the first opportunity.

I needed space and time to think.

Lily finally freed my arm and rushed to Logan. I could tell just by looking at her body language that she didn’t like her brother’s girlfriend. She sat on the back of the couch and clapped on Logan’s back.

I saw as he tensed up and then turned to look at her. His girlfriend’s face was still hidden from me, as she was facing Lily now.

Kate stood near me, scanning the room for Tim’s presence, but as he wasn’t here, she folded her arms over her chest and looked at the Jones siblings.

“Look, Becca, that is Melanie Barnes with Logan Jones,” Kate whispered in my ear. “I must admit that they look perfect together, but still, I envy that bitch! Why does he need to be so in love with her? It’s not fair!” I nodded mutely.

The lump in my throat wasn’t going anywhere. I really needed a drink; I would give it five more minutes. Five more minutes, and I’d be out of this room.

“Becca, Kate, over here!” Lily’s cheerful voice rang in my ears.

No! I didn’t want to be near the couple or in this room. But Kate was already tugging me after her. She plopped herself down on the couch near Lily, who was already sitting near her brother. Now I could see Logan’s girlfriend.

Just as I feared, she was stunning. High cheekbones and full, sensual lips gave her a look like Angelina Jolie, but her eyes were deep blue and a little narrow.

Why did she need to be this gorgeous? I needed a drink. As I continued to stand there, all of the people on two couches were looking at me. Hell! Even the people in the room were looking at me.

“Becca?” Lily looked confused.

I smiled at her, and then my eyes shifted to her brother. Logan was looking at me too, but this time I didn’t see anything more in his eyes. There wasn’t longing, connection, or even interest. His look was blank, and it hurt me much more than anything.

He shifted his arm on his girlfriend’s leg and continued to caress her.

Thanks for the cold shoulder, buddy.

“I guess I need booze. Where can I find something that isn’t disgusting? Kitchen?”

I looked away from Logan and locked eyes with another guy on the couch opposite Logan's—the blond guy from yesterday. If I remembered correctly what Kate had told me that morning, his name was Drew Milton. He had a redheaded chick next to him, and she scowled at me.

Girl, I am not interested in him, no matter how good-looking he is. Drew smiled and gestured for me to turn right in the hallway, presumably to get to the kitchen. I nodded and left the room. As I stepped outside, I heard Lily and Kate's voices. I wouldn't be coming back to this room.

I found the booze and made myself a cocktail with lime, rum, and coke.

I was already on my third cup when I felt the need to go dance, so I danced. I even sang one of Beyoncé's songs with the other girls. Well, mostly we were shouting, but it was fun.

I didn't know their names, and they didn't know mine, but we had fun, and nothing else mattered. No one was looking for me, and honestly, I didn't give a damn about that as soon as I started drinking.

I was sure they were having fun together, maybe Logan had already left with his precious girlfriend and was banging her now. Fuck! I went to grab another cup.

I downed the cocktail within ten seconds, and I started to feel tipsy. I saw guys looking in my direction. One tall guy with an LA Lakers cap approached me.

I danced with him, let him touch me, and even kiss me. It was good until his hands reached under my crop top. I brushed him off.

Later that night, another guy with sleek blond hair started dancing near me. Soon enough, he placed his hands on my hips. We danced a little together; he was well-built with broad shoulders.

He had a cute smile and kind eyes, so I guess that was the reason why I kissed him. This time it was me who placed my hands under his T-shirt.

He was good with it, he responded to my touch, deepening our kiss. But strangely, this felt wrong. I stepped back from him, shook my head, and walked away. His smile was sad, but he let me do that.

After another thirty minutes, I felt that I needed to find the bathroom. I was on my sixth cocktail already. I felt so light and so free at the same time.

The door to the bathroom on the first floor was closed, so I went to the second floor and stumbled to the far end of the hallway. I didn’t even know where to go and still, I found a bathroom on the first try.

As I stepped inside, I closed the door behind me and leaned my back on it. What was I doing? I was drunk. I didn’t know at that point if I would be able to find the dormitory in my condition.

Why was I so stupid?

When I finished, I placed my hands on the sink and examined my reflection. My eyes were tired, my lips were swollen from the kisses, and my ponytail was in disarray.

