“I was thinking of you,” he sighs. “Only you, and how I never ever want to leave your side.”
JOE drops us off at the entrance to the new gallery, but after the opening, we all walk to the restaurant where we’re having dinner. Our table is close to the window, and we make jokes an
d laugh while a few overzealous paps try to take Landon’s picture from the other side of the street.
“Billionaire hotelier laughs while out on double date,” Laurie suggests when we start to propose possible headlines.
“Or Landon Court bares teeth menacingly,” Landon offers, “They’ll prefer that.”
“I don’t know how you manage it,” Brett says, shaking his head. “I’d probably retire to a deserted island and never show my face in public.”
“I love New York too much,” Landon says wryly.
Laurie nods. “Don’t we all?”
“Your gym is growing,” Landon tells Brett. “I’m certain we’ll soon see things like ‘Fitness king Brett Andrews spotted smiling on the sidewalk this morning.’”
“Ha ha,” Laurie guffaws. “Brett will always be smiling though.” She pats his hand on the table. “He’s jolly like that.”
“I am jolly.” Brett agrees, nodding and pulling Laurie toward him so he can drop a kiss on her hair.
“What can I say?” Landon grimaces. “I volunteer as the scowler of the group.”
I kiss his cheek. “I love your scowly face.”
We start to make plans for the next day, discussing and dropping the idea of going upstate together. Laurie has to go to the office to prepare some files for a deposition, so they might leave too late to make it by lunchtime, and since my mom will have a heart attack if we all miss lunch, we agree that Landon and I will leave without them.
The next day is cheerful and relaxing. My mom overcomes any misgivings she has about Landon to join Aunt Jacie in fussing over him. Brett’s parents make it too, and his mom corners me to ask me when the family will be planning another wedding. “I’m a romantic at heart,” she tells me. “I just think weddings, and I melt.”
“We’re not… We’re not there yet,” I stammer in reply, watching Landon in the dining room, setting the table with Uncle Taylor. I love him so much and yes, I want to spend the rest of my life with him, but even I know that we’re not ready for that yet.
Laurie and Brett finally arrive just in time for lunch, and afterward, Brett, Landon, and Dylan abandon us all to play video games in Dylan’s room. Laurie, who usually joins in, proclaims that the testosterone is too much for her and instead we all go into the study to watch my dad and uncle complete another game of chess.
Toward evening, my mom invites us all out to the patio. The season has already changed, and even as the leaves redden and the sun starts to set in colorful shades, there is still some warmth outside. We drink fruit punch and watch the vibrant sky, talking about Barbados. Those of us who’ve been there share memories, and Brett’s parents express their excitement to go.
On the way back, Laurie and Brett stay in the back while Landon drives. We’re all tired and a little drowsy, but Landon manages to stay alert, his fingers firm on the wheel. I prevent myself from drifting off by staring at him, at the perfection of his body and face.
“I love you,” I whisper.
“I love you,” he replies, with a quick, tender glance in my direction.
“And we love you,” Laurie quips, making everyone laugh.
After we drop Laurie and Brett at their apartment, we drive over to the Swanson court. Upstairs in the apartment, we prepare for bed together, brushing our teeth side by side.
“Did you visit Laurie’s Grandma often as a kid?” Landon asks.
I shrug. “About three times through my teenage years and once after college. We always went during the holidays, so there were festivals and stuff. It’s usually awesome.”
He nods. “What about your other grandparents?”
I smile fondly, remembering my grandparents on the Foster side. “My mom was an orphan when she met my dad, but I knew my dad’s parents. They died a few weeks apart when I was about eleven. They had a farm, with cows and horses and pigs, and they built a treehouse for Laurie and me. We used to play ourselves into a stupor. Dylan had crushes on all the neighbor’s kids. They were fierce. Hunter, Vivienne, Dinah and ah... Thomas” I giggle, remembering how Dylan used to follow them around. “He loved them all equally.”
Landon is smiling at me. “What happened to the farm?”
“Dad and Uncle Taylor had to let it go,” I tell him, a little nostalgic. “There was a mortgage, and at the time, Trent &Taylor was still growing.”
He frowns. “Do you miss it?”