Chapter 8
Landon
The door closes. I am utterly disgusted with myself.Coward.Kate stood there, giving me every chance to ask her not to go, to tell her how I feel. I could almost feel her fiery anger shooting flames out of her eyeballs when she realized I wasn’t going to do it. She is angry and rightfully so. Why the hell can I not just say it?Kate, I am crazy about you.Simple as that. I run my fingers through my hair and grab a beer from the fridge. It’s going to be a long night wondering if she’s enjoying herself with him.
Trevor...I growl. What a fuckwad. The past week has really changed how I look at him. I just thought he was a playboy, but no, he’s a territorial bastard, and he doesn’t want to settle for one girl. At practice today, I overheard him telling Jace that he and Kristy got it on last night after he left the bar.
Figures...I didn’t have the heart to say anything to Kate. I didn’t want to come off as “that guy” who picks at the other one out of what seems like jealousy. She’d likely say that I’m just saying that so she wouldn’t go out with him. He’s no good for her, and he is likely going to piss her off in spectacular fashion. I absolutely hate that he’s going to hurt her, but saying anything isn’t going to help. She’ll have to see it for herself, and I’ll do as I said and be here for her when it happens.Fucking Trevor...Nopromises that I won’t find a way to break his face with a baseball when it all goes down. I decide to turn onSex/Lifeand catch up on a few more episodes while she’s out.
Kate
It’s eleven when I get home. Immediately, I’m greeted with lamplight, and the TV is on. Netflix’s “Are you still watchingSex/Life?”is posted in the middle of the screen. I snicker to myself and shake my head as I round the back of the couch to find a sleeping Landon. Aww, he watched my girly shit and fell asleep trying to wait up for me. He looks troubled in his sleep, and that bothers me. I stand there chewing on my thumbnail, pondering how to wake him up while enjoying the sight as his arm stretches up above his head, causing his shirt to ride up and give me a peek at those delectable abs and cut lines. I shiver at what this man’s body does to me.
I choose not to be creepy and rustle his shoulder to stir him.
“Landon, you passed out on the couch. Let’s get you in bed.” I nudge softly to wake him more.
He groans and rolls to his side, rubbing sleep from his eyes to really see me as I sit down on the empty space next to him.
“Did you have a nice time?” he whispers and looks around the room, unable to look me in the eye.
“Do you really want me to answer that?” I ask, lifting my brow.
“No, not really if it includes his lips touching any part of you.”
I smile at the gruffness of his voice, and my heart warms a little with the knowledge that he doesn’t want Trevor’s lips anywhere near my body.
“I’m not that kind of girl for just any guy,” I pointedly admit to him.
“I know that.” He smiles at me sleepily. “Doesn’t mean the fucker wouldn’t try.” He scowls at the idea, and it takes willpower not to giggle.
“So, did you enjoy my show?” I eye the TV then bat my eyelashes back at him. He blushes a bit, but then rolls with it.
“It’s actually pretty good.” He stands up and stretches and his ‘I just woke up’ boner is practically in my face. I gulp and clear my throat. That’s impressive.
“Shit, sorry.” He adjusts his cock and smirks knowingly at me, not really sorry at all, then strolls down the hall into his room, and I follow. I don’t know why.
He crawls into bed and lifts the cover for me, signaling it’s okay for me to come snuggle. I
say, “just a minute,” and go throw on my loose night shirt and shorts. I run my toothbrush through my mouth and use a makeup remover cloth to wipe off my makeup. I can’t do two nights in a row without washing it off before bed. I pause to look at myself in the mirror.I’m crawling into his bed.We’ve snuggled plenty of times over the years, but now that we’ve kind of been blurring that friendship line, I don’t know what to think.
I shyly walk back into his room, and he’s laying on his back on the pillow with his arm out in my spot. He left hisshirt on, which is not his norm, but I guess he’s respecting me in a way. He peeks an eye open to see if I’m there and smirks, patting the spot next to him. I crawl in, and he scoops me over to him. I sigh as I lay my head on his chest and hear a rumble of contentment from him as he locks his arm around my waist.
“No funny business...” he mumbles, already half asleep, and I smile at old memories of Landon and I curled up in my bed at home, just like this. He would sneak through my window on nights his parents would argue and he just wanted to get away. I was his safe space. I’d always say “No funny business” before he’d drift right off to sleep. My sweet Landon.
I woke up around four this morning with him spooning me. His face was nuzzled into my hair, and he was lightly snoring. He didn’t even flinch when I slipped out and went pee. I didn’t want to disturb him by crawling back in, so I went back to my own bed. It felt good knowing that my presence helped him fall into a restful sleep.
I am restless as I lay there and think about my situation. Trevor seems nice and all, but he doesn’t make my heart race. His presence doesn’t make me stop and take notice like when Landon enters the room. When Trevor looks at me, I see interest and want, but it’s somehow not enough. I don’t feel like he wants me enough for it to consume him. I’ll give it a few more days, but I don’t have much hope for this, whatever this is. My alarm goes off at seven, and I never made it back to sleep.
Two weeks later, I am finishing up my current art project on my bed when my phone buzzes with an incoming text.
Landon: Hey, Tommy puked in my car last night, and I had to take it in to get detailed. He gave me a ride to school and practice, but would you mind picking me up after?
I roll my eyes because that sounds so like something Tommy would manage to do given the impression he’s made with me.
Me: Yuck. That sounds like a disgusting mess. He owes you a couple beers. And, yes, I can come get you.
Buzz.
