by Aven Ellis
Landon flashes me a smile as he sprinkles some salt on a cut of beef tenderloin. “You’re just saying that because I scored your mom a crate of all varieties of Wilson condiments. Except tell her I’m keeping the Siracha ketchup. That has my name on it.”
I slide my hand to the small of his back. “Okay, Zinger, I’ll tell Mom hands off the Siracha ketchup. But yes, you were the hit of the party. With the puppies and the girls. You earned that shipment of Wilson products.”
Which is all true. Landon lit up the room with his presence. All of Alessandra’s friends raved about him, the female ones in particular, which made Alessandra look brilliant for having exclusive surprise “Selfies with Landy” at the event.
Alessandra fell under Landon’s charm, too, and by the end of the party she had arranged to have a shipment of ketchup, mustard, and cocktail sauce delivered to him as a thank you.
“Nah, that was easy,” Landon says, moving away from the steak and washing his hands.
“You’re completely charming without even trying,” I say truthfully. “You’re so good with people. It’s truly a gift.”
Landon reaches for a towel and dries his hands. “I only care about charming one woman. And I’m lucky enough to be celebrating one month with her tonight.”
Warmth fills me from his sweet words. “It seems like it’s been so much longer,” I admit.
Landon reaches for me, cupping my face in his hands. I wrap my hands over his tattooed forearms, and he presses his forehead to mine.
“I feel the same way,” he murmurs, brushing his lips against my forehead. “We’re right together.”
Like two puzzle pieces, I think happily. We need each other to be whole.
Landon releases me and moves his hands around my waist. “I know I’m in the middle of attempting dinner but—”
“What?” I ask, smiling at him. “What do you mean, ‘attempting?’ You’ve made dinner before.”
“Well, yeah, but you know I eat more takeout than anything else. And making tacos for Becks before we each found girls doesn’t count,” Landon declares. “Trying to make chateaubriand for two is completely out of my wheelhouse, but I’m trying.”
I love this man so much.
“All right. I’m sorry I interrupted you,” I say, reaching up and playing with his hair. “You’re in the middle of dinner but?”
Landon studies me for a moment. His eyes are very serious, searching mine, as if he’s about to say something important.
My heart stops. Could this be the moment I’ve been waiting for? Is Landon about to tell me what is in his heart?
“Livy,” Landon says seriously, “I want to tell you something.”
My pulse soars. I can feel my heart hammering inside my chest.
“Yes?” I ask, praying he can’t hear how my heart is beating through the cotton fabric of my dress.
He slides his hands back up to my face, stroking it softly with his hands. I swallow hard, excitement filling me. Landon is studying me, and then he draws a breath of air. I swear he seems nervous.
“Livy, I’ve never felt this way about anyone,” he says quietly. “But I knew that day at school I wanted to be with you. I knew it. And I’ve never had a feeling like that in my life. Not desire, not that I didn’t feel that, but it was more. And now I know.”
I pause for a moment before speaking. “You know what?” I ask softly.
“Livy,” Landon says, “I—”
Suddenly his phone rings.
Damn it!
Landon’s head jerks toward the sound, and he curses under his breath. “Now?” He groans and presses his forehead to mine. “I’m sorry. Let me shut that off.”
I nod as he heads into the living room, where the ring is coming from. It stops before he can find his phone. Then it buzzes with a text message alert. Landon looks around, and finally spots his cell on an end table. Landon picks it up, and his face changes the second he sees the screen.
“Shit,” he murmurs.
Concern fills me. “Is everything okay?” I hope it’s nothing with his mom. I know her battle with depression had been ongoing her entire life, and I know Landon worries about her a lot. “Is it your family?”
“No,” he says slowly. “It’s Kayla.”
Anger surges through me. For someone who has a boyfriend, she sure does call mine a lot.
Oh, wait, I forgot. Kayla wants my boyfriend so calling him is part of her agenda.
Landon looks up at me. “She called but then texted me. Kayla and Ben had a huge fight.”
“Trouble.”
I angrily shut the music off in my head. But this is real trouble, and I do my best to contain the feeling surging through me.
“Please don’t look like that,” Landon says, shutting his phone off and putting it back down.
“Like what?” I say, my voice taking on an edge.
“Like you’re pissed off. You know we’re friends.”
“I do, on your part,” I say, standing up for myself. “I have never agreed with you on Kayla’s motives, Landon. But I put my feelings aside because I trust you. Which I do. But I don’t trust her.”
A pissed-off look passes over his face. “Don’t be like this,” Landon says, raking his hands through his hair.
“You should not be in the middle of a relationship with a teammate’s girlfriend,” I say truthfully.
“Of course I’m not. What are you implying?”
“You shouldn’t advise her about Ben. You and I both know that’s not right.”
“Oh, really? I advised Aubrey about Beckett and they got back together, so how about that?” Landon retorts. “I assume that’s okay because you like Aubrey. Am I right?”
I furrow my brow in complete confusion. If Landon helped Aubrey, she never mentioned it to me.
“What? What are you talking about?”
