As it turns out, my evening will feel longer than I intended. I think I’m with Atticus on this one: I donotwant to spend my day with this lot.
Not that I don’t appreciate them—I do—especially now that the piece of me that has been empty since I fell out with my family suddenly feelsfull—but I hadplans, damnit.
But I watch silently as Landon gives the group a tour, and then I grab my jacket once they’re ready to leave.
As we’re filing out the front door, with Landon standing in front of me so that I get the perfect view of his ass, Abigail slides up next to him, grabbing his hand.
Landon peers down at her, his eyes wide and confused. “Uh, hello.”
“Landon?” she asks quietly, as if making sure she gets it right.
“Yes?”
Abigail peers around her conspiratorially before yanking him down to say so lowly I barely hear it, “I’m not sure what happened to Atty either. You’re not by yourself.”
Landon nods, his expression serious as he replies, “Good. That’s good. I was starting to feel a little left out.”
The way he’s entertaining her seriousness is amusing, and I grin from behind them, even as they’re holding up the line. Everyone else is already getting into their respective cars.
“And,” Abigail adds, checking her surroundings once more. “Don’t tell Julie, but…. I think you’re super pretty.”
Then she’s running, scurrying toward her parents’ car as she squeals. Landon turns and looks at me over his shoulder, his expression one of confusion.
“Why can’t I tell Julie?”
I laugh, shoving my spare helmet—hishelmet—into his hands as I say, “I think Julian will be disappointed that he’s been dethroned as Abigail’s prettiest friend.”
After a brief moment, Landon grins. “Oh, I amdefinitelytelling Julie.”
Dinner goes as smoothly as can be expected. I even meet Cassie, Cameron’s best friend. I have no specific thoughts about her, but she’s notannoying,at least.
And around 6:30, Landon and I rush back home with promises to come by Chastain the following day. Susie is about to arrive in her rental car, and we have to be there to greet her.
My bike rumbles as we pull into the driveway, spotting the ginger-haired girl leaning against the Honda she’s driving. She waves, grinning excitedly.
As soon as we have our helmets pulled off, she’s rambling.
“Landon!Thisis where you’ve been running off to?” she asks. “I mean, I know you had some weird thing going on with Nathaniel, but I thought it was like, hate?”
Landon shrugs, guiding her toward the house as he smiles. “Hate and love can exist together.”
“Love?!” she screeches. “Oh my god! So you’re fully over Julie and totally in love withthisguy?”
It’s not cruel how Susie says it; it’s more of an active disbelief. Like she can’t fathom his heart could shift gears.
“Crazy, right?” Landon teases as he lets us inside.
“Yes, crazy!” Susie shoots me a curious glance before returning her attention to Landon. “I mean, heishot. I’ll give you that.”
AnnnndI think I’ve heard enough. I know Landon intends to explain his depression to her, to help her understand his distance over these past few months, and I don’t want to intrude.
I also don’t want in on whatever gossip I can tell they’re about to delve into.
“I’ll let you guys catch up,” I say, giving Susie a smile as I walk toward our bedroom.
“Thanks!” she beams, grabbing Landon’s hands as they plop down onto the couch. “Now, tell meeverything, Lan.”
Susie doesn’t leave until damn near 10 p.m., but I try to be understanding about it. They had a lot to talk about, and I can tell how important Susie and Julian specifically are to Landon.
