Chapter 11
Benson
“Is he really not coming?”
Parker sounds as upset as I feel. I know watching Marcus be a dick like that had to be hard on him.
Hell, it was hard on me. And it was hard on Parker.
I was hoping we could all hang out and enjoy each other’s company.
It would have been nice for the three of us to commiserate over assholes, order some pizza and cookies, and spend the night chilling.
Sure, Parker said in their texts that they didn’t want a sleepover, but they also didn’t outright deny it out loud, either.
I sigh. “I guess not.”
I unlock my phone again, checking to see if there’s a message. There isn’t, and there hasn’t been for over an hour. I guess I thought maybe he’d come around, but the longer the night stretches on, the less faith I have.
“Well,” Parker says, slumping on the couch.
They haven’t even wanted to turn the TV on in case Landon decided to show up, and that warmed my heart.
Parker laid a pretty clear line in the sand the day we tried to hook up, but I can’t help but want to be around them.
They have a magnetic pull. The same way that Landon does.
The three of us couldn’t be more different on paper, but there’s something about the three of us together that just feels like magic.
We click. “I was hoping he would change his mind.”
“Aww, Cotton Candy, are you pouting?”
They glare at me. “I might be. What’s it to you?”
I shake my head with a smile. “Nothing.” Especially because I want to pout too.
“Text him again,” Park says, sitting up and peering at me with their bright-blue eyes.
I’m already pulling my phone out. That look is gonna be the death of me, I swear.
I type another message.
Me
Parker misses you. Please come.
Parker’s phone dings. “What did you say?”
“That you miss him.”
They twist around to face me fully, laughing a bit. “No, you didn’t.”
I turn my phone around, holding it out so they can see the message I sent. Parker’s jaw drops. “I sure did.” I can’t help my proud smile. They’re honestly adorable.
I feel like I’m playing a constant game of Keep Away with my heart with these two. Landon, with his bright, earnest eyes, and Parker, with their spunky sass, always seem to disarm me and make me crave more.
“I can’t believe you would do that.”
“Is it a lie?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
Parker sighs. “No. Ugh. What is wrong with you two, huh? How did I get so needy and codependent like this?”
A loud laugh bursts from my chest. “Well, I don’t know, Cotton Candy.”
“I hate you for it.”
This time the pout is even more intense, their full bottom lip sticking out. My breath catches in my chest. It should be a crime for one person to be so damn beautiful.
“What?” Parker asks, catching my gaze and raising an eyebrow. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Just thinking.”
They roll their eyes. “What, pray tell, could you possibly be thinking about with that look on your face?”
“How beautiful you are.”
The snark and humor drain from their eyes instantly. “What?”
“I said what I said.” And I mean it too. Fuck, they’re stunning.
“You can’t just say things like that,” Parker whispers, looking away.
I never would have thought a simple compliment would have them looking so dejected, and it makes my heart pulse heavily in my chest. I’m opening my mouth to apologize when a knock sounds.
Parker and I make eye contact, and they jump up, rushing to the door. I stand, following, and when they open it, a sheepish Landon is standing on the other side.
His hair is in disarray, his eyes lowered to Parker’s before he looks up and meets mine. He’s got a blanket draped over his shoulder, a pillow tucked against his side under his arm, and he’s wearing sleep pants and a ratty t-shirt.
He raises his shoulder, looking entirely too fucking adorable for words. God, I’m in some trouble here. “I, um—I hope I’m not too late for the sleepover.”
Parker stands there for a second, then slowly backs up and waves Landon in. “No. You’re not too late.”
Park kicks the door shut behind them, and Landon stares at me for a second before making his way to the couch.
He sits down in the middle of it, laying his pillow and blankets across his lap.
Parker snorts, joining him. “Convenient that you brought your own bedding.”
Landon’s cheeks heat, and much like I do, Parker’s eyes roam Landon’s face before a small smile tilts their lips.
“I wasn’t sure if you would have extras,” Landon says, shrugging.
“I do,” Parker says, nodding. “My bed is full of them. I’m a slut for some cozy blankets and pillows.”
I should sit down, but I’m much too entranced by watching them interact. Parker leans slightly into Landon’s space, their knee perilously close to his. Landon doesn’t take his eyes off Parker for even a second. The chemistry between them is electric, and I’m not even sure they see it.
I’m not sure that Landon does, at the very least. And if Parker does, they’re doing their very best to completely pretend it’s not a thing.
“Your bed?” Landon asks, throat bobbing with a heavy swallow.
