Persuasion

Drunk

In London

"Logan" Odette called out as she opened the door to his study. Her heart sank as she saw the scotch bottle open on the desk. He was sitting staring blankly at a blank document sitting open on his laptop. He didn't respond to her entering the room.

"Are you working still?" she asked sitting on his desk.

"Something like that" he said gruffly and leaned back in his chair seemingly to get as far away from Odette as possible.

"Logan are you going to talk to me?"

"About what Odette?" he sounded exacerbated.

"You know about what"

"Obviously I don't" he said taking another sip from his glass.

"About her" she said softly.

He didn't respond. Just continued staring at the screen in front of him.

"Logan" she said a little more agitated this time "You went to the states for a weekend with the boys and since you've been back you've been miserable and drinking copiously. Unless you are heartsick over leaving Finn?"

He finally looked at her, she was looking at him knowingly. There was no anger on her face, almost a sense of amusement. She was beautiful, there was no denying that. She knew it too, she could get men to do almost anything for her with a flip of her long blonde hair. The first time he went out with her he was amazed at the attention she commanded in a room.  

"How'd you know?" he asked.

"I know you think yourself a mystery to me Logan, but I have known you quite a while. Taking phone calls in the middle of the night, making vague excuses not to come visit me in Paris. I thought it was just a fling but here you are heartbroken. Tell me, do you love her?"

"Odette" he almost whimpered. It was a question he didn't want to answer, but also one he wasn't sure he could. Of course he loved Rory, but it wasn't as simple as that.

"Look, I understand. I care for you Logan and I want to see you happy" she said touching his arm gently "but I don't want to be someone you settle for. I deserve more than that. I thought that when I moved here that we would become closer but I think it's driven us further apart. Take some time and decide what you want." She leaned in and kissed him sweetly on his cheek.

He took a long drink from his glass and poured himself another. He starting typing on his laptop.

My Dearest Ace . . .