Page 28 of Only With You

“Clothes.” I look down at myself, hoping I didn’t get something on me.

I look exactly like I did when I left the apartment. I’m wearing a black ruched top that’s tied at the back, black leather pants, and black heels. My lips are stained a cherry red and my hair is in a high ponytail.

He hums. “That’s a lot of black.”

“Nice observation. Do you want to add anything else?” I don’t comment on the lack of colors he wears. It’s always something black or dark, never anything light.

His eyes briefly flick to my lips before they lift. “No.”

“Well, as you can see, I’m perfectly fine. You can leave.”

There’s a slight tick on his bearded jaw. I expect him to say something along the lines that I’m on my own and for him to walk away. But I should know better than to expect anything out of him because he doesn’t leave or say anything.

Taking a step back, he leans against the wall across from me and crosses his ankle over the other. He grabs his phone from his pocket. The screen lights up his expressionless face, and without saying a word to me, he glides his thumb along the screen.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

He cocks a brow, but doesn’t look up from the screen. “Can’t you see, or must I describe it to you in detail?”

“Look”—I suck in a breath, hoping I’ll be able to keep my frustration at bay—“I understand you feel the need to be here out of obligation to your best friends, but you don’t need to be here.”

He heaves a sigh and tucks his phone in his pocket. “I’m not here out of obligation for my friends. I’m here because you being alone isn’t okay. It’s reckless and careless that you’re inconsiderate to yourself and your safety.”

I just felt like I was drowning! Like I was suffocating! Like I wasn’t in my own body!

I want to scream those words, but I don’t. I swallow the heavy, splinter-like words down my throat and force a smile, because it’s what I do best.

It’s the only thing I’m good at.

If he already thinks I’m being reckless and careless for being out here alone, I can only imagine what he’ll think if he knows what really happened that night.

“Didn’t know you cared so much about me or my safety.”

“Gabby and Polly would probably never shut up if something happened to you. So, wipe that grin off your face. You’renotthat important,” he flatly replies and pushes off the wall, giving me an unamused look. “Are you done being a brat? We need to go inside.”

I scoff. “A brat? I’m not a brat.”

Landon lifts a brow, and a small ghost of a smile touches his lips before it’s gone. “No, of course not. My apologies. You’re a fucking child. Now, let’s go inside.”

“Oh my gosh!” I raise my hands, tempting me to choke him.

“Do it. I dare you. Choke me,” he taunts, but something else lurks behind his words.

My brows rise, and my hands fall to my sides. “What? No, I wasn’t?—”

Landon winds his hands behind his back. His gaze dips to my hands, then to my lips before it adjusts to my eyes. “I don’t like the back and forth. It’s underwhelming and boring. You and I both know you want to choke me. For whatever reason, it seems my neck fascinates you, so let’s put each other out of our misery so we can go back inside.”

My lips part, but I can’t manage to let anything out. I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around what he just insinuated.

“Are you seriously saying that I should…choke you?”

“Sure, why not?” He shrugs apathetically. “If it’ll make you feel better. Have at it.”

With stupefaction, I stare and wait for him to say he’s kidding, but that doesn’t happen.

I step back, brushing away the curiosity swarming in my head. “I’m not going to choke you. Are you insane?”

He shrugs again. “It’s light choking, unless you’re contemplating murder?”

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