Parker’s eyes dart between the two of us. “You guys haven’t had a sleepover before? That’s how Darcy and I usually do it. Midnight snacks, something awful on TV, falling asleep sprawled out in bed.” They smirk. “Well, I try to stay contained. Darce is a real cuddle bug.”
I’m sure West is gonna love that. I can’t help but smile, finally joining them on the couch. “So, what you’re saying is not only do we get a sleepover, but we get a sleepover in that massive-ass bed of yours?”
Parker’s eyes fly to mine. “Don’t make it weird, Benson.”
I hold my hands up. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Parker grumbles something under their breath about not believing that for a second, then reaches forward to grab the TV remote. It gets tossed into my lap. “Pick something for us to watch. I’m gonna order pizza.”
I’m scrolling through the options when Landon gasps, catching my attention. I glance over in time to see him whip his head around to Parker. “Your feet are freezing. I can feel them through my pants.”
Parker shrugs. “And you’re warm, hence why I shoved them under there.”
They turn to the TV, not sparing Landon another glance, but he—just like me—is staring down at his leg, where Parker has their feet tucked underneath it. Park rests against the arm of the couch for a second before leaning forward.
They grab the blanket from Landon’s lap, shaking it out and doing their best to drape it over the three of us without untucking their feet from the cozy place they’ve found.
Parker growls. “Alright. Jesus. One of you help me, for fuck’s sake.”
I chuckle, grabbing the edge of the blanket and tugging it over my lap before smoothing it over Landon’s thighs. His muscles tense under my touch, his gaze darting to mine as he licks his lips and his pupils dilate. Yeah, baby, I like my hands on you too.
I pull my hand away as Parker shifts around on the couch, working to get comfortable again.
“What should we watch?” Parker asks. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but no true crime.
And Ben, I fear I’m volunteering you for getting the pizza duty because I’m not moving my feet for at least one to three business hours.
Which means that Landon also can’t move. ”
It would be impossible to miss Landon’s pleased smile. I’m only a little jealous, I swear.
“Alright, I’ll get the pizza. I’m not sure what to watch, though. I usually watch horror and true crime. I’m boring.”
Landon squirms a bit on the couch. “No horror.”
“Why?” Parker asks, squinting.
“Don’t make fun of me, but I’ll end up with nightmares.”
Parker grins, and Landon huffs. “Not making fun, I promise. But you can sleep in the middle then. Ben can sleep by the door. That way, if any axe murderers come in, he can keep us safe.”
I scoff. “Sure, just sacrifice me.”
“You’re the horror fan,” Parker says, shrugging.
Landon laughs, and the sound is music to my fucking ears. “Yeah, what they said.”
Shaking my head, I pick a comedy show. It’s not long before the two of them are cackling. Not a soul alive could wipe the smile off my face right now. I don’t know what I expected when I started hanging out with these two, but it certainly wasn’t this.
I’m not sure I’d trade it for anything, though.
“They’re asleep,” Landon mumbles, sitting stock-still in the middle of the couch like if he moves, it might disrupt the enby angel sleeping beside him.
“I see that.”
“Should we leave?”
Parker’s eyes pop open. “I’m not asleep. I’m just resting my eyelids, and you better not leave.”
I chuckle. “Wouldn’t dream of it, Cotton Candy.”
Parker huffs. “Jesus, you are so annoying.” They stretch out, raising their arms above their head and arching their back as their eyes fall closed. I can’t help but grin.
When they open them, they look between Landon and me. “Okay, so who’s carrying me to bed? I’m too comfy to move on my own.”
Oh, that sounds like a real fun time, actually. But I also want to see how far the chemistry between Landon and Parker goes. My stomach heats. Oh, fuck yeah, I wanna see that for sure.
Parker groans when neither of us answers quickly enough for them. “God, are you really gonna make me walk? What’s wrong? Can’t carry anything but a football?”
“Landon will carry you,” I say.
Landon snaps his head toward me. “I will?”
I nod, but Parker huffs. “Jesus, I wouldn’t wanna put you out.”
They shift, throwing the blanket off their lap, and start to pull their feet out from under Landon’s leg. Landon frowns, eyes widening. Maybe I pushed too far too fast.
Parker puts one foot on the ground, and I’m about to volunteer—if Landon doesn’t want to, I’m not gonna miss my chance—when he shoots to his feet and bends over, wrapping his big arm around Parker’s waist and hauling them up.
To my surprise, Parker squeals, wrapping their arms around Landon’s neck. “Now that’s more like it.”