Page 79 of Pretend Girlfriend

“Not really in the mood for that now,” he replied.

“I don’t like being babied,” I insisted. “I just want to curl up in bed and forget all of this happened. And I can’t do that with you sitting there.”

Suddenly, I felt a little light-headed. Landon was on his feet and across the room in the blink of an eye, a steadying arm wrapped around my waist.

“You okay?”

“I’m fine,” I said, but I wasn’t as emphatic now. I felt a little dizzy.

“Let’s get you in bed. Here we go. Just like that.” I allowed Landon to pull back the sheets on my bed.

“I’m not a baby. You don’t have to tuck me in.”

“I know.”

“Promise you’ll go out and have fun?” I asked. “I don’t want everyone being all depressed just because of what happened.”

“I promise,” he said.

I closed my eyes and fell asleep almost instantly.

I woke up five minutes later. At least, it felt like only five minutes had passed, but morning sunlight was streaming through the window. I was facing the other bed, the one Landon was using.

Except it was empty.

For a few seconds, I assumed that meant he was in the same bed as me. Like the morning after the wedding. That was a pleasant thought, and I pushed my butt back, waiting to feel him. But he wasn’t there.

I sat up and immediately found Landon. He was sitting in the chair next to the TV, facing my bed. He was still shirtless, with only his bathing suit on, and his head was slumped back as he snored softly.

“Landon?”

He jerked awake, blinking and looking around. He relaxed when his almond eyes settled on me. “Oh. Hey.”

“You promised you were going to go back out,” I said.

“I lied. I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“You could have slept in your own bed, though!”

He rubbed his eye with a fist and stood up to stretch. Every muscle stood out in beautiful contrast thanks to the morning sunlight. “I was going to watch you a little while, but I fell asleep. My spine isn’t happy with me.” He pressed a knuckle into his lower back.

I wanted to berate him, but I couldn’t find the energy. Or the anger. “Thanks. I appreciate you looking out for me.”

He shrugged awkwardly. “How do you feel?”

“Like I got a really good night of sleep. I kind of have a headache, though.”

Landon sat on the edge of the bed next to me. “Listen, Joanna. I wanted to apologize to you.”

“Why? You’re not the one who slipped a roofie into my drink.”

“But I’m the reason you’re here in Jamaica. I convinced you to pretend to be my girlfriend, and then I encouraged you to come on the honeymoon with us. If I hadn’t…”

“Stop,” I said, holding out a palm. “It’s nobody’s fault except the asshole at the bar. You guys are the ones who saved me from him.”

“I feel like I didn’t do enough,” Landon revealed. He stared down at the floor. “Austin tackled him so fast his foot blisters broke open. And Theo… man, he really lost his shit. If we hadn’t held him back, I think he might have beaten that guy to within an inch of his life.”

I vaguely remembered that part of the events. I could picture Theo red-faced and shouting, while Austin and Landon each held one of his arms. My memory was fuzzy. Probably the drugs.

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