Chapter Thirteen
Shocked.
Stunned.
Speechless.
I absolutely cannot believe that Landon is here. What in the world compelled him to fly all the way out here and try to “surprise” me when I caught him with his best man’s sister TWO WEEKS AGO?!
But I’m not good at angry reactions. Blame my mother for that one. I’ve been taught to keep my emotions in check, never overreact, never cause a scene. So I swallow down the burning rage and replace it with a blank expression.
I still haven’t responded to Landon’s claim that this surprise was “just what we needed.” Hah! As if he knows what I need.
“I’ve got all these bags,” he says, gesturing at his suitcase on the ground and the briefcase that’s still on the front desk. “Can I put these in the room?” His eyes twinkle with suggestion.
There is NO WAY I’m going to let him into my room. Those bags are staying here. “How about we go have some breakfast first? I’m starving.” I blink innocently at him, fluttering my lashes in a way that always gets me what I want.
“I don’t mind keeping an eye on your bags here,” Tyler says from the desk.
Landon keeps his gaze on me, and I can tell that he’s trying to figure out how he can gain the upper hand in this situation. “How about we go up to the room and order room service?” He flashes his signature smile, the one that used to make me weak in the knees.
Not anymore.
I shrug. “They don’t have room service here.” A total lie, but I’ll risk being struck by lightning for the sake of not allowing Landon in my room. I make wide eyes at Tyler, like please go along with this.
Tyler looks confused at first. I’m not sure if he understands the game I’m playing here, the one I have to play. There’s more at stake here than just sending away my ex-fiancé. There are family relationships and reputations all riding on this. I have to make him believe I want to spend time with him, so when I tell him that this was a huge mistake on his part, he doesn’t go home and badmouth me to everyone.
Because I have a feeling that half the reason he’s here…is my parents.
Landon looks over his shoulder at Tyler, who recovers from his confusion and nods in confirmation. “She’s right, no room service. Sorry about that. We’re working on increasing our staff.”
Landon huffs. “What a dump. Why did we choose this place for our honeymoon?” He shakes the frustrated expression off his face. “All right. We’ll leave my bags here and go get breakfast.”
“Great.” I beam at him. “Let’s go get some breakfast burritos next door. They’re delicious.” I loop my arm through his and lead him through the door, not sparing a glance at Tyler in the chance that Landon catches the longing in my eyes.
We walk into the restaurant and order our burritos. I try to pay for mine, but Landon insists on paying for both. We sit at one of the tables outside overlooking the ocean while we wait for our orders.
I don’t want to start the conversation first. I want him to explain why he’s here.
After a few moments of awkward silence, he clears his throat. “You cut your hair.”
I nod. “It was time to shed the excess weight.” I give him a pointed look.
He doesn’t get it. “So, how has your week been so far?”
I smirk. “Great, actually.”
His eyes widen. He wasn’t expecting that. “Oh, really?”
I nod. “I’ve had a wonderful time. I spent the first few days relaxing by the pool, went on the art walk a couple nights ago, and then to Disneyland yesterday.”
He snorts. “Disneyland?”
“Yep.” I smile at him. After the amazing day I had yesterday, I refuse to feel ashamed for enjoying something he thinks is immature and silly.
“Hmm.” His eyes move from mine to the ocean behind me.
What was he expecting? That I’d be wallowing away, unable to stop the tears from soaking my pillow?
But…is that what I would have been doing if I hadn’t run into Tyler?
Not that I would have been crying over Landon. He’s not worth any tears. But it was the realization that the life I had envisioned over the last few years was completely gone.
With Landon sitting here in front of me, I realize how ridiculous that was. Being with him would have meant a life of unhappiness.
And on the other hand, I have Tyler asking what would make me happy…and then doing everything he can to make it happen.
The server comes with our burritos, asks if we need anything, then disappears back into the restaurant after we say we’re fine. Landon picks up his burrito and takes a bite.
But I’d rather get this conversation over with, and apparently Landon isn’t getting to the point. I place my hands on the table. “Landon, why are you here?”
He chews a few times and swallows. “I made a mistake. I’m here to make amends.” He sets down his burrito and grabs my hand. I nearly recoil at his touch. How was I ever attracted to him? But I hold myself back, not wanting to cause a scene. Not yet.
He continues. “We belong together, Brooke. You and me, we just make sense. I was stupid and had a lapse in judgment?—”
“Two lapses in judgment,” I interject. “And who’s to say how many there were that I didn’t see?”
He ducks his head, feigning shame. “I’ve done things I’m not proud of. But I’ve seen the error of my ways. I know you deserve better than that.”
“You’re right. I do.” I pull my hand away and cross my arms over my chest. I’ve let this go on long enough. “And it’s not you.”
“What?”
“I deserve better than you.”
He snorts a laugh. “Who’s better than me? I’m successful. I make a ton of money. Our families run in the same circles. I can give you everything you want.”
I glance back at the hotel, thinking of the one most important thing he could never offer. “Not everything.”
“What do you mean? What do you want?”
