Chapter 210

Ella

I climbed out of the car, my legs a little wobbly from the experience of driving Logan’s race car for the first time. But despite my initial trepidation, it had actually been more fun than I had expected. A playful smirk tugged at my lips as I turned to face Logan then.

“You know, if you were planning to kill me out here, Logan,” I teased, “just remember that I beat you during our training session the other day. And you still owe me a tattoo, now that I think of it.”

Logan chuckled, shaking his head as he circled around to the back of the car. “I’m not going to kill you, Ella,” he replied, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Well, not yet, at least. And I haven’t forgotten about the tattoo.”

I laughed, realizing that he seemed to be serious. “Oh, come on, Logan. You don’t actually have to go through all that trouble. It was just a playful bet. I would never expect you to get a tattoo if that’s what you don’t want.”

But Logan shrugged, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. “You know,” he began, “I’ve actually always wanted to get a tattoo. And I think it would mean even more if you picked it out for me.”

I blinked in surprise, my mind racing with the possibilities of what kind of tattoo I would choose for him. It was a sweet gesture, and I couldn’t help but feel touched by his words. It made my cheeks flush red, though.

“I’ll think about it,” I finally said with a small smile.

Logan then reached into the back of the car and retrieved a blanket, holding it up with a mischievous glint in his eye. I raised an eyebrow, my curiosity getting the better of me.

“What’s that for?” I asked.

He smiled softly, the corners of his lips curling up. “What do you think?”

I watched as he laid the blanket on the desert ground, his gaze never leaving mine. He patted the spot beside him, a silent invitation. I felt a flutter of nerves in my stomach as I took a seat next to him on the blanket.

We lay side by side, gazing up at the night sky in comfortable silence for a while. The stars above us were a dazzling display, unobstructed by the city lights, and I couldn’t help but be captivated by their beauty.

I pointed to the sky, tracing the outline of constellations with my finger. “Look, Logan,” I said, my voice filled with wonder, “there’s Orion, and there’s Ursa Major. Oh, and over there, there’s Cassiopeia!”

Logan turned his gaze to the stars, his expression one of surprise. “I didn’t know you knew so much about constellations,” he admitted.

A blush crept onto my cheeks, and I looked away, suddenly feeling self-conscious. “I… kind of went through a huge nerd phase as a kid,” I confessed. “I was really into astronomy. My dad used to take me stargazing with a fancy telescope, and my mom and I would go to the observatory regularly to watch shows, lectures, and just hang out.”

Logan chuckled. “Well, I’m not sure if I’d call that a phase,” he said, “because you’re still a huge nerd, even to this day.”

I rolled my eyes and playfully punched his arm, but I couldn’t hide the smile tugging at my lips. “Guilty as charged,” I admitted. “Although now I’m just a law nerd. I still love astronomy, though... and even astrology.:

Logan raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. “Astrology, huh? Color me surprised. What do you find fascinating about it?”

I thought for a moment, searching for the right words. “I find it intriguing,” I began, “to try and figure out someone’s personality just based on the day they were born. And you know what? It’s often surprisingly accurate.”

A soft smile played on Logan’s lips as he turned to me. “So, what sign do you think I am?”

I contemplated for a moment, trying to pinpoint the traits that best described him. “I’ve always figured you're a Gemini,” I replied, my voice thoughtful. “Adaptable, curious, outgoing, and maybe a little impulsive at times.”

Logan fell silent, his gaze fixed on the starlit sky. I couldn’t help but wonder if I had unintentionally hurt his feelings by mentioning impulsiveness. I hesitated before finally asking, “Did I get it right?”

After a pause, Logan nodded, a small smile on his lips. “You got it right on the nose. I am indeed a Gemini.”

Relief washed over me, and I couldn’t help but smile back at him. “See? I told you it’s often more right than wrong.”

Logan turned his gaze back to the night sky, and so did I. “So, what sign do you think I am?” I found myself asking as we looked up at the brilliant stars above us.

He chuckled, considering the question. “I don’t know much about Astrology,” he said.

“Aw, c’mon,” I said. “Just give it a shot.”

“Okay, well… I think you’re a Libra,” he ventured. “You know, the one with the scales. They often desire balance. And, well, you’re a lawyer, so it kind of fits, right? The scales of justice and all.”

I giggled. Logan looked at me, surprise written across his face. “What’s so funny?” he asked. “Am I wrong?”

“Sort of,” I teased. “But you tried, so I’ll give you that.”

Logan scoffed, although it was more of a playful sound than anything else. “Then what is your sign, then, Miss Morgan?”

I felt a blush creep onto my cheeks as I admitted, “I’m a Leo. Loyal, honest, and... inflexible. Stubborn.”

Our eyes met, and there was a moment of shared understanding between us. I had always been known for my stubbornness, and I often saw it as a flaw. So did most people.

Logan spoke softly, his voice filled with sincerity. “The stubborn part is definitely true,” he said, “but I look up to you for it, Ella.”

My eyes widened. “Really?”

Logan nodded. “I do,” he said softly. “Your determination and unwillingness to back down, even when things get tough—I admire that about you. Not a lot of people have that trait.”

I was taken aback by his words, my heart pounding in my chest. The words I longed to say hung on the tip of my tongue, but once again, I couldn’t bring myself to voice them. Instead, I simply smiled. “Thanks, Logan,” I whispered.

He smiled, his gaze returning to the stars above, and we fell into a comfortable silence once more. The night stretched on, and neither of us spoke. But that was okay; we didn’t need words. We were comfortable just laying there, enjoying each other’s company. And for the first time, I let myself do just that. I let myself enjoy being beside him, enjoy the spaces between what we said.

At some point, our fingers brushed against each other. The sensation sent a jolt through my body, but I didn’t pull away. Neither did Logan.

Instead, our hands inched a little closer, and our fingers intertwined as we continued gazing up at the brilliant canvas of stars above us.