Page 178 of Snap Shot

“Alone?” Landon tuts. “Unacceptable.”

I shrug. “It's not a big deal.”

He runs over the top rim of his mustachioed lip with an index finger, humming. “My family's getting together at my grandparents' farm in Bala. You should join us.”

“Oh,uh, I—” My soul circles the pit of my stomach.

Bea drops the visor closed. “Bum bum bum, bum pa dum, bum pa dum…”Her voice deepens to bellow out Darth Vader's theme song intro. She hangs up without another word and the other two follow suit.

“Silly me, I lost track of time. Gotta leave for work!” Sheena announces. Her box disappears.

“Would you look at that? My grilled cheese dinner went cold. Guess I have to remake it.” Gabe waves demurely. “Bye!”

Cringe. I wrinkle half of my face. “Sorry, my friends aren't discreet.”

Landon perks an eyebrow. “Did she say 'grilled cheese dinner?'”

“Yes. Yes, she did. She makes the most wicked grilled cheese sandwich. Crispy, crunchy crust and perfectly melted cheese.” The thought makes my stomach growl.

Landon beams with a smile and my heart beats itself into a puddle. “That's funny.”

“What is?”

“All I'm saying is, let’s hope Wade never finds out. Bro is obsessed. He'll fall in love with her or something.”

“You're joking, right? She'd never feedanythingto that guy. Except maybe poison. Those two hate each other.”

“I wouldn't be so sure. Sometimes I feel like they enjoy giving each other shit.”

“Maybe Boehner does. Gabe on the other hand…” Landon's inattention has me trailing off. “What are you doing?”

His thumbs tap on his phone. “Sending a text to the family group chat to let ‘em know you're coming to Babi and Deda's.”

I wince. “I don't know if that's a good idea. How are we supposed to explain—?”

Without looking up or missing a beat, Landon states, “They already kinda know about you.”

“They do?” Ex-squeeze me?

“Yeah, I told them before the season started that my lawyer was an old teammate. They know we're friends.”

More than ever, I hate that word between us with a fiery passion. I wanna murder it with a broken plastic spork.“Right.” My gaze drops to these nervously dawdling hands against the countertop. “Friends.”

“Don't do that.” Landon pulls my focus back up. “I know what you're thinking, but don't you dare. We're notjustfriends, Indi. They don't need to know that. I'll tell them whatever you want, as long as it means you'll be there with me.”

It doesn't take much convincing. Christmas on a farm with Landon sounds perfect. “Okay.”

“You'll join?” I nod and he punches a victorious fist into the air. “Yes! It's gonna be great, I promise. Delaney sucks, but everyone else is cool.”

“Everyone? Who's everyone?”

“My parents, Dad's boyfriend, Steve, Del and her husband, Seth, and the kids. Plus Uncle Phil and his wife Natalie, Uncle Toni, and Aunt Nina. And my cousins, Gary, Mike, Crawford, Addie, Clara, Mags…”

“That's a lot of people.”

“Don't back out on me now. If you're worried about them figuring us out, I suggest you keep those wandering hands to yourself.” Landon pulls the panels of his zip-up closed, splaying a hand over his chest as if clutching pearls.

I return a dramatic eye roll. “Let me write that down so I don't forget.”

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