CHAPTER 35
LANDRY
My head felt groggy. Sunlight was already streaming from underneath the curtains, letting me know that I must have slept in through most of the morning. I needed to get a new phone today. Olivia had let me call Bexley off of her phone to explain where I was and what had happened. She had offered to come home early, but the dorms were still closed for break, and the guys’ house was already full enough due to the fumigation taking place at Olivia’s.
I also needed to stop by the shelter, hoping that I could catch Debbie and give her my new number. I was able to log in to our scheduling app to see that she had scheduled me in the evening today, so worst case scenario, I could just leave her a note in the office.
My body still hurt, my mind suspiciously empty as I slowly lifted my legs over the side of the bed and went to stand. My eyes caught on the little orange pill bottle on the nightstand. Rubbing my eyes, I read the label, seeing that it was my Clonazepam. My wallet lay beside it, all of the contents still appearing to be inside. Had Olivia or Cashton gone back to my house to grab these for me?
I made my way to the en-suite bathroom, turning on the shower and peeling off my clothes. I made a mental note to ask Olivia if I could borrow some shampoo and conditioner since I would be staying here for the next few days, and the men’s three-in-one was not ideal. I did have to admit that the smell of cedarwood and mint made me feel a certain way, the excitement of being enveloped by Cashton’s scent sending heat to spread between my legs.
Dammit Landy, pull yourself together. Last night was a one-time thing. I had needed the distraction, needed to be pulled under for a bit to quiet the voices inside my head.
He had certainly delivered, the soreness between my thighs a welcome reminder of how he had quite literally fucked my brains out. It was hard to rationalize the idea of forgetting about him completely when sex with him was one of the greatest things I’d ever experienced.
Towel drying my hair, I searched his drawers before pulling on some sweatpants, rolling them twice over my hips before throwing on the same hoodie I had worn yesterday. I needed to find a way to get back to my house to grab some clothes, I couldn’t keep wearing Cashton’s.
Making my way downstairs, I headed to the kitchen, not running into anybody as I entered the smaller prep kitchen in the back where the cooks usually prepared the food. The space was pristine, the stainless-steel appliances polished and shining, not a thing to be found lying about on the counters .
Making my way to the fridge, I began surveying the variety of ingredients, excitement blooming inside of me as I found exactly what I needed to make a quiche Lorraine. Cooking was exactly what I needed right now, something to make me feel like myself again. Maybe I could borrow some headphones and throw on a show or podcast while I worked.
Grabbing the shallots, chives, and bacon, I laid them out on the prep island and went on the hunt for a cutting board.
“Oh, honey! What are you doing in here?”
I spun around to find a plump older woman in the kitchen doorway, who I assumed must be Angelina. The look of surprise on her face told me that not many people must make their way back here.
“Oh, hi, I’m sorry—I was just going to make myself some breakfast if that’s okay?”
“Just let me know what you want honey, go sit down and I’ll have it whipped up for you in no time.”
“Really, it’s no problem. I actually would like to cook it myself if that’s okay? Not that I doubt your abilities at all, I just enjoy doing it,” I laughed awkwardly.
“That’s okay honey, you won’t know where everything is. It would be much easier if I just took over. That’s what I’m here for after all!”
Nate stepped through the doorway behind her, my eyes raising to meet his before snapping behind him to the second figure walking into the room. My heart hitched in my chest as it always did when he walked in.
Angelina moved to grab her apron and tie it around her waist, my chest deflating in defeat and shoulders sinking as tears of frustration threatened to bloom. I wasn’t going to stand here and argue with her—Not when it was clearly pointless, and especially not with an audience.
“What’s going on?” Nate asked, his gaze bouncing between us.
“Nothing,” I quickly answered, making my way past them and out of the kitchen. I wanted to be alone, needing some space. I let myself out into the backyard, admiring the endless greenery that flowed down the slightly sloping hill. I found a quaint little lounge area on the far side of the property where I made myself comfortable, letting my eyes drift shut as the late morning sun gently caressed my skin. I stayed out there for a while, just embracing the peace and quiet.
I eventually made my way back inside a little while later, finding my way to the living room where Nate and TJ watched some football replays on the big screen. Kaptan sat with his laptop in his lap, all attention drawn to what he was currently working on. Olivia sat back with a book, her head laid back on her boyfriend’s lap, while Zayn and Cashton sat side by side at the kitchen island. Nobody seemed to notice me walking in.
“Olivia?” I asked, making my way towards her.
“Oh, hey babe! What’s up?” she asked, lowering her book to her stomach and tilting her head back to look at me.
