Page 109 of Only With You

The rest of my words die in the back of my throat and I can’t help the giddy feeling in my stomach when he removes his seat belt and opens his door. I go to open mine, but he stops me.

“Wait,” he says, before he steps out and opens my door. My giddiness surges as he extends his hand out for me to take.

I shouldn’t be surprised by the rush of emotions whirling in my stomach. Since he came to my defense and he held me against him, I’ve not been able to think properly.

I don’t know what we’re doing and I don’t think he does either. Although, this is all new and feels amazing, I know I shouldn’t get comfortable because whatever we’re doing isn’t going to last.

The thought makes my stomach sink, but I shove it away and take his hand.

“You really don’t have to do this.” I sheepishly smile, and again, his eyes drop down to my lips.

“It’s the bare minimum.”

He shuts my door for me, and I expect him to let go of my hand, but he doesn’t and I’m thankful for it.

But now that we’re not in the safety of his car, the nerves slither their way inside of me. There’s a lamppost, but it only gives enough light for the path that leads to the museum. If Ilook to the sides, I can barely make anything out due to how dark it is.

“I’m here.”

Landon’s voice hauls my attention to him. “Hmm?”

“I’m not going to let anything happen to you. I’m here,” he reassures, squeezing my palm.

The softness in his voice would almost be soothing if I wasn’t internally cringing at how wet my palms are, because I’m sure he can feel it. I’ve no doubt he knows I’m afraid of the dark.

“You can laugh,” I pathetically say, slipping my hand from his grasp.

“Why would I do that?”

“Because I’m an adult who’s scared of the dark.”

From my periphery, I see him shrug. “Making fun of something you can’t control would be a shit thing to do. I like to be a dick here and there, but this isn’t how I want to go about it.”

The playful tone in his voice makes my trepidation dissolve. It’s now long forgotten, like it was never there and a sense of calmness washes over me.

“Here and there? That’s more like an all-day, every day kind of thing,” I argue playfully.

Landon rolls his eyes, but his lips stay curved upward. The smile is small, but it remains.

“So, how much begging did Gabby and Polly have to do to get you to wear that?”

I drop my gaze to my costume. “Some, but they were also persuasive.”

When I saw what Landon was wearing, I knew they conspired for us to match.

“Oh, yeah?”

“Yeah…”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“What is it?” He goads, and usually, he doesn’t, but the curiosity in his voice gets me to concede.

“You look really good.” My cheeks burn at my admittance.

It took everything in me not to stare when I was trying to ignore him earlier. I don’t know if it’s the black button-down that molds to his arms, chest, and torso, but God, does it do a wonderful job at accentuating everything. I don’t have to touch him to know he’s hard and all muscle.

---