I can’t believe how different those words sound coming out of Landon’s mouth. It’s the same question Tyler has been asking me all week—what do I want—but from Landon, it sounds challenging and accusatory, where Tyler says it with genuine concern and consideration.
And that is all I need to conclude this meeting.
I stand from my seat. “I’m sorry you came all the way out here for a conversation that could have been a phone call. Please don’t call or contact me again.”
I’m a little disappointed that I won’t be eating the burrito in front of me, but I need to leave, and fast. I grab my purse and take a step, but Landon stands so quickly that he knocks his metal chair over, causing all the other patrons to stare at us.
Landon grabs my arm. “Please, Brooke. I can’t go back home without you.”
I shake my arm free from his grasp. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I just…can’t.”
I put a hand on my hip, waiting for an actual explanation.
Landon runs a hand through his hair, a gesture I used to think was endearing. Now I realize it’s when he’s caught in a corner and doesn’t know what to say.
“My parents…and your parents…” His voice trails off, waving a hand around in the air, and he shrugs.
I fill in the blanks. “They told you to come get me.”
He nods.
I laugh. I’m not surprised. “That’s pathetic.” I study him carefully. “But why did you agree? What did they offer you?”
I wait for his response, but his face is expressionless.
“It couldn’t be money,” I say, thinking out loud. “Or a house or a boat…” I snap my fingers when it comes to me. “Green Pines. My dad said he’d get you into the country club.”
He doesn’t say anything, but the muscle in his jaw flexes to confirm my conclusion.
“You know what? It doesn’t matter,” I say. “Whatever it is, you won’t get it, because I’m not going anywhere with you.” I watch him for another moment, then give him a quick nod. “Goodbye, Landon.”
His face turns red, but I’m done with him. I turn on my heel and head back to the hotel—and back to Tyler.
I findhim at the pool, his back to me, restocking towels for the guests. My heart warms at the sight. When would Landon ever do something like this? Tyler owns this flipping place, but he isn’t above the labor that others might consider menial.
I’m so giddy from telling Landon off, I skip to Tyler and wrap my arms around his waist. He jumps in surprise, turning around to face me. “Hey, Brooke.”
“Hey.” I beam up at him. “How are you?”
He nods. “Good.” He presses his lips together, then gently pulls my arms off his body. “I probably shouldn’t be…”
“Oh, sure.” I take a step back. “Probably not a good look for the guests.”
He nods again, looking around the pool. Why isn’t he meeting my eyes?
“How was breakfast?” he asks.
I roll my eyes. “Landon is so dumb. He tried to convince me to come back home with him.”
Tyler furrows his brow. “And?”
“And I told him to shove it. I’m not going anywhere with him. Only an idiot would get back together with a cheating liar like him.”
Tyler observes me. “But what if he wasn’t a cheating liar?”
I shake my head, confused. “What do you mean?”
“What if he had everything else—the looks, the clothes, the status—but he wasn’t a cheating liar? Would you want him then?”
“What…what are you getting at?”
He heaves a sigh. “When he was here with you, I couldn’t help thinking how perfect you two look together. You fit. You’re…” He waves a hand up and down, gesturing at my body. “You’re perfect, Brooke. Stunning, sophisticated, classy. And he’s the same.”
“Only on the outside!” I protest.
Tyler glances around. “We shouldn’t have this conversation here.” He grabs my hand and leads me to his office, closing the door behind us.
“Tyler, what is going on?” I ask. “We had the best day yesterday. And seeing Landon, being reminded how close I was to a life of misery, made everything clear.” I step closer to him, placing my hands on his chest. “I want you.”
His heart pounds under my hands, and he slides his hands around my waist, pulling me close to him. Leaning his forehead on mine, our fast breaths mingle together. I tilt my head up, ready to press a kiss to his lips, one centimeter away, when he takes a step back.
“For how long?” he asks.
I’m still dazed from being so close to him. It takes a moment for his words to register. “What do you mean?”
His brown eyes sear into mine. “How long will you want me for?”
I don’t know how to respond. That’s one of those life-altering questions. What I want to say is that I’ll want him forever. That I know what life is like without him, and being back here reminds me of what’s important.
He takes my lack of response in a different direction, though. “We had fun five years ago. No, more than fun. We fell in love five years ago. But that wasn’t enough to make you stay. So how can I know you won’t just leave again?”
“Because I know what I want now. And back then, it was just about making everyone else happy. But that’s not the life I want.”
He shakes his head. “I wish I could believe that.” He steps toward me again, slipping one hand around my waist. “I wish I could believe that you’d want to stay long enough for this to be real.”
“It is real,” I whisper.
He searches my eyes, then leans down and presses a feather-light kiss on my lips. My nerves tingle, and for a moment I allow myself to hope that I’ve gotten through to him.
But before I can deepen the kiss, he pulls away. “Let me know if you need anything during the rest of your stay.” He steps around me, opens the door, and walks out of his office without another look behind.
I want to cry. I want to fall to pieces on the floor and lament my broken heart.
But I won’t do that, and for two reasons:
1. I am Brooke Westfield, and I will not give up.
2. I need to find a way to prove to Tyler that I’m staying with him for the long haul.