Chapter 47
Grace
The next Monday, I get a text from my brother bright and early. The Waves had won another close one last night, so I’m a little surprised he isn’t still asleep.
LANDON: Rori’s just got back in town from a commercial shoot. Dinner at my house tonight?
I’m hoping this is intended as an olive branch toward Johnson, after the big confrontation. Also, I can’t wait to tell him my plan about running.
GRACE: Okay!
Except then he disappoints me.
LANDON: Don’t bring him. Please.
After I talk to Johnson, and see whether he wants me to push back, he encourages me to go without him.
“It’s okay, Goldie,” Johnson says, a sadness in his eyes. “I believe he’s going to come around.”
I can’t stand it. I plan to talk to Landon tonight. He needs to get over this.
But later on, while I’m at Landon’s house, he finds a way to skirt around the discussion every time I bring it up. When I start to direct our conversation to the topic of Johnson, he remembers he needs to call Aiden, he has to check on the food in the kitchen, etc.
At least when we’re eating, he can’t avoid me, right?
Only when I say, “Landon, I do want to talk about John—” during dinner, he stands up and walks toward his back door.
“Grover needs a walk now. I’ll be a minute.”
I look at Rori with exasperation as he steps outside with Grover.
“This is ridiculous.” I put my fork down. “I completely understand why Landon is hurt. But Johnson is my boyfriend, and I’m so happy with him. My brother has to give us a chance to work through this.”
“Landon—he’s definitely still upset that Johnson lied to him, but I can see the cracks in his anger.” Her voice drops lower. “I even overheard him ask Aiden how Johnson’s recovery was going earlier today.”
Well, that’s something. “It sounds like Johnson made it clear we’re serious when he finally was able to talk to Landon. But here we are, and he’s still uninvited tonight…” My voice trails off.
“Yeah, well, you know your brother. He can take a minute to forgive when someone hurts him.”
She’s right, as I think about it. I know he ignored her first apology text after she regretted their breakup.
His reaction is probably rooted in how our parents’ never took accountability for all the damage they did to us kids, period.
So his default coping mechanism is shutting down the entire line of communication.
Rori sighs. “I do think he believes you two are real now. When he vents to me, it’s more about how he can’t believe Johnson started dating his sister behind his back. He’s dropped any mentions of ‘hooking up’ or ‘he’s not good enough.’”
My hope ticks up. “That does make me feel better.”
Landon and Grover come back in and we leave the topic. Incremental progress is still progress. I only wish there was a way to speed it all up.
I’m not the only one thinking along those lines, because a couple of hours after I get home, I get a text from Rori.
RORI: I have an idea. Are you guys busy tomorrow?
“So wait, we’re going to Landon’s boat? Without an invite?” Johnson’s voice is dubious as he puts his seatbelt on.
“We’re invited. By Rori.” She apparently told Landon that she wanted a boat outing for today, his day off, without mentioning the special guests coming.
He slouches down in the passenger seat a little more. “This is certainly going to be interesting. Are you sure you want to go?’
“Rori wants to stage an intervention. She believes it’s time.” I start the car. “And so do I.”
“Well, if you and Rori are working together, he’s going to have a hard time resisting. Just make sure I’m wearing a life vest when he throws me overboard, okay?”
Although Johnson is cracking jokes, I can tell he’s also nervous. He wants to repair their friendship so badly, but it’s hard to expose yourself repeatedly and get shut down. Which is one of the reasons I’m so determined to get us over the hump today.
As Rori and I planned, we get to the docks after her and Landon, who are already on the boat getting it ready for launch.
“Less risk he’ll bolt before they even talk that way,” she’d said.
We get out of the car and walk towards where the boat is moored. I can hear Johnson let out a deep breath, just as Landon spots us.
“What the hell?” His voice is surprised, but less angry than I would’ve expected.
We’re now only a few feet away from them. Rori steps towards Landon, and rests her hand on his shoulder. “Give him a chance.”
“Hey man,” Johnson says.
Landon studies him for a second, and then glances at Rori and me in succession. “What is this?”
I step forward. “We want to have a real conversation with you, Landon. Please.”
Landon considers me for a minute, and then gives a small nod.
“Why don’t you two come onto the boat,” Rori suggests.
Johnson and I step in at her command, taking seats on the small benches banking the bow. It’s not a large boat—there’s just enough room for six. So it’s going to be close quarters, no matter how this trip goes.
Landon stays quiet as we get settled. Rori continues being the one giving direction, instead.
“Can you take us to our favorite spot? By the cove?”
I know the exact location she means, as it’s one of Landon’s go-to places when he takes us out too.
“Alright.” Landon’s voice is unreadable.
