18. Landry
CHAPTER 18
landry
Blake’s phone buzzes again in his lap, and it slides onto the floor when we take the next turn sharply. I instinctively lean over to pick it up, forgetting what he’d said earlier about Loren’s last few messages. But once her name flashes across the screen alongside a tiny, thankfully incomprehensible image, I look away and gingerly slip it into the front pocket of Blake’s button-down shirt. He hums and shifts his position to lean against the door.
At least he’s not texting other women, right? I mean, I can’t be the only one surprised to hear him admit they’re waiting until their wedding night this time around, but his drunken declarations do seem pretty sincere. It’s not like he’s done anything but dote on Loren and the babies for the past few months, so I suppose he could mean everything he’s saying.
I sigh, teetering on the edge of the line between loving and hating my future brother-in-law. But there’s one bit that’s keeping me from throwing in the towel and admitting that I approve of Blake the Snake marrying my sister.
You have no idea what it’s like for us, do you?
I can’t shake the way he looked at me as if I was the one to be pitied when he said it. Like he and Loren share something so undeniable that I’ll never understand the secret to life unless I follow his lead and allow myself to fall hopelessly in love.
Yeah, okay.
That’s why he’s the one spending his bachelor party bawling like a baby in a car full of grown men, not to mention the celibacy part. I cast another poignant look over at him before I make myself comfortable and close my eyes.
You don’t understand the power that woman has over me. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her.
The memory of Daisy’s big, green eyes staring up at me while I slip a gold band onto her finger floods my mind. I groan and drag a hand over my face, trying to stop myself from reliving any more of that morning—especially the part when I involuntarily pulled her in for a very authentic, union-sealing kiss.
My own phone buzzes this time, and I sit up to check it. I’m grateful for the distraction until I realize it’s a picture of Daisy and Loren, their faces pressed cheek-to-cheek while Loren holds up her gift.
Daisy
How’s it going over there? You guys having any fun?
Landry
The groom just cried himself to sleep on my shoulder.
Daisy
So, best night of your life, then?
Landry
I’ve had better.
Looks like you’re having a good time, though.
Daisy
Your sisters might be the most entertaining people I’ve ever met.
And I’m learning a LOT from Tenley.
Landry
Oh no. Please don’t let them corrupt you.
Daisy
Too late …
Think you’ll be able to bring me home when you get back, or should I catch a ride with Lilley while I can?
Landry
It sounds like you should get out of there before any more of your innocence is compromised.
Daisy
Oh, stop it. We’re only looking at fancy panties. Nothing to be afraid of.
Landry
Daisy
I think I’ll wait for you to get back. You know, just in case you might be missing me as much as I miss you.
My chest tightens, and I swallow hard.
Landry
Have you been drinking?
Daisy
Don’t get mad, but …
I may have sipped a glass of wine.
Landry
You shouldn’t be mixing too much alcohol with your meds. You know better.
Daisy
Dude, don’t kill my vibe.
I accidentally chuckle out loud, then I look around nervously and make sure no one noticed before I continue.
Landry
Since when do you have a drinking vibe?
Daisy
I just wanted to be normal for one night.
I frown down at the phone. I know she only wants to be one of the girls, and even though having a drink wasn’t the smartest choice, I guess I can’t blame her this time.
Landry
Do you feel okay?
Daisy
I’m great. I promise.
Okay, I might be a little sad. But that’s only because everyone else has been trading stories about their husbands, and I can’t talk about mine.
Landry
I’ll be there to pick you up soon.
Daisy
Thank you, fake husband/real roomie/accidental bestie.
“S’okay, Doc,” Blake murmurs beside me. “Your secret’s safe with me.”
I furrow my brow and wipe the stupid smile off my face. “What secret?”
He smiles, his eyes still closed. “You’ve been driving Miss Daisy,” he intones.
“What?”
He laughs shortly and attempts to open his eyes again. “Maybe you do know.”
“Know what?”
“You can’t say no to her, can you?”
I scoff at his accusation, but my heart rate quickens. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Better yet, you don’t want to say no,” he adds with a yawn. “That’s how it starts, though, just a little bit of ‘I’ll make sure she has what she needs’ and one or two thoughts of ‘gah, she’s cute.’ Next thing you know, you’re moving her into your house and sniffing her hair when no one’s looking. Then it’s all over. It’s too late. You belong to her, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
“What the hell are you trying to say?” I ask again, but he’s already drifting back to sleep. So I slip my phone into my pocket and pout in silence … for all of about five minutes.
Dammit .
Landry
Think you can hold onto what’s left of your virtue until I can get there to rescue you?
Daisy
Are you asking me to save myself for you?
A wave of heat flashes over me, and I blink down at my phone. Thankfully, another message pops up before I have to dwell too long on the last one.
Daisy
Sorry. That was the wine talking.
I smirk as I type in a response.
Landry
Lay off the booze, Blondie. We’ll be back in about thirty minutes.
Daisy
*heart react*
The last leg of our drive feels like it takes forever, but JD manages to get us back to town in one piece. The other guys bid one another good night and express their gratitude for the invitation, leaving JD, Ethan, and me to help Blake stumble into his house.
“ Aaag - ness ! Daddy’s home!” he calls out loudly, and everyone shushes him.
“Are you crazy? You’re going to wake the girls,” Loren comes around to scold him, looking amused. I frown when I don’t see Daisy with her.
