Logan I know I’m out of my goddamn mind. I have a twenty - one - year - old girlfriend who is still in
college, is way out of my league, and oh, yeah, my ex - wife’s daughter. I don’t care, though. None
of those little boxes are what Arianna fits into. She’s like... air, forever constant and everlasting.
She breathes life into me, shaking me from the existence I thought I wanted and introducing me
to one I really want to have. I’ve been walking around numb to the world for longer than I’d care
to realize. Longer than I probably have the capacity to realize. One night with her flipped my
world upside down. Then it was two nights, then it was days. It was watching how kind she is to
others, how passionate and creative she is. How beautiful she is to her core and out. I f ell so
goddamn fast, too fast, I know. There isn’t any other way to explain it, though. I’m here, shaken
to my core, for the only woman I shouldn’t want, but the only one I do. And she loves me too.
The high I felt when I watched those words es cape her lip s? Unparalleled. I’ve never
experienced a feeling like that in my entire life. Relief mixed with joy mixed with anxiety. Would
I be good enough to ke ep her happy? Strong enough to hold us together? Could I become the
man she deserves? I’m not sure about th at last one, but I’ll fight until I’m bloody and weak
every day of my life to attempt it. I don’t want her to think this is a lust fueled fling. I don’t want
her to wonder if I’m just love bombing her to make her pliant and vulnerable for
me. Quite the opposite, actually. I love her fire. I love her fight. It’s not a bratty mind game like
what her mother used to play. She stands up for herself; she speaks her mind. That’s what
makes her submission so sweet. It’s a gift she’s giving to me, a nd not lightly, either. To shed the
tough exterior she tries to wear, the one she was forced to adapt to from a young age and allow
herself to trust another person is easily one of the most difficult things I could ask of her, and
she does it as simply as breathing. Like her soul knows mine better than we know each other.
It’s corny and crazy and maybe I’m totally overanalyzing everything, but I just know I need her,
and I’ll fight every day to make her as deliriously happy as she makes me. I’m leaving the office,
sending a text to Arianna that I want her ready for a date tonight. I’m taking her to the best little
Italian restaurant in Seattle because my sweet Sparrow is long overdue for a proper date. I
mean, we literally jumped straight over dating and wen t straight to living together and falling in
love. We’ve been living together for two weeks, and I still haven’t taken her on a proper date?
Unacc eptable. As soon as I slide into my car, my phone rings. I’m surprised to see that it’s Tyson.
I haven’t spoke n to him since we left the lake house. “Hello?” “Hey, what are you doing?” Tyson
asks. “Just on my way home.” “Got any plans for the night? Was thinking we could grab a beer,
watch a Crusaders game, or something.” We haven’t gotten together to just hang ou t in a while.
Months if I’m being honest. Tyson is always asking, but I’m always turning him down. I always
have work, a business trip, or something that feels more important. I want to change that,
though. “I can’t tonight. What about next week?” I offer. “Hot date?” he teases with a light
chuckle that dies quickly. I don’t respond because it isn’t needed. He k nows why I can’t
meet up with him tonight. Or at least has a suspicion. And his suspicion would be correct. “You
taking good care of our girl?” he asks. “My girl,” I snap. A raspy laugh es capes him as he sighs.
“Man, you gotta stop being so easy to rile up when it comes to her. Some might consider it a
weakness.” I let out a halfhearted grunt in response. He’s not wrong. Wish I could help it. “What
is she up to?” Tyson asks. “She should be at the house,” I say. “ Your house?” “Our house,” I
correct. Silence settles between us, and I sigh internally, awaiting the judgment he is no doubt
ready to deliver. “She moved in? Already?” “Yeah, she did.” Another long pause comes, but I
don’t attempt to fill the silence befor e Tyson speaks again. “If you guys are happy, then I’m
happy for you.” I frown at that, taken off guard that he would be so... supportive. I’m not sure
why I consistently sell him short. He’s always had my back, never not believed in me, and he
seems to be th e same with Arianna. My little brother turned out to be a great man. “Thanks,
Ty,” I say softly, pulling up to my house. Arianna’s car is there, and though she already told me
she was home, I still felt this unnecessary level of anxiety. Anytime she isn’t with me, I feel it. It’s
already become extremely annoying, but again, I can’t seem to help it. Until she is safely
wrapped in my arms, I can’t find any peace. “Take care of her, Logan.” “I will,” I promise before
we hang up. Looking up at the house, I see a silhouette pass the window before it backtracks.
She looks down at me and smiles, waving excitedly in a way that makes me grin. Fuck. I love that
girl. Reaching over to the passenger seat, I grab the bouquet of flowers that my secretary got
from a flowe r shop downtown. Blooming Deals? Something like that. Roses felt too cliché, so I
had her get an arrangement of hydrangeas. I remember how much she used to love to
photograph the hydrangea bushes that were outside the house we lived in when I was married
t o Kelly.
