All Chapters of The Rogue Next Door: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

Cole I don’t chase. At least that’s what I’ve always told myself. Girls come to me. They always have. I don’t send the first text. I don’t sit around wondering what someone’s thinking. I don’t stare at a door after a girl walks out of it like my entire night just left with her. And I definitely don’t stand in the middle of a crowded bar replaying a kiss over and over again like some lovesick idiot. Yet somehow that’s exactly what I’m doing. The music is still blasting through the speakers. People are laughing. Someone is attempting karaoke and absolutely butchering it. The bar is alive around me. But all I can think about is Maya. The way she marched over here. The way she looked at Savannah. The way she grabbed my face and kissed me like she’d finally gotten tired of fighting whatever was happening between us. Most people probably thought it was about jealousy. Maybe part of it was. But standing here now, I can’t stop thinking about what happened before that. The

Logan I saw her before she saw me. That wasn’t unusual. Maya wasn’t the kind of person who walked into a room expecting attention. She never entered a space like she owned it. She slipped into it quietly. Found a corner. Made herself comfortable without demanding anyone notice her. Most people overlooked that. I didn’t. It was one of the first things I noticed about her after moving into the house. One of the first things I liked. But today? Nobody was overlooking Maya. The second she stepped into the coffee shop, I noticed people looking. Not staring. Not openly. Just enough lingering glances to make it obvious something had changed. A couple girls whispered. Two hockey players nudged each other. Someone actually looked between Maya and their phone. And immediately I knew. The rumors had spread. I leaned against the wall near the entrance and watched for a moment. Partly because I didn’t want to ambush her. Partly because I was curious. Then Savannah Morgan w

Maya I’m losing my mind. That’s it. That’s the only explanation I have left. There is no logical reason for my life to look like this right now. None. I push through the front door and let it slam behind me harder than necessary. My bag lands on the kitchen table with a heavy thud, and I immediately start pacing. Back and forth. Back and forth. Like maybe if I walk enough, my brain will eventually catch up and explain what the hell is happening. Yesterday, my biggest concern was a philosophy paper. A paper. A boring, normal, predictable paper. I was worried about deadlines and grades and making enough money at work to cover groceries next week. Normal problems. Problems that made sense. Now? Now I’m apparently stuck in the middle of whatever fresh disaster the universe decided to drop on my doorstep. I stop in the middle of the kitchen and throw my hands into the air. “What even is this?” The words echo off the walls. No answer. Rude. Because honestly, I don’t ev

Logan Cole Ryder doesn’t change. At least, that’s what everyone says. You meet him once and you know exactly what you’re getting. Confident. Impulsive. Relentless. The kind of guy who sees a wall and decides the best solution is to run straight through it. And honestly? Most of the time it works. People move. Opportunities appear. Doors open. Ryder gets what he wants. Which is why the guy sitting two rows down from me right now is making me question everything I thought I knew about him. I lean back in my seat and glance across the lecture hall again. He’s taking notes. Actually taking notes. Notebook open. Pen moving. Paying attention. The quarterback who normally treats academics like an annoying side quest is sitting there writing down every word Professor Daniels says. I blink once. Then again. Nope. Still happening. Beside me, Nate looks up from his phone. “What?” I nod toward Cole. “Look.” Nate follows my gaze. A second later he starts laughing. “N

Cole The second the door opens, I know. I don’t need Maya to tell me. I don’t need an explanation. One glance past her shoulder is enough. Logan. Standing in her kitchen like he belongs there. Like this is normal. Like showing up in her life has become part of his daily routine. Something sharp twists in my chest before I can stop it. Jealousy. Ugly. Immediate. Completely irrational. I hate it. Mostly because I’ve never really felt it before. Not like this. Not over a girl. Not over anyone. For a second, I just stand there staring past her, and Logan meets my gaze from across the room. Calm as ever. Of course he is. The guy probably wakes up calm. Meanwhile, I feel like somebody poured gasoline directly into my bloodstream. I drag my attention back to Maya before she notices any of that. Or worse… Before Logan does. “Hey, Maya.” Her eyes lift to mine. And just like that, everything else fades a little. The jealousy. The irritation. The fact that I walked o