“Would you mind driving me to town later? I need to get a new phone, and I have a shift at the shelter later this afternoon.”
“Sure thing, no problem hun!”
“No need to get a new phone,” Cashton spoke, his deep voice skating down my spine. He stood, making his way over to us and handing me something. I recognized the pink floral case immediately .
“Where did you get this?” I asked, my eyes bulging. I had dropped it the night that I ran, figuring that it would be a goner between the fall and the pouring rain.
“I went to your house the next morning. It’s how I got your wallet and medication. The screen was cracked, but Kaptan just got done fixing it this morning.”
“You went to my house?” I asked dumbfoundedly. The next emotion to strike me was panic. My dad…
“Yes,” he answered. “I let myself in because it was unlocked. I found your purse near the entrance, so I didn’t feel the need to go exploring. I didn’t know that your dad… That he was there.”
A small breath of relief left me at that.
“Thanks,” I quietly responded, my eyes still not meeting his.
“I’ll drive you to the shelter later for your shift. And we can stop by your house to grab your things on the way back if you’d like. The cops should have cleared out by now.”
“That’s okay, Olivia will take me,” I insisted, not wanting to be stuck in a car with him. He hadn’t seemed to be out for my blood lately, but that didn’t mean I trusted him yet after everything he had pulled.
“Really, it’s no problem. I was planning on going to the gym for a quick boxing session, and the shelter is right next door. I can drop you off to do your thing, and pick you back up when I’m done. No point in dragging Olivia out when I’m already going to be headed that way.”
Well shit, he had a point. All argument died on my lips .
“I want my own room,” I told him, following it up with a quick “Please.” I wanted my own space away from him in order to breathe. I couldn’t think straight when I was around him.
His jaw ticked slightly.
“Of course,” he answered, and a small part of me almost felt disappointed by his lack of fight. I shoved the thought away as quickly as it appeared, nodding my head in thanks before leaving the room.
—
My hands fidgeted in my lap as Cashton pulled his Chevelle out of the driveway and through the front gates, the engine roaring to life as he pulled out onto the main road. I wasn’t sure what to stay, still emotionally drained and not quite in the mood to socialize.
His presence was hard to ignore, my eyes constantly wandering back to him as he drove single-handed. His beauty was unjust, his chorded arms on display and black shirt making his eyes appear brighter than ever.
“What do you want to make for dinner tonight, princess?” He asked, eyes not leaving the road as he continued to stare straight ahead.
“What do you mean?” I asked, confused.
“You’re making dinner tonight. Once you figure out what you want to make, text me a list, and I’ll forward it over to Angelina.”
My mind raced, wondering what the fuck he was talking about.
“Why isn’t Angelina cooking? ”
“Nate and I talked and decided to give her the night off. Figured you might want to cook for a change. You seemed to enjoy it quite a bit when you stayed at the penthouse during Taken. I hope that’s okay with you.”
When I stayed at the penthouse? More like when I was abducted and held there against my will for three days. And he watched me? Was he watching me the whole time when I was there? My mind reeled at how to respond.
“I don’t know—I’ve never cooked for that many people before. I mean, it’s seven people.”
“Nate and Zayn both already agreed to sous-chef for you. They’ll be your little helpers for anything you need.”
“You guys talked about this already?”
“Yes. Nate was the first to offer when I ran the idea past him this morning after you were clearly upset. Zayn just asked if he could get stoned first before admitting that it sounded fun. Don’t worry though, he’s quite functional when he smokes. It actually brings him down a couple notches, so he might be more tolerable.”
Something warm spread in my chest, excitement mixing with the nerves. He had set this up? I had to admit, the thought of cooking an actual meal for this many people gave me quite the rush. I couldn’t help the smile that bloomed across my face.
“Thank you,” I genuinely told him before turning back to face out the window.
The rest of the ride was silent until we pulled up to the shelter, not a single car in the parking lot as he stopped in front of the entrance.
Grabbing the handle, I opened the door, pausing for a moment before stepping out .
“Do you… Would you want to come in with me?” I tentatively asked, surprising even myself. He stayed quiet, and I took that as my answer as I stepped out onto the pavement, shutting the door behind me. Who was I kidding, of course he didn’t want to come with me. Why would he?
Making my way to the front doors, I pulled the set of keys out of my wallet, unlocking the doors and making my way through the front lobby to turn on the lights. I could hear the barking from here, the animals impatient to get fed for the evening.
I heard the bell ring, alerting me that the front door had opened once again. Spinning on my heels, I spotted Cashton’s tall form walking in, his eyes roaming over the small space.