He sets us off. At the steady speed we’re going, the combined sounds of the hum of the engine and the crash of waves against the boat make it impossible to talk.
Once we approach the cove, he slows down the boat and I start anticipating how to begin the conversation. I look at Rori and Johnson, and the thoughtful expressions on their respective faces make me think they’re contemplating the same thing.
Surely, if all three of us are aligned, Landon will listen?
He brings the boat to a stop as it reaches the heart of the cove. “I got the anchor,” Johnson says to Landon, who gives him the slightest dip of the head.
Once Johnson is finished, Landon walks from the helm and sits down next to Rori on a bench. Crossing his arms, he directs his next words to Johnson.
“Okay, let’s hear it.”
I guess Rori and I aren’t going to be the ones kicking off the conversation, after all.
Johnson doesn’t hesitate. “What we did—what I did—keeping our relationship from you, I know it was a fucked up thing to do. I’m sorry, man. Truly.”
Landon stares at him, not reacting.
“Grace and I—it’s real. And I was scared we’d never even get a shot if you knew I was interested in her. That it would get shut down before we got our chance.” Johnson grasps my hand, pulling it onto his lap.
Landon tracks every inch of that movement, focused on where our hands meet.
“My sister?” The phrase comes out as a question more than an accusation.
“Yes, your sister is my girl. My girlfriend.” Johnson squeezes my hand, and I think he’s done speaking except—
“I love her.”
What? A faint “oh” escapes my mouth. I twist towards him, and his eyes are full of emotion.
“I love…I love you too, Johnson,” I whisper. His expression shifts to intense joy, and he brings my hand to his heart, threading his fingers over mine.
“Landon.” Rori’s voice is as soft as I’ve ever heard her speak. “Grace’s so happy. She’s”—Rori gestures to where Johnson and I’s hands are still linked at his heart—“loved. Who better for her to be with than Johnson? Your best friend?”
He tilts his head, his eyes now locked with hers.
“It’s okay to forgive him,” she says quietly.
And it’s like her permission is the key to release his last emotional block. Landon takes a deep breath, and I swear I can see the lingering hurt he was carrying fall off his body.
He turns back to Johnson. It takes several moments for him to speak.
While it’s slow and simple, it’s the breakthrough we all need.
“Okay.”
“Okay?” Johnson’s voice carries so much hope, my own ignites. Is this finally happening?
“Yes, okay. But if you hurt her, I will not be held accountable for what I do.” Landon’s voice is gruff, but there’s a hint of a tease too.
Thank god.
Johnson stands up and offers his hand to Landon across the bow. “Not going to happen. Hypothetically though, yes, I agree.”
Landon slowly stands and takes his hand, the ends of his mouth turning up slightly. “You’re lucky that you’re recovering from a concussion, otherwise I would have thrown you over the boat earlier.”
Johnson turns towards me. “See, I told you.”
I giggle, a welcome release from all the tension.
“You can have a rain check on that,” he says back to Landon.
The smile creeping up on Landon’s face is even more noticeable. “Count on it, J.”
Unable to resist, I stand up and throw my arms around Landon. “Thank you for listening.”
He brings his arms up around me. “Love you, Gracie.”
After our hug, Rori claps her hands together. “This cove is undefeated. Good things always happen here.”
It’s very Rori that she would try to lighten the mood now that the main issue is handled—she definitely prefers snappy banter to high drama.
Landon reaches for the cooler he brought and then hesitates.
“I only stocked this with waters for two since I didn’t know you were coming, but there’s enough so we each can have one.”
“We won’t last long out here then,” I observe, as it’s promising to be a hot day, even if technically fall.
“But mission accomplished,” Rori replies.
As confirmation of a return to normalcy between them, Landon asks Johnson about his recovery.
“They did another round of tests yesterday to see if I’m ready for full activities yet,” Johnson replies.
“Well, Tony’s doing an alright job, but there’s nothing like having you in there.”
“Yeah, just between you and me, I’m sorry the offense is the weak link still this year. It’s not even Tony’s fault. We really need another weapon,” Johnson observes.
Landon nods. “Yeah, Paul seems okay but not quite enough?” Johnson nods in agreement.
As the guys chat, Rori and I stay quiet, but keep sneaking smiles at each other.
By the time the noon sun hits the center of the sky, it’s like they never stopped talking.
And as we make our way back to the dock early given our lack of provisions, Landon invites us to come over to watch a NBA game tomorrow night.
“And Thanksgiving?” I ask, ready to push back if the answer is anything but the affirmative.
“Bring the gang,” Landon says to Johnson.
Once back in our car, Johnson gives me a firm kiss. “Thank you for making this happen, Goldie. What a good day.”
It was a wonderful day, for other reasons too.
Johnson loves me. And I love him.