“You see why we need you around here?” His voice is half-serious.
“Stop trying to steal me away from my job.” I chuckle. There were enough people saying goodbye to Gilt already. “Jack is leaving Gilt too,” I mention.
There is a short pause. “I know.”
“How?” I frown. “People in my office only found out today.”
He sighs. “I happen to own a small stake in a production company that just signed a very lucrative deal with him.”
A few alarm bells go off in my head. “So you have something to do with him leaving?”
“I had nothing to do with the deal,” Landon explains. “I only have the information because I’m a shareholder.” His voice turns serious. “I’m not insecure about us Rachel, and I trust you. Although, it’s flattering that you think I’m powerful enough to press a button and send Jack Weyland across the country just because I don’t want him around you.”
I breathe, glad to be wrong. “I’m not sorry he’s leaving,” I say. “It’s just... it’s great that you don't think that I’m still attracted to him or anything like that.”
“I don’t.” His voice is firm. “Forget Weyland. The most important right now is that we have to celebrate your new job. What would you like to do?”
“Why don’t you think of something?” What I don’t say is that being with him is already celebration enough for me.
“I will,” Landon promises. “See you tonight, baby.”
“See you tonight, beau.”
His laughter teases my ears as I go back to work, and I don’t even bother to try to wipe the smile off my face.
WE celebrate with a candlelit dinner at Landon’s apartment, and afterward we make love, both of us flush with good food and wine, then he takes me home so I can help Laurie with her packing.
The rest of the week follows the same pattern, dinner at his place, and making love in his bed before he takes me home to my apartment.
Before I can really get used to the fact that Laurie is actually moving out, Saturday arrives. Brett comes over to help with the lifting. Landon comes too, joining Brett in carrying the heavier boxes while Laurie and I make a big deal out of encouraging them and admiring their muscles.
Brett has a truck waiting downstairs. The driver, Malik, is an acquaintance from the gym, and with his help, it doesn’t take long to get Laurie’s things into the back of the truck.
When we’re done, we all stand outside on the sidewalk, me and Laurie hugging over and over again while Malik drives off. A taxi is already waiting to take her and Brett to their new apartment.
“Are you sure you won’t need help over there,” Landon asks Brett, The long sleeves of his gray t-shirt are rolled up and the wind is ruffling his hair. He looks manly and sexy and I can’t wait to get him back inside so I can pounce on him. “We could come.”
Brett shakes his head. “There really isn’t much. I’m sure Malik and I can manage.” He looks at me and winks, “I know you can’t wait for us to leave you two alone.”
I snort. “Don’t tease me, Brett. Not when I still hate you for stealing my cousin away.”
“I’m not taking her to Siberia,” he exclaims. “You can still see each other every day if you want.”
“You won’t understand,” Laurie tells him. “We’re obligatory twins.”
Landon chuckles. “There’s no such thing.”
“Of course there is,” I reply, starting to explain. “It’s when your parents are twins, but you’re not. You’re cousins but obligated to be twins.”
“Like us,” Laurie agrees, “and the obligation grows on you until you can’t imagine life without it.”
Both Landon and Brett look at us as if we’re crazy, then they shake hands in that casual but charming guy way. “Thanks, bro,” Brett tells him, before turning to Laurie. “My lady, your chariot awaits.”
She sticks out her tongue in a very unladylike manner, before hugging me one more time, and then they’re gone. Upstairs, the apartment feels unbelievably empty. Almost everything is the same, because Laurie didn’t take much, but I feel her absence nonetheless.
“It feels so empty!” I
complain.