Chapter 15 #2
I unlocked my SUV, pointing it out to Landon. He opened the front door for Mikayla, making a show of helping her in. She laughed, her cheeks turning red as she relished his attention.
Landon sat behind Mikayla, his gaze locked on the side of my face.
I started the vehicle and turned to look at him. “Where are we going?”
“That’s up to you ladies. Burgers are quicker if there’s something you need to get home for, but I’m up for either. I have no plans for the rest of the night.”
“Italian?” Mikayla suggested.
“I thought you said you have homework.”
Her face scrunched up. “I was hoping you forgot about that.”
“We’ll do Italian next time. Will Work For Burgers is good. They have all kinds. There’s something like six different cheeses and a dozen toppings. They have stuffed burgers, standard burgers, double burgers, even a triple. How hungry are you, Mikayla?”
She giggled. “I’m pretty hungry.”
“Uh oh. I might have underestimated how much the two of you can eat. We might have to go back for more money,” Landon teased.
“Or you can do the dishes,” Mikayla joked.
I chuckled, wondering when I had last heard Mikayla like that.
She was a good kid, kind and quiet at times.
She never joked around with Kyle like she was with Landon.
She did with me sometimes, and it was my favorite thing ever.
To hear her have the same comfort with Landon made me appreciate him that much more.
The two of them bantered back and forth as I drove. It didn’t take long to get to Will Work For Burgers. The three of us walked in, and Landon asked for a table for three.
Mikayla wanted to sit next to Landon, so he ended up across from me at the table. The server took our drink orders, then left us to look over the menu. Every time I looked up, my gaze landed on him.
He looked way too handsome for a man who was supposed to be my friend and who wasn’t looking for the same things I was.
His eyes crinkled at the edges when he laughed at something Mikayla said.
His lips were constantly curled up in a smile.
His hands held his menu carefully, like it was something precious instead of a menu that would be handled by a dozen more people before the end of the day.
The server came back and took our food orders, then left the three of us alone.
“How is rehearsal going?” Landon asked Mikayla.
“It’s so much fun.”
“Good. I was in a few school productions growing up.”
“You were?”
Landon nodded. “I was. I was the star of the chorus in my third grade musical, I was a monkey in fourth grade, and I was a tree in fifth grade.”
Mikayla snorted a laugh. “You know all about showbiz then.”
Landon kept his face neutral. “I do. It started to get to me. I was a terror going into sixth grade.” He shook his head sadly. “Fame was a real problem for me, and my parents said I needed to take a step back and remember who I was.”
“That was probably the right move. You can’t let it go to your head.”
“Definitely not. It makes you hard to be around if you get too cocky.”
Mikayla laughed again. “I can see that happening for you.”
“Mikayla!” I interjected.
She clapped a hand over her mouth. “Sorry.”
Landon shook his head. “Nothing to apologize for. We’re just joking around. I know that.” He looked at me. “I think she has your sense of humor.”
My cheeks heated. I nodded. “She does. But usually she doesn’t let it out around other adults.”
“I’m honored to be someone you feel comfortable around,” Landon told Mikayla.
“I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“No offense at all. I promise. I have a tendency to relive my elementary school fame, and it’s good to have someone around to remind me not to go overboard.”
Mikayla giggled. “You need to watch that.”
Landon smiled. “Definitely. Tell me more about you, Mikayla. What else are you into?”
Mikayla opened up to Landon in a way I’d never seen before.
They went from one topic to another, talking about school and friends and even boys her friends had crushes on.
She turned bright red when Landon asked if she had a boyfriend.
She said she did not have a boyfriend, but there was a boy she liked.
I’d never gotten all that information out of her.
Our food came, and we dug in, declaring the burgers the best we’d ever had.
Landon stole a fry from Mikayla’s plate, and she stole one of his in retaliation. He cut off a piece of his burger for her to try and offered a bite to me. He held out the burger to me, his gaze locked on mine while I leaned forward to take a bite.
His pupils dilated. His nostrils flared. He shifted in his seat.
What was this man doing to me? I hadn’t been able to get him out of my mind all day, and when I had a chance, I spent the evening with him and my kid. Like we were a family.
Mikayla asked if we could go out for ice cream after our burgers, and we ended up in line with other families at The Creamery. Mikayla saw a friend from school and went to talk to them while Landon and I held our place in line.
“I’m buying ice cream,” I told Landon.
“If you insist,” he said. He was quiet for a minute while I stared at the sign listing all the options. “It was really nice to meet Mikayla.”
“She’s a good kid.”
“She has a great mom.”
I smiled at him. “Thanks. She had a rough afternoon.”
“What happened?”
“My ex. She wanted him to come to see her in the musical, and he said he can’t.”
Landon’s eyes went wide. “He told her he’s not coming?”
I shrugged. “He told me. She called him, and he didn’t answer. I called him back, and he said he’s busy. Before I told him when the show is.”
“What an ass.”
“Yep.”
“You both deserve better.”
“Thanks.”
He was quiet for a minute as we moved closer to the window to order. “I’m sorry I ran out of lunch today.”
I forced a smile. “It’s okay.”
He shook his head. “It’s not, though. I knew what this was when we started talking. It’s not fair of me to change the rules now.”
“What do you mean?”
He waited until I looked at him. The desire in his gaze was the same I’d seen from him more than once. It was a look that made me want more from him. That made me want to know what things could be like with him.
It scared the hell out of me.
“I like spending time with you. I want to do it more often. Not just lunches where I teach you how to flirt with other men, but dates where you flirt with me.”
“Landon,” I breathed.
“I know. You don’t feel the same. I just—”
“I… do. I…”
“You do?”
I shrugged. “I—”
“Mom, Carrie’s family said we could sit with them. She’s in the musical with me. Is that cool?” Mikayla asked, interrupting the conversation I was afraid to have.
I forced a smile and nodded. “Of course. Do you know what ice cream you want?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s our turn. Go tell her.” I glanced at Landon, catching the smile lingering on his lips.
He whispered, “We’ll finish this conversation later.”
And I know he felt me shiver against him.
I was in trouble with this man. So much trouble.