Landon lets out an exasperated sigh. “Nothing.”
My chest grows tight. This is not how this evening was supposed to be. Tears prick my eyes when I think that Landon was right on the verge of telling me he loved me, or so I think he was, to fighting about Kayla.
GiGi suddenly lets out a loud yowl, breaking the silence between us.
“I know, you hate it when your parents are fighting, don’t you?” Landon says, picking her up.
My anger softens with the fact that he coined me as one of GiGi’s parents.
“I hate this,” I say softly.
Landon comes back to me, holding GiGi against his chest. “I would never get in-between Kayla and Ben. I hate when you say things like that, Livy.”
“I trust you,” I emphasize. “But I’m sorry, I don’t trust her.”
Landon sighs heavily. “I listen. I’m good at that. You yourself said I have a gift with people. If that’s true, like you believe it is, then I should use it to help them. Kayla needs friends. She doesn’t have many. I’m not going to turn my back on her, it’s not right, not when someone needs help. Can you please understand that?”
I swallow hard. Kayla has done a masterful job of playing right into Landon’s most vulnerable spot-of being a support to someone who truly needs it.
And Landon is so hell-bent on helping people he can’t see he’s being manipulated by a fake, mean, horrible person.
I realize he’s not going to see this, at least not now. I wonder if he ever will.
But I do know where I stand with Landon.
I trust his words.
I trust his intentions.
And most of all, I trust his heart.
“I’m trying,” I say honestly. “It’s not easy for me, but I’ll try.”
Landon sets GiGi down and moves toward me. Relief sweeps over me when I see the anger is gone from his eyes.
&n
bsp; “Can we reset here? Because I’d like to go back to where I was.”
My heart leaps. “I’d like that, too.”
He puts his hands back on my face, caressing it gently. “I know,” he continues, “that you’re going to Minneapolis in a few days for that trade show. I know the Buffaloes season is coming to an end next week, too, as we’re already eliminated from the playoffs.”
I practically hold my breath, as he’s speaking of the future now.
“Normally, I head straight back to Vancouver when April rolls around,” Landon says, sweeping his fingertips over my cheekbones. “But I don’t think I want to. Not this year.”
“You don’t?” I ask, my heart pounding.
“Livy,” Landon says slowly, “I know I want to spend the summer with you. Here. And in Vancouver. I want you to meet my family and my friends back home in Canada. Would you . . . would you consider that? I know you have your business and friends, but I want you to come to Canada. I want to bring you home. I know I’m asking a lot. I know we haven’t been together long enough for me to ask this, but . . . I know it’s what I want. But only if you want it, too. But please don’t feel pressured. If it’s not right, it’s not. I will do whatever you want. I mean that.”
Tears fill my eyes. I hear the vulnerability in his voice and see the hesitant look in his gorgeous blue eyes. Landon is terrified of screwing things up with me. Of pushing for too much, of wanting more than I can give. I know he won’t say he loves me until he’s very secure in my feelings and commitment to him. To us.
Once again, I realize love isn’t just about saying those words. It’s about thoughtfulness and actions, too.
And right now Landon’s request is one of the most loving gestures I’ve ever received.
“Landon,” I say, my voice thick as I touch his face with my hands, “I’d be happy to spend some time in Vancouver with you. I can’t wait to meet your family and see where you grew up. There is nothing I want more than for us to be together this summer. Both here and in Canada.”
Landon takes in my words. “Yeah?”
I grin happily. “Yeah.”
He exhales loudly. “Good. I was scared to ask you.”
I sweep a lock of his dark hair off his forehead. “You had nothing to be afraid of. I’m so happy you want to spend the summer together.”
“I miss you when I’m on the road,” Landon says, dropping his mouth on mine for a kiss. “And I’ll miss you when you’re in Minnesota. I can only tolerate days away from you, Sweetheart.”
I slide my hands to the nape of his neck as we kiss, savoring his touch as we seal our summer pact. I break the kiss and smile up at him.
“Only days,” I reassure him. “I’ll be back from Minnesota on Wednesday.”
“I know you’re excited to go,” Landon says, smiling as he runs his hand over my hair.
“I am,” I admit, reaching for his hands and lacing my fingers through his. “I haven’t seen Taylor since she moved, and I want to see first-hand how she’s doing. She’s never lived outside of Illinois before, so this is a huge move for her. And, of course, I’m stupid excited about the show. It’s my first big one, and I’m nervous and eager all in one.”
Landon brings one of my hands to his lips and kisses it. “You’re going to have a great show.”
“I hope so,” I say. “I need to make some money so I can invest it back in materials.”
Landon moves over to the range so he can cook while we talk. Suddenly I notice the cookbook he has open, one with a sexy young chef on it.
“Hey, Nana has that book,” I say, tapping it.
A sheepish grin passes over his face. “Um, it’s Nana’s.”
“What? What are you doing with Nana’s book?”
“When I was over there making soup, I told your Nana I wanted to make you dinner for our anniversary but I didn’t know what to do. Nana said this was her favorite cookbook. She assured me I wouldn’t go wrong with anything out of here.”
