Misconduct

nineteen | the aftermath

The other two erupt into chuckles and jeers at the suggestion. "I never thought I'd see the day Logan Romano was simping."

"Oh I saw it coming from a mile away." Jonas laughs, his hands on my shoulders. "He has that lost puppy look on his face every time Nova's within a 100 foot radius."

"Once a simp, always a simp, buddy. I knew you had it in you." Grey congratulates me like a proud mother.

"I'm not a goddamn simp." I groan, swatting away both his and Jonas' grabby hands. "I'm just... tired. I want to relax, that's all."

Liar.

"Dude." Greyson deadpans. "I've known you for 9 years. And not once have you prioritised 'relaxing' over getting blackout drunk."

I scoff at him and pull out my phone to avoid this conversation escalating any further. "It's called maturing, Hastings. You should try it some time."

I attempt to drown out their chides and mocking as I scroll down my unanswered text messages.

3 messages from Mom- all checking up on me. 1 from my Dad- I won't be answering that for at least a week and 2 from my little sister, Gabi. It's just some bullshit about this tiktok edit she saw of me.

The team group chat is spammed with messages, per usual, and my old college team's chat has about the same number of texts.

The common denominator in both? Greyson loves-to-flood-your-notifications Hastings.

I scroll past both chats and finally reach the message I've been itching to answer since it lit up my lock screen this morning.

Goldilocks☀️: You have the cutest puppy EVER
Goldilocks☀️: we're besties 🫶🫶
Goldilocks☀️: *attachment: 1 image*

I smile down at my phone and click on the picture she sent. It's a closeup selfie of Nova, her blonde hair all unruly and scraped back into a messy braid, with Stanley grinning right in front of her.

He has his favourite toy clutched between his teeth and it's clear from the picture that they're lying on her bed together.

The smile on her face is sleepy and relaxed but still nothing short of dazzling.

That might be why my fingers have a mind of their own as I save the photo to my camera-roll and make it my screensaver without a second thought.

Maybe I am a fucking simp.

And as though my mind truly has powers, the phone starts to ring. And who else but little miss sunshine is on the other line.

* Incoming call Goldilocks☀️ *

"Uh oh, Logan's in troubleee." Greyson sings, obviously sneaking a peak at the contact showing up on my screen.

"Well I think it's sweet that she's keeping tabs on you. It's nice to know that your wild ass is on a tight leash, you know?" Jonas snickers and rests his feet up on the centre console.

"Can you two shut the hell up now?" I snap before sliding the answer button across and bringing the phone up to my ear.

"Hey, Blondie."

The guys all coo at my greeting but I'm patiently waiting for her reply. But all I hear is deep, laboured breathing.

"Logan..."

My own breath falters, my stomach twisting itself into a knot just at the sound of my name. The car falls deathly silent as the group immediately pick up on my fallen face and worried expression.