The Ruins of Us

Chapter 29

The doorbell rang.

I wiped my hands on my jeans and headed for the front door, already knowing who it was. My fingers paused on the knob for a second before I opened it.

Logan stood there, tall and put-together in a dark blazer over a casual shirt. His smile was easy, not too much. "Hey," he said. "Thanks for having me over, Mia."

I stepped back to let him in. "Thanks for coming," I said, keeping my voice steady. "Sorry about the short notice."

He stepped inside, his eyes flicking around the entryway, taking it all in without looking impressed or intimidated. Just... curious. Comfortable in his own skin. "It's no problem at all. I'm glad to help."

Before I could say anything else, I heard the soft thump of footsteps on the stairs behind me, and Kade was there, moving down the last steps with that silent, coiled energy that never really went away. His eyes locked on Logan immediately, hard and assessing, his mouth set in a straight line.

"Kade," I said softly, turning toward him, but he didn't look at me. His gaze stayed fixed on Logan, sharp and unblinking.

Logan offered a small, polite smile, extending his hand. "Kade Kingsley," he said. "It's good to finally meet you. I've heard a lot about you."

Kade didn't move to take his hand, his jaw tight, his eyes flicking down to Logan's outstretched palm and then back up to his face. "I'm sure you have," he said quietly, his voice calm but cold.

Logan let his hand drop, not missing a beat. "I understand you're protective of her," he said lightly, not challenging, just... acknowledging. "I would be too. She's... well, she's worth protecting."

Kade's eyes narrowed, just a fraction. "She doesn't need you to tell me that," he said, his tone smooth but with that edge that always felt like a blade. "You're here as her guest. I expect you to remember that."

"I do," Logan said, his smile unwavering. "I'm just here to help her with some work opportunities. That's it."

For a second, the room felt too small, the quiet between them stretching out like a taut line. I shifted slightly, my hand brushing against the edge of the door, and forced a small, polite smile. "Logan, do you want to come in and sit? We can talk in the living room."

He nodded, stepping past me with that easy, confident stride that somehow didn't feel arrogant. "Sure," he said. "Thanks."

Kade moved aside just enough to let him pass, his shoulders stiff, his eyes tracking Logan's every move like he was already cataloging every detail. He didn't say a word to me, but I could feel it in the way he stood—like every nerve in his body was on high alert.

I led Logan into the living room, gesturing for him to sit. He settled onto the couch with a small smile, his eyes flicking around the room like he was piecing together some silent puzzle. "This is a beautiful place," he said lightly.  

I gave him a faint smile, ignoring the way Kade moved to lean against the doorway, arms crossed over his chest. "It's... secure," I said simply.  

Logan nodded, his expression understanding. 

Kade's mouth twisted slightly, his eyes hard as he watched Logan. "So," he said, his voice low and cool. "What exactly is it you're doing for her?"

"Helping her with some job applications. Introducing her to people who might be able to give her a chance. She deserves that."

"And you just... do this for everyone? Or is there some reason you're taking such a personal interest in Mia?"

Logan didn't blink, his smile calm. "I help friends when they ask. Olivia thought I'd be a good fit to help Mia. And she was right—I'm happy to help. That's all."