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Landon smiled back. “Thank you.” He turned and left the office. He didn’t have to stop at Miranda’s desk, since she was already at the door waiting for him with a stack of manila file folders. He thanked her as he took them and continued walking.
He kept his composure all the way until he was inside the elevators and the doors closed. Then he jumped and pumped his fist into the air. He wanted to shout, but thought someone might hear him. This was just what he had been hoping for. The next step in his career and moving up in the company.
Back in his office, he set the files down on Allison’s desk. “Guess what he wanted?” Landon said, putting his hands on his hips.
She smiled. “Apparently it wasn’t to fire you.”
“Nope, definitely not. He is making me account manager for Greenway Airlines.”
She gasped. “No way! That’s a big account.”
“Yep. All those long hours and stepping in for the meeting for O’Neal are paying off.”
Allison stood and they high-fived. “Way to go. You deserve it.”
“Thanks. Congratulations to you too. I couldn’t do it without you.”
“You just remember that when it comes time for my Christmas bonus.”
Landon laughed. “Don’t worry. I won’t.” He glanced at his watch. “Oh, but before I forget. Will you put something on my calendar? For the foreseeable future, I need to leave by four forty-five on Thursdays.”
Allison tilted her head and gave him a strange look. “You have a standing date?”
“That’s right. With a six-year-old soccer team.”
“You’re coaching soccer?”
“Well, not exactly, but I might help out. I’m taking Hailey and Kyle’s son Carter to his practices.”
“Oh,” Allison dropped her gaze and her eyes looked sad. “I understand. I’ll put it on your calendar. If anyone asks why you can’t meet, I’ll say you’re doing community service. That sounds nice.”
“That’s perfect, thanks.” Landon picked up the folders and sauntered into his office. He plopped them on the desk and settled into his seat. Thursdays he could leave early, but tonight he would be staying late getting up to speed on these projects.
Oh man, he had planned to ask Hailey about Friday night board game night. He sighed, maybe he could do that next week. Or he could ask about the football game tomorrow. There would still be time for that, but he had work to do.
He had helped Hailey last night, and it was a satisfying feeling. Tonight, he could turn his focus back to the career he worked so hard for.
8
Hailey stood in the kitchen Saturday evening staring at the unbelievable sight in her living room. The Tennessee Volunteers were up by just three points in the last quarter of the game. That wasn’t the part she had trouble believing. All her kids were crowded on the couch around Landon. He had called that morning and asked if they were going to watch the football game. Then just before game time, he showed up with wings and a tray of fruits and cheese. The wings were takeout, and the tray was one of the plastic kind from the grocery store, but he had done it all by himself.
Hailey pulled out chips and dip and made the kids peanut butter and jelly sandwiches while they all watched the game. Now the kids were on the edge of their seats, yelling and cheering at the TV.
She filled her glass with water before returning to her seat in the arm chair. The game was a nail-biter, but she couldn’t drag her eyes away from the group on the couch. Surely Landon could be watching the game with other friends, or enjoying it in the quiet of his bachelor pad with the giant TV. She furrowed her eyebrows as she looked at him. Why did he look like he was having the time of his life right here?
Her attention was drawn back to the game as the team inched toward the goal line. With just ten seconds left in the game, they managed to score a touchdown and seal the victory.
The kids jumped and screamed and shook their tiny pom-poms in the air. Hailey laughed watching their antics. She let them carry on for several minutes before she looked at the clock. “Alright, it’s time for everyone to get baths and showers. I let you stay up late enough, and we have church in the morning.”
With groans of disappointment, the kids made their way down the hall.
Landon let out a long sigh as he sat back down on the couch. “Phew, that was fun.”
Hailey looked over at him. “The kids certainly seemed to enjoy it. And by kids, I mean all of you.”
He laughed. “I don’t mind being a kid about a game like that. It’s fun to watch when it’s a close game.”
“That is the best kind of game, isn’t it? It’s not too exciting to watch a one-sided score the whole time.”
