“Is it serious?” my mom asks, piercing me with her curious stare.

I have to clear my throat. It feels like I’m suffocating with these questions. Why did I bring this up? There is way too much riding on this plan of mine that I suddenly feel overwhelmed with the need to just hide Logan and all of my dreams away, safe from anyone who might ruin them.

“I think so.”

My mom and dad both sit up straighter, like they both expected an easy no.

In the corner of my eye, I can see Logan freeze up. Then he drops a bill on the counter and waves to the waitress as he moves toward the door. I can’t help but watch him, begging him to look at me. Give me one glance so I know that I’m not screwing this up.

“We’d love to meet him,” my mother adds, but I’m barely listening. All of my attention is on that gorgeous tattooed man walking through the door and away from me without even a glance, and my gut turns with worry that this was all too real for him.

“Excuse me. I see someone I know.” I burst out of my seat and out the front door. My mother says my name as I run through the door and down the boardwalk toward the shop. Logan didn’t get far. He’s only on the crosswalk ahead.

“Logan,” I call for him. He turns to see me as if I’ve offended him.

When I reach where he’s stopped, he quickly pulls me into the alcove of an empty store front, hiding us from view of the restaurant.

Without another word, I launch onto my toes to press my mouth to his. He tastes like salt and coffee and Logan, and I want to know the familiarity of him for the rest of my life. I want to kiss him after every breakfast.

He kisses back hungrily, but after a moment, he pulls back. Pushing me away at the hips. “You should go back to your parents, Sierra.”

“I don’t want to,” I whisper against his lips.

“Stop saying that,” he answers. “You heard them. They were right. There is crime and drugs here, and I don’t want you getting mixed up with all of that.”

“I trust you,” I answer, trying to pull him back to me.

“I am the criminal they are talking about. I’m the problem, Sierra. You deserve so much better than me.”

“I’m falling for you, Logan. I don’t have a choice.”

He freezes, looking into my eyes and searching for the truth. I am falling for him. Hell, I’ve already fallen. I never want to be away from him again. Logan is my future.

Logan

Seeing Sierra with her parents brought a whole new sense of reality to this situation. No matter what happens between Sierra and I, they will always be there. It’s just another reminder that we are from different worlds and could never exist together.