“Crazy ‘bout you. Hmm, what are you wearing, Agnes?” Blake asks, regarding her carefully, and I roll my eyes when he calls her by her middle name again.
Loren tightens the belt of a silky robe. “New jammies.”
He sighs and leans in, tugging her closer. “You look amazing, babe.” Then he lets his forehead drop to hers and inhales deeply. I look away when it starts to feel like we’re interrupting a private moment. I notice the rest of the house seems empty as Blake continues, “So sexy. And you smell so freaking good. Like?—”
“All right, Gus Gus, we get it,” JD interrupts him, to my relief. I’m glad I’m not the only one annoyed by their pet names. “Blake’s been waxing poetic about your new nightwear all evening. We don’t need any more details than we’ve already gotten,” he tells Loren.
“Poetry, pour moi ?” she asks Blake as she pulls away, and he shoots her a lazy smirk.
“Hey, where’s Daisy?” I take the opportunity to ask before they get too mushy again.
“Passed out on the couch. She got really sleepy and asked if she could take a nap while she waited,” Loren explains as Blake continues petting her arms and staring at her as if he can’t believe she’s real.
“What? Did she say she was feeling off? She didn’t mention anything about having a seizure, did she?” I ask quickly.
“No,” Loren replies. “She was tired, is all. Maybe a little tipsy.”
“Heh. I’m a little tipsy,” Blake admits.
“Yeah. We know,” I mutter, coming around to the sofa to find Daisy lying on her side. Her hair is messier than usual, and her cheeks are flushed. I kneel down beside her for a quick assessment. Her breathing seems normal, and she isn’t showing any signs of having an episode.
“Daisy,” I begin quietly. “Hey, are you all right?”
Her mouth curls up into a smile, and she takes a deep inhale. “Landry?” she rasps with her eyes still shut, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like the way my name sounded on her lips.
I clear my throat. “I’m here. Are you okay?”
“Mm-hmm,” she hums, stretching her limbs. “Just ready for bed.”
“You hear that?” Loren intones behind us. “She wants you to take her to bed, Lando.”
I glare at Ethan when he laughs. “Shut up, Lo.”
Daisy finally opens her eyes and reaches out to cup my cheek, making me swallow hard. “It’s okay. She’s just teasing.”
“I know,” I say, clenching my jaw as she caresses it.
“Are you sure you didn’t miss me?” she asks quietly, but I’m frozen. Her expression falls when she realizes I’m not going to answer her the way she wants. “I’m sorry. Can we go home now?”
“Yeah,” I say on a sigh, but we’re interrupted by the sound of my sister squealing behind me.
I turn in time to see Blake sweeping her up into his arms. “That’s it. I’m done,” he declares.
“What are you doing?” Loren asks, giggling.
“Taking you to bed, woman,” Blake replies plainly. “You’ve been teasing me all night. Hell, you’ve been teasing me for the past ten months, and then eighteen years before that.” He leans in and plants a sloppy, tongue-heavy kiss on her, and I choke back my disgust. “And I might just drop dead before I get the chance to bury myself in your?—”
“Okay, I’ll be taking that,” JD steps in and pulls Loren from his arms while Ethan snickers nearby.
“Nooo,” Blake whimpers and stomps his feet. “It’s mine!”
“Not yet,” JD tells him like he’s talking to a child. “One more week before you can open your big-boy gifts, remember?”
Loren snorts from her place in JD’s arms now, and I’m a little jealous. I’m supposed to be the big brother helping her make good decisions. Then I look down into Daisy’s sad eyes, and I realize my sister can’t be my priority anymore. She doesn’t need me the way Daisy does.
“I’ll take her,” JD says to Ethan. “You got Blake?”
Ethan nods and steers Blake in the direction of his own bedroom, his protests growing more muffled as they disappear from sight.
“But I’m not dressed for a Coach JD tuck-in,” Loren whines.
“I’ll find you a flannel nightgown when we get to your room … and a chastity belt,” he mumbles and takes her down the hallway.
I offer a hand to Daisy once we’re alone. But she only stares at it, her eyelids drooping. “I’m sorry. It was getting late, so I took my medicine,” she slurs. “I think I might be stuck here.”
I sigh and lean down to scoop her up, and she struggles to wrap her arms around my neck. I don’t wait for the others to return before I carry her out to my Jeep. I lay her across the backseat, and she rolls over to her side, making it impossible for me to buckle her in. So I take my time driving us home.
Getting her out proves more difficult than I planned. From the way her head flops limply over my arm as we walk inside, I suspect the alcohol strengthened the effects of her medication. I bring her straight to her bed, pull the sheets back, and place her down gently before I drag the covers up over her.
She rolls to her side again and grunts when her hair seemingly gets caught beneath her shoulder, so I reach in to draw the full length of it out behind her. I don’t think she drank enough to make herself sick, but just in case, I quickly pull her hair back into a makeshift braid and secure it with a hair tie I find on her nightstand.
She smiles and sighs in her sleep, and I turn to leave her there when something shiny catches my eye. I creep closer and reach out to examine the ring dangling from a ribbon on the wall, my chest expanding the second I realize it’s her wedding band—the one I placed on her finger the day I married her.
I’d wait a lifetime for her, because she’s it for me. She’s my person.
I scoff when Blake’s words echo in my head once more. Then I drop the ring before I hurry off to my own bedroom.