“Hi…” I breathed, too caught off guard to think of anything better.
“How can I help?” was all he asked.
Taking a moment to shake myself, I told him to follow me as we made our way around the reception desk and through the doors leading to the kennels. He helped me let all of the dogs loose, guiding them to a few of the outdoor runs to let out some energy. Guiding Cashton to the food, I showed him how to make each bowl and left him to it, making my way to power wash all of the pens before throwing the soiled blankets and beds into the wash.
I let the laundry run, making my way back outside and resting my elbows on the edge of the fence as I watched the dogs of all ages and sizes play with each other. It wasn’t long before I sensed Cashton’s presence, his tall form coming to stand next to me.
“Which one is Reba?” he asked .
I smiled internally, surprised that he had remembered the name. Careful to not let my excitement show too much, I looked around before pointing to the red Pit Bull mix, the hair graying around her face and eyes as she sniffed around the border of the run.
“And what about Tomahawk?” he asked next. I spotted the goofy black and white Pit Bull pretty quickly, his zoomies kicked in as he sprinted around the pen at top speeds, his tongue flying in the wind as he shamelessly barreled through the groups of dogs. I couldn’t help but laugh as he skidded through the turns, his butt tucking underneath him as he ran like the devil himself was on his tail.
“That’s Tomahawk,” I chuckled, calling him over to us and squatting down to give him some love. “He’s one of my personal favorites. He might look mean, but he’s scared of his own shadow most of the time, and he wouldn’t hurt a fly. He’s the greatest cuddler out there, and will stick by your side like glue if you let him.”
I went through all of the dogs, telling Cashton their names and offering a few fun facts about each one. It felt strange sharing this part of me with him.
He didn’t say much, but that was fine with me. I was in my happy place, rejuvenating from everything that had happened over the last few days. I could stay here forever if it were up to me.
We continued with the chores, Cashton remaining mostly silent but asking the occasional question. Once all of the animals were good and fed, we sank down against the wall in the laundry room, waiting for the dryer to run its course .
“Emory would have loved it here, you know?” he finally spoke, a slight edge of pain laced in his tone. I looked down at my hands in my lap, wondering how I should respond.
“You said she had a dog, right? Ava?”
He nodded solemnly, his gaze straight ahead as he seemed to play the memory through in his mind.
“She was always a big animal person. Asked for one from Santa every Christmas. She was sixteen before they let her get one. Our living situation before then wouldn’t have been ideal for a pet.”
“What do you mean?” I cautiously asked, not wanting him to stop talking. I wanted to know more about him, to hear about his life outside of Ivybrook, but I also didn’t want to push too far and have him shut me out again. It took a bit for him to answer, but I made sure not to rush him, patiently listening as he began.
“We didn’t have the best living situation before my mom met David. We lived in a small run-down apartment in the city, barely big enough for the three of us. That, coupled with the fact that we struggled to afford food most of the time, meant that a dog was out of the question. Emory understood that, but it didn’t change the fact that she wanted one more than anything.”
Cashton grew up poor? How had I not known that?
“My mom finally decided to turn her life around after Emory’s father beat me nearly to death when I was seven. She met David shortly after, and he brought us in.”
My heart clenched at the thought of a seven-year-old Cashton laying in a hospital bed. How could anybody do that to a child?
“I’m so sorry, Cashton…” I whispered .
“I haven’t spoken to her since Emory’s death. My mother, I mean. I can’t bring myself to face her. I should have been there that night, I should have been there to protect her.”
He blamed himself for her death. Everything suddenly made a lot more sense. He felt responsible for not being there for her that night. The realization made my heart throb for him.
“Cashton, there was nothing you could have done,” I spoke softly.
“I was out looking for her while she was dying. I should have gotten there sooner, should have gone back to the house, and maybe I would have gotten there in time.”
He continued to stare blankly ahead, lost in thought. The pain in his voice was palpable, the longing and regret.
“It’s not your fault,” I told him truthfully. “Don’t torture yourself wondering what could have happened differently, because it won’t change the past.” I paused as I contemplated my next words.
“I didn’t know her well,” I started, not sure if he was still listening or too lost in thought to care. “But from the little time I spent with her, I could tell how much she loved you.”
A lone tear ran down my face as I remembered the enthusiasm in her voice when she had spoken to me about her brother. The way her face had lit up. She always seemed so happy when I saw her in the hallways, unbothered by everyone and everything. She was like sunshine. I hated that I hadn’t known what had happened to her that night. Maybe in another life, we could have been friends. If I had pulled my head out of my ass long enough to truly notice her.