I begin laughing. Then I’m laughing so hard I can’t stop.
“What’s so funny?” Landon asks, a perplexed look passing over his face.
“Nana has never cooked out of that, she’s a terrible cook, and more to the point, she hates cooking,” I say, wiping tears from my eyes. “She bought that cookbook because she thinks the chef is hot.”
“You’re serious.”
“Completely. You were hoodwinked, my precious Zinger.”
He bursts out laughing, and I join him.
“Your nana is epic,” Landon says, grinning.
“Indeed. But, it’s not a total hoodwink. I think the guy is a Michelin chef, you can’t go wrong with that, right?” I say.
“Now I know why she made me promise I had to return the book in mint condition. No stains.”
“Oh, she wouldn’t notice a stain on a picture of steak,” I declare. “But she’d sure as hell freak out if you stained his face!”
We both die laughing all over again. And as Landon follows along in the cookbook, and we’re talking and laughing as if no fight ever occurred. We fought, we talked about it, we moved forward. I know he wouldn’t bring up the summer and have been so nervous about it if he wasn’t falling in love with me. I’m secure in him, in what we have, now more than ever.
And no woman—including Kayla—can change that.
“I can’t believe you’re already leaving,” Taylor says mournfully, stirring some cream into her coffee. “I feel like you just got here!”
I smile at Taylor as we sit in a cozy, eclectic café in downtown Minneapolis. It’s a ridiculous hour on Wednesday morning, right around six, and I’m flying back to Chicago after spending two days working the jewelry show. In fact, I even managed to get on an earlier flight so I could surprise Landon.
“I know, but I promise I’ll be back to visit before you know it,” I reassure her, pausing to take a bite of my sunny-side up eggs over sautéed kale and roasted beets. “Man, this is good. I’m coming back for this café alone!”
Taylor studies my plate, a wicked gleam entering her dark-brown eyes. “Yes. Please come back for the kale,” she teases.
I laugh. “You know I miss you like crazy, Taylor. And you’ll always be my favorite Taylor.”
Taylor grins. Our long running joke is that she will always trump Taylor Swift in my heart.
Suddenly her expression turns serious. “I really loved having you here, Livy. I mean, it’s exciting to be in a big city. To go somewhere where you don’t know anyone. You have a chance to reinvent yourself. But—”
“But?” I interrupt, as this is the first time all weekend Taylor hasn’t been positive about her Minneapolis experience.
She picks at the blueberry pancakes on her plate. “Sometimes it’s lonely.” Taylor lifts her head. “I didn’t realize how much until you came this week.”
“I think that’s normal,” I say. “It takes time to feel at home in a new city.”
Taylor bites her lip. “I know I had to meet new people in college, but it’s different. You’re surrounded by people all looking to make new friends when you’re in school. It’s not like that in the real world.”
“Adulting,” I emphasize. “Adulting sucks.”
Taylor spears some of her pancakes and takes a bite. “I don’t know,” she says after she swallows. “You’ve done some pretty good adulting with one sexy hockey player.”
I feel my face grow hot, and Taylor laughs.
“Shut up,” I say, taking a sip of coffee. “Besides, are you kidding? I’m the one living at home with Mom and Dad. With no move out date in sight. My adulting skills are crap.”
Taylor laughs, and I laugh with her.
“See? We’re both navigating different things,” I reassure her. “We’ll get there. But you
’ll eventually get settled and start going to stuff and getting out, and you’ll make loads of friends.”
“And maybe you’ll move in with Landy,” Taylor says easily.
“I won’t lie and say I haven’t thought about that,” I admit.
Taylor’s eyes widen. “You have?”
“Yeah,” I admit, taking a bite of my whole grain toast. “If he asked me, I’d say yes. I’m that confident in what we have. In fact, before I left, he gave me a key to his place.”
“He gave you your own key?” Taylor asks.
“He did,” I say, my cheeks growing warm.
“I’m so happy for you,” Taylor says, her face lighting up in a bright smile. “You deserve to find a love equal to that huge heart of yours.”
“Thank you,” I say. “And I have. It’s ridiculous how loving Landon is with me. It’s nothing like I had with Troy, nothing at all.”
“Gah, let’s hope not!” Taylor declares. “Troy was a cheating asshole. I swear he cheated the first second he could.”
“Pretty much,” I say, remembering how he cheated the first weekend I went away with Aubrey for a girls’ outing in Las Vegas. “But that’s not Landon. I’m so happy I put aside my initial reservations about him to see the real man underneath it all.”
“You learned not to judge a book by its cover,” Taylor adds. “But trust your heart.”
“Yeah, that’s exactly it,” I say happily.
We finish up breakfast, and Taylor drives me to the airport. It’s a beautiful April day in Minneapolis, with blue skies and the air has a crispness to it, one that will burn off as the day grows warmer.
Because I have to lug my show display pieces, Taylor parks the car and keeps me company as we wait in line to check them at the counter. Finally, it’s time to say goodbye.
