Page 86 of Only With You

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JULIANNA

Me: You seem a little too excited for someone who swears she didn’t do it.

El: This is Landon we’re talking about. Of course I’m going to be excited! It’s your fault for assuming I wouldn’t be.

I haveno idea how it happened, but Landon found my spam account and followed me. I can’t for the life of me understand how he managed to find it or how he knew it was me. But he did and embarrassingly, it’s all I’ve been able to think about for the past week.

El: I gotta go. My break is over, but you should follow him back!

El: Also, I’ve got the night off for Halloween!!! Love you!

Me:

Me: Physically and mentally prepare because Polly will get you drunk! Love you back!

Exiting the messages app, I get back on Instagram and stare at his page.

I don’t know why I keep doing this, but I can’t stop myself. I stare at his account with only a few pictures and kind of…wonderhow bad of a thing it would be if I did follow him back?

Despite our differences, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want him to look at my photos. It’s wrong that I want that, but it’s all I’ve been able to think about all week.

I consider it as my thumb hovers aboveFollow back. I list the pros and cons, and while the cons outweigh the pros, my heart hammers hard as I make up my mind. Rapidly tappingFollow back, I toss my phone on the other side of the couch.

I’ve no idea what I just did or got myself into, but a knock drags my attention away from the object mocking me.

Jumping off the couch, I try to ignore my tumultuous thoughts, and open the door ajar. My heart picks up in speed, pounding fast. Because on the other side, Landon stands, staring down at me.

“Gabby and Polly aren’t here.”

His jaw flexes as his eyes land on my oversized sweater. It used to belong to Finn, but he let me keep it. I swore I was going to give it back because his last name is monogrammed on it, but he said not to worry about it.

Finn says he’s always getting free apparel for being part of the team. I didn’t argue, because it’s comfortable and fits me loosely. Being tall is great, but sometimes, it has its disadvantages, like not finding clothes that fit me right. It hasn’t always been an issue, but when it is, it’s a pain in the ass.

“I know. I’m not here to see them. I came here because I wanted to talk to you.”

My stomach tumbles. “About?”

“Can I come in?”

I should say no, because I don’t see how this could end well, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious. And the softness in his voice and poignant look in his usually stoic face have me making up my mind.

I crack the door wider, stepping back to allow him to come in.

A tense silence envelops us as he shuts the door, but only briefly before he peers down at his hands. That’s when I notice he’s holding something wrapped in paper.

“I don’t know how to…” he trails off, a dejected sigh escaping him as he stares at whatever is covered in paper, then at me. “I’m not good with words or sharing things about myself. It’s not something I’ve ever had to do with anyone unless I need to. I’m shit with words so this might not be good enough, but I came here because I wanted to apologise for being a dick. You didn’t deserve that.”

My breath gets caught and my brows arc high at the sincerity in his voice and the guilt that mars his face. I’ve never seen Landon look physically remorseful. A tiny part of me feels reluctant, but deep down, I know he’s being honest.

“It’s not much, but I bought you this.” He holds out the thing in his hand for me to take.

I stare, feeling dumbfounded, but I push through my disbelief and grab it. It’s not heavy, but it’s not light either, and something pokes out from the side. When I tear the paper off, I gasp in awe at the mug shaped like a ghost holding a pink cowboy hat and wearing a little pink belt and boots.

He clears his throat. “I still don’t understand who needs to have that many mugs, but I figured you could add another to your collection. And it fits the season.”

My lips part and close and part again, but I can’t settle on a single word, because I’m at loss for them.

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