“And I can only imagine that she would have hated to see you torn up like this over her. ”
He said nothing, still staring off into the distance as the sounds of the dogs barking filled the space around us, his forearms braced on his knees.
The dryer’s tune sang through the space, and I got up to grab the laundry and let him process his emotions in peace. It didn’t take me long to replace all of the beds and blankets, making sure each animal had something cozy to sleep on before making my way back to the lobby and finding Cashton already waiting by the front door.
Locking up behind us, I tucked my hands in my front pocket and let a breath out into the chilly afternoon air. Realizing that he wasn’t following me to the car, I turned to see him make his way across the parking lot and to the gym around the corner.
“Where are you going?” I yelled behind him, figuring that we would just be going home.
“I told you that I was going to the gym. You can come with, or you can wait in the car. Your call,” he threw over his shoulder, his steps not slowing one bit.
I debated my options before taking off after him, jogging to catch up with long strides. Making our way into the building, he held the door open as I followed him inside. Boxing rings made up the left side, while punching bags and other gym equipment made up the right, mirrors lining the walls around the entire space.
I spotted Kaptan in one of the sparring rings, not even breaking a sweat as he threw punch after punch at his smaller opponent, the gloves absorbing most of the impacts. Heavy metal blared through the speakers, a few other bodies working out around us .
Cashton re-adjusted the bag over his shoulder, making his way around the front desk and bending down to grab something before throwing me a few items. I looked down to find a sports bra with the gym logo in my hands, along with a pair of black spandex shorts sporting the same logo on one side.
“This way,” he muttered, heading towards the back of the gym where I guessed the locker rooms resided. I made quick work of changing, throwing my hair up into a loose ponytail before finding him waiting for me by one of the vacant punching bags hanging from the ceiling.
He worked me through a few drills, coaching me through his warm up and teaching me basic punches such as jabs, hooks, and upper cuts, guiding me through each movement. A shiver ran through me as he placed his hands on my bare waist, showing me how to twist my body and use my core to power up my punches. It felt intimate, his breath brushing across my cheek as he spoke in my ear, his body pressed into my back. I had to admit, keeping my focus on the exercises proved quite difficult while he stood this close to me.
Just when I thought I couldn’t take any more, he called it, my limbs limp as noodles as I let myself fall to my ass on the soft mats. The sun was slowly beginning its descent through the front wall made entirely of windows, and I fought to catch my breath as I watched him stand and take off his shirt. I lost my breath for an entirely different reason, his chorded muscles gleaming with the lightest layer of sweat, the crouching tiger tattoo on his chest bold against his beautifully golden skin.
“Don’t start drooling now, princess,” he winked, my mouth shutting as I realized I’d let it drop open at the sight of him like this. Damn, that was embarrassing .
He left me sitting there, making his way over to one of the sparring rings and exchanging a few words with Kaptan before trading spots with the smaller opponent who looked close to fainting.
I watched as they began sparring, both of their chests on full display as they stalked around each other, their movements practiced and intentional. It was mesmerizing, like a dance between two hunters—Both of them waiting for the right time to snap.
My heart stopped as the first punches were thrown, every muscle working as their bodies moved. They were works of art, terrifying creatures of violence. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of Cashton, his green eyes bright and mesmerizing as his sweat-soaked hair hung down over his eyes.
He was a beast. Not quite as big as Kaptan, which wasn’t much of a feat considering the fact that Kaptan was larger than most around him, but Cashton maneuvered quickly and landed some solid hits, the fight seeming pretty even.
I couldn’t keep my eyes off of them, not even realizing that I had been holding my breath the entire time until a bell finally rang. They let their gloved hands drop to their sides, meeting in the center for a quick one-armed bro hug and pat on the back before Cashton ducked under the ropes and made his way back to me. He dropped down to his gym bag to check his phone, letting me know that Angelina just delivered the groceries and that the fridge is stocked and ready to go.
I shook my head, forcing my mind to snap back to reality as a thought crossed my head .
“You didn’t, like… fire her or anything, right? I didn’t want to get her in trouble, really,” I started, Cashton cutting me off as soon as he saw where my mind was going.
“No, Landry. Angelina gets paid salary, and she gets paid the same whether we use her or not, so don’t you worry about that.”
I let out a breath of relief.
“Now, let’s get showered and get home before it gets dark. You still got a dinner to make,” he spoke, and a smile once again took over my face at the thought. I was going to be cooking dinner for all of my friends. Saying I was excited would be an understatement.