As I st ep out of the car, hiding the bouquet behind my back, I don’t even make it inside the
house before the front door opens and a barefoot Arianna walks towards me. She’s wearing a
pair of jeans and a pretty black shirt that accentuates her curves perfe ctly. “Hi,” she smiles. “Hi,
Sparrow,” I say as I pull her in with my free arm for a kiss, pressing my lips to hers before resting
my forehead against her own. “I got you something,” I say as I show her the bouquet. Her eyes
widen and a sweet smile spreads across her face. “For me? Logan,” she says with a breathy
voice as she takes the flowers, lifting it to her face to inhale. “I love hydrangeas.” “I know,” I say
with a small smile and a nod. She lifts up onto her toes, placing a soft kiss against my cheek .
“Thank you.” “It’s the least you deserve. We have two hours before our reservation tonight, so
we better hurry because I plan to take up an hour and forty of that time.” Her eyes light up with
excitement as I scoop her into my arms, kissing her as I walk us into the house and kick the door
shut. We definitely didn't make our reservation in time. Luckily, the owner is an old friend of
mine and was able to fit us in last minute. I pull out Arianna’s chair for her as we sit underneath
the Seattle sky, string lights covering the space above us a s soft music plays from all around us.
A waiter comes over, lighting the candle at our table before rattling off the specials and
promising to return soon. Arianna and I sit there staring at the menu for so long while she
actively debates whether she wants the risotto or the chicken florentine. “May I take your
order?” the waiter asks. Arianna’s eyes widen in panic, clearly still undecided. “We will take an
order of the risotto and an order of the chicken florentine. Can we also get a bottle of Pinot
Grigio ? Whatever is best.” “Yes, sir,” he says before taking our menus.
Arianna watches him walk away in disappointment. “I didn’t decide yet,” she says. I reach across
the table, holding her hand in mine. “I know, that’s why I got both.” She smiles softly. “You’re
kind of the sweetest, has anyone ever told you that?” “Never i n my life.” I laugh. “But I’m glad
you think so.” Arianna nods as her eyes begin wandering around the space. It’s elegant yet
intimate. It’s no wonder it’s been rated one of Seattle’s most romantic restaurants. “I got you
something,” I say as I pull out th e thin box from my jacket pocket. “Logan!” she laughs with a
smile. “You have to stop.” I frown as I set the box on the table. “Why?” “The flowers, the fancy
dinner, the gifts. No need to butter me up, I’m already fucking you,” she says with a smirk. A
chu ckle es capes me as I shake my head. “The flowers are nothing, a simple gesture to remind
you that I was thinking about you today. The dinner is essential, I have to ke ep my girl fed. The
gift, well, it’s more for both of us than just you.” She tilts her he ad curiously as she lifts the top
of the box off, revealing a white gold chain with two diamond encrusted heart ends. “It’s a
necklace,” I say. “How does it go on?” she asks, clearly confused by the unique construction.
Standing from my seat, I round the t able, gently taking the necklace out of the box as I begin
wrapping it around her neck. “I don’t think you understand how in love with you I am, Sparrow.
These things that you say are too much don’t feel like enough. I don’t deserve you. I’m painfully
awar e of that, but I will do everything from sunup to sundown, until my last breath, attempting
to be worthy of your care, your affection, your love.” Her eyes shimmer with emotion as she
looks up to me before down at the necklace. One heart sits higher than t he other and she
touches it gently. “It’s beautiful, how is this for you, though?”
My fingers grip the longer heart, yanking quickly as the rest of the chain tightens quickly around
her throat, effectively turning the necklace into a leash and collar. Her eyes widen with surprise
as her breath catches. I ke ep the diamond heart in my hand as I lower my face to hers and speak
slowly. “Because it ke eps you exactly where I want you, no more than a st ep away from me.
Look around, Sparrow. Do you see all these prying eyes? All these judgmental gazes?” She
swallows, taking an inventory of the lo oks we are getting because there are a lot. Mainly snooty
rich people who aren’t brave enough to actually go after what they want in life. Arianna and I
have no such qualms, and neither of us is shy when it comes to putting on a show. “Jealousy
drips from them as they watch us. The men all want you, they envy me.” “And the women envy
me,” she says breathlessly, like that statement is somehow gratifying for her. Her eyes swing
back to me as she continues. “They want this. A handsome, intelligent, strong man who will
allow them to break apart into pieces. A man who will give them enough freedom to be an
ind ependent person, but enough boundaries to allow them a safe space to thrive. They want
someone who will push them, break them, and then put them back together again.” I pull on
the chain a little, tightening it slightly as I tilt my head and cup her face with my free hand. “Is
that what I am to you, Sparrow?” She shakes her head in disbelief. “More.” Pride swells my
chest as I lean down, pressing m y lips to hers. That pride only expands as I do, proving to
everyone in this world and the next that this incredible, beautiful, amazing woman is mine, and
I am hers. When we break apart, a smile graces her face. One that is so breathtaking it sends my
hea rt racing. I hold her face for several more seconds, shaking my head with reverence before I
reach down and loosen the necklace, returning it to its original form. As I take my seat, I notice
Arianna touching the chain gently before a knowing smile crosses her face. “Do we have any
plans after dinner?” Yes, but I’ll change them in a heartbeat if she wants me to.
“What do you have in mind, Sparrow?”