I loosened it, and now my hair cascaded over my bare shoulders. I needed to find my way back home. I splashed some cold water on my flushed cheeks and walked out the door.

I returned to the stairs, and as I passed a door near the bathroom, I noticed it was slightly open. My throat went dry in seconds.

Logan stood in the doorway with a bare chest, wearing only sweatpants that hung low on his hips.

He was in impressive shape with his broad shoulders, and the sharp lines of his abdomen formed a perfect V. Now I had a chance to observe a tattoo on his forearm—it was a tiger roaring in the flame, and I was mesmerized by it.

My eyes drifted to his face, and as I reached the level of his neck, I noticed fresh hickeys. My mind snapped out of my thoughts in an instant. I observed him more carefully.

All the signs were there; his chest was covered in sweat, and he was barefoot. I was perfectly aware that he had just had sex, mere minutes ago.

I glanced over his shoulder as much as I could manage and caught sight of a girl's naked ass on the bed amidst the disheveled blankets.

I jerked away and tried to rush to the stairs as fast as I could.

But I couldn’t make it even two steps in that direction when I heard the door close behind me and felt Logan’s arm grab me by my forearm.

He forcefully dragged me with him, and I found myself back in the bathroom. Once we were inside, I heard the sound of the door lock.

I stood in front of the shower cabin, while Logan stood before the locked door with his arms folded over his chest. What was I doing here? I had no idea, but I was scared of him.

I wasn’t thinking straight because of the alcohol. Suddenly, I felt cold, so I hugged myself with my arms and rubbed them up and down, trying to find warmth.

“My sister and your friend were worried about you.” His voice was a little husky.

“Why? I was having fun, just like they told me to do on our way here.”

“Yeah, fun… Like making out with two different guys. Do you consider that ‘fun’?”

“Well, it’s not your business, as far as I'm concerned! I could have sex with both of them, maybe even at the same time… Hmm?”

“Maybe I really should go have a threesome? You know, my dry spell has lasted awfully long already. So maybe that would make me feel good finally…”

Fucking hell! Why did I need to mention my lack of sex?

Rebecca, you need to pull yourself together!

Guess the cocktails were really having an effect.

In two strides, Logan stood right before me with his hands clenched in fists. I backed away from him, and now my bare back was pressed to the cold glass of the shower.

Why was he so angry with me? This was only the third time he had seen me in his life. Why did he even care? And what was worse was that he’d just had sex with his gorgeous girlfriend, who was still in his bed!

Why was he wasting his time on me?

“Really, Rebecca? Maybe I shouldn’t have bothered to kick Matthews out yesterday. Maybe I should have let him have his way with you?”

“Maybe, Logan. I don’t know! I honestly don’t know! It has been only two days! Two days since I came here to study, and my life is already a mess!”

“You didn’t mean that... The guy might have raped you. The way he was touching and groping you gave me a full understanding of the situation.”

I decided to step in to help you, even if it was the first time in my life I saw you. And now you’re telling me that I should have let him…” Logan trailed off, and I saw the disgust on his face.

I sighed and pressed my palms to my face, covering it. Then I let them fall to my sides.

“I don’t know what you want to hear from me. I am tired. I want to go back to the dorm. Let me go, please.” I whispered the last sentence.

The alcohol was starting to overcome me, especially with the roller coaster of emotions I had been dealing with for the last two days because of this guy standing before me.

“No,” Logan answered me with a whisper. I couldn’t wrap my mind around what was going on. My heart started to beat faster as he stepped closer to me. What was he doing? I didn’t expect any of this.

His hands landed on my waist and then slid down to my hips. He pulled me to him, keeping me close. We gazed into each other’s eyes. I knew this guy for what? Two days?

Still, it was as if he wasn’t a stranger to me. I had been attracted to Logan since the moment my eyes landed on him. For me, that had never happened before.

I had crushes in school, but I needed to know the person to want to be close to him. With Logan, everything was very different.

“Holy fuck, Rebecca…” Logan groaned, looking at me. I was pressed against him, and my hands moved up to his neck on instinct while he kept his hands on my hips.

