I was blaming my tiredness for letting Logan stay and help me clean up. He did offer and the pile of dishes in the back were screaming that I needed help. I did warn him there was still a lot to do but he just shrugged and walked around the counter.

Now here we are elbow deep in cleaning, silence surrounding us. It was still awkward between us and I wasn't entirely sure how to break that. Of course I hated the silence but Logan didn't even seem fazed. I couldn't take it anymore.

"I'm surprised your aren't back in Albany." I commented, my back turned to him.

"Decided to take a little vacation."

"You a vacation?" I looked over my shoulder at him with a raised eyebrow. Logan has never been one to take a vacation or sit long enough to do anything. In the years I've known him he's always doing something. Rather that be working at the store or working side jobs to stay busy. I think it had to do with his time in the military.

I knew that was a taboo subject to talk about. My brother wouldn't talk about his time in the Marine's and I highly doubt Logan would either. Especially not with me.

"What are you doing for Christmas?" I changed the subject as I moved around the kitchen wiping the counters.

My brother tried a few times to get Logan to come to Aubrey's moms house for Christmas but he always declined and kind of went off grid until he randomly shows up on New Years Eve. It's weird thinking about it but I've known Logan for nine years and I barely know anything about him. I don't even know if he has any family.

I have tried to learn more and to get him to say stuff about himself but per Logan style he was very tight lipped. Tight lipped about everything.

"Not really sure." From the corner of my eye I saw him shrug. "Probably get some sort of takeout." At his words I whirled around and placed my hands on my hips.

"You are going to spend Christmas home alone with takeout? Seriously?" Logan looked over at me while he swept and shrugged again.

"Yeah?"

Christmas was a hard time for all of us but its not a holiday where you spend it alone. At least not on my watch.

"Yeah that isn't happening. You're coming with us." My tone left little room for argument.

"Coming with you?" He paused in his sweeping to stare at me like I had grown two heads.

"Yep. To Aubrey's moms in Rutland. You know the place we've tried inviting you to over the years."

"I know where it's at but why are you inviting me to go?" The look on Logan's face was almost like he couldn't wrap his head around my invitation.

"Because no one deserves to be alone on Christmas." I turned back around, feeling his eyes on my back. "That is unless you have plans on leaving soon." I didn't look over my shoulder at him, not trusting what would be written on my face.

Logan was quiet for a moment and I for sure thought he was going to turn me down. I don't know why but the thought of him doing so made my stomach sink.

"No. No plans." He finally answered, his voice gruff. The sound of the broom sweeping across the floor came a second later. All I could do was nod, still facing away from him. But I couldn't stop the small smile from tugging at the corner of my lips.

Well there goes my plan of avoiding him. Jess was going to have a field day with this one.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Thanks for helping me clean up. You really didn't have to." I reached for the stack of boxes when a hand beat me to it. The feel of Logan's arm brushing against mine made my mind momentarily stop working.

"No problem." After my invite to come for Christmas the two of us stayed quiet and cleaned up the kitchen. Between the two of us we managed to get it all done in forty minutes instead of my hour or so. I wasn't going to say it out loud but I was actually glad Logan stayed around and agreed to help.

Aside from the extra help it was....surprisingly nice having his presence in the kitchen with me. Yeah we didn't speak much but the awkwardness had turned somewhat comfortable as we worked. Somehow we got a rhythm down and while I was doing one thing he was doing another. One would think we'd done that a thousand times before.

"Do you normally stay this late?" He questioned as we left through the front door and I turned to re-lock it. The cold air nipped at my bare hands and face. It was nearing 7 o'clock which wasn't really that late but with the sun completely down it did feel a bit later.

"Sometimes." I replied, leaving out the fact I usually left a bit later than this. "I'm parked right here."

I lead him over to my car parked a few stalls down from the front door. Sweet Delights was centrally located in our town. Right in Downtown so anyone driving by would see our sign. Conveniently his truck was parked one stall over, the rest empty as everyone was probably home and out of the cold.

With shaky hands I quickly unlocked my car and opened the passenger side. Logan stood there with at least 10 boxes in his arms, his head peeking around the side. My lips twitched at the sight as I reached to grab some from him.

"As payment for helping me, here." Grabbing a box from the seat I held it out to him. "Donuts." The box was actually pretty heavy as I remember I put at least nine donuts in there, all different types.

"I..." He looked like he was about to protest before he stopped himself. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." I sent him a smile. "The least I could do. I mean you did help me clean an entire bakery kitchen." The corner of his mouth tilted up. The sight of it caused my heart to thump a bit faster in my chest.

"What do you do with the rest?" He gestured to my full passenger seat.

"Oh I donate them. Tonight it's the homeless shelter a few blocks over." His eyes widened a fraction as he looked at me. Seemingly surprised with my answer. He looked like he was about to say something but an icy gust of wind hit the side of us. I flinched at the cold. Damn cold weather. Definitely my least favorite part about living here. Probably didn't help I was only wearing a small coat.

"I better...go." I mumbled.

"Oh yeah. Uh thanks for these." He held up the box. "Do you need me to come with you to the shelter?" Logan was standing close enough I could see the slight apprehension on his face about me going alone.

"I'm okay, thanks though." I waved him off. No one would hurt me over at the shelter. Every time they saw me everyone would say my name and work their way over to see what kind of goods I had for them.

I've spent quite a few hours sitting there talking to some of the people. Learning about their lives and how they ended up there. Everyone had their own story and sometimes all they needed was someone to talk to that would listen. For some of them that was me.

With my ass ready to freeze off and not sure what else to say I closed the door and shuffled around to the drivers side. Logan stood there watching me, unbothered by the cold. Now that I was further away from him I couldn't see his face but I could feel his eyes on me.

"I'll see you soon?" The question came out a bit more hopeful than I intended.

"Yeah." Logan nodded taking a step back. "Goodnight Olivia." The way he said my name made me shiver. Thankfully I could blame it on the cold and not his voice.

"Goodnight Logan."

Before I could do something stupid I slide into my car and started it, blasting the heat. Normally I waited for it to heat up but I could still see Logan standing there watching me. Awkwardly I waved at him through my front windshield before putting it in reverse.

Driving towards the shelter I looked in my rear view mirror and watched Logan stand there, his form a pillar in the night, until he faded from view.