Page 145 of Forgiving Fate

Harrison shakes his head like he’s fed up with our antics, but we all know he loves it. “Bye crazy girls. I’ll see y’all later.” He crosses the street to his truck that is parked in front of The Handle, and we all wave as he drives off.

Harper releases Lainey’s arm and runs up the road to the lamppost, hooks her arm around it, and swings her body around it. As she makes her third trip around, she starts singing at the top of her lungs, “Burnin’ Up” by the Jonas Brothers.

Logan tightens her arms around me, giving me a squeeze, then jumps down. I catch her arm so she doesn’t fall on her face, then take out my phone to record H and now Lainey, who has her phone out with the flashlight, acting like she is at a concert.