He hesitated. I saw it. I didn’t move; I waited, and before I knew it, his lips were on mine. I felt weak from his kiss immediately, almost stumbling backward. He didn’t release me, he only tightened his grip on my hips.

Our tongues danced together in a slow but painfully arousing motion. I didn’t feel cold, even though my bare shoulders were pressed to the cold glass of the shower cabin; I felt incredibly hot.

His lips moved from my mouth to my jaw, then to my throat. He sucked on my neck hard, and I was sure that there would be a hickey, but I didn’t care about it at all.

One of his hands stayed on my hip, while with the other, he yanked my crop-top down. I stood before him wearing only my push-up bra, as my top hung from my waist.

With one finger, he traced the lines of my cleavage. I shivered. I didn’t have any idea what would happen next, but I wanted him to touch me, so I arched my back to him.

He only needed that—a sign of encouragement. One of his hands returned to my breasts and dragged down my bra.

As soon as he saw my breasts with hardened nipples, his eyes darkened with desire. He groaned and leaned forward, placing wet kisses on my neck.

He bit and licked my throat, teasing me with his tongue and teeth. I wanted him badly, my clit almost ached from desire. I knew he wanted me too.

I felt his hard cock press against my thigh, and still, he didn’t try to undress me further.

He was all over me, kissing and nibbling my breasts and neck. My hands roamed over his shoulders to his torso. He moved up from my nipples to my lips.

We kissed passionately, leaving me short of breath, but it didn’t matter. He wrapped his hand around my knee and lifted it, pressing his hip closer to me.

The bulge in his pants was huge, and I felt him trembling. I started moving, grinding against it. Logan growled from the friction, and his kisses immediately became more insistent.

We were so caught up in the moment that we didn’t realize how much time had passed since he had dragged me to the bathroom. Reality came crashing down suddenly when we heard a knock on the door.

We both froze. I hadn’t heard her voice before, but from Logan’s reaction and her words, I instantly realized who was behind this door.

“Logan, are you in here? Is everything okay? Logan?”

Logan looked at me, and I saw the horror in his eyes. He released his grip on my knee and stepped back immediately. He was looking at me pleadingly.

My breathing was still erratic, but my arms and legs had started trembling, and it was because I saw the emotions in his brown eyes. He was afraid I would say something.

I shook my head and walked to the other side of the shower cabin, where I couldn’t be seen from the door. He looked in my direction for a moment, then smoothed out his sweatpants and went to the door.

I stood in the dark, waiting for him to take his girlfriend back to the bed.

He unlocked the door and stepped outside the bathroom. Melanie stood still with messy hair and wrapped in the blanket around her naked body.

“Logan, what took you so long? You told me you needed to use the bathroom. That was almost thirty minutes ago! I even fell asleep and woke up just because you weren’t there!”

She sounded annoyed that he had left her alone. Tears were blurring my vision now. I tried to collect myself. As soon as they were in his room, I would run away from this house.

I heard the sound of the closing door and sighed, shutting my eyes. Right now, I know only one thing: this is my last party at the fraternity house and the last party I will go to if there is a possibility that Logan Jones will be there.

I will try to make sure I do not see him anymore. If Melanie hadn’t shown up, I would have had sex with Logan. I feel dirty upon that realization.

When I sneak up to my room in the dormitory, I hear quiet snoring. Lily is already sleeping in her bed. I look at my bed and see Kate there. She is also sleeping. Guess, I will sleep with her.

I slide under my blanket and hug her from behind. With half-closed eyes, Kate turns slightly toward me.

“Where were you? Why didn’t you answer your damn phone, Rebecca?”

Hearing my full name again brings back memories of Logan. Too soon. Fucking hell! I sigh and kiss the hollow of Kate’s neck. I don’t want my tears to spill again.

“Let’s talk about it in the morning? Please?”

“Fine.”

Kate wriggled and turned to face me. She opened her eyes and looked at me. I didn't know what she saw, but she gave me a peck on my lips and snuggled closer to me. We fell asleep tangled up on my bed.

I didn't feel much by then, and my mind was mostly blank. I drifted into a deep slumber. The only reminder of Logan and me in the bathroom was my dully-aching heart.

I think I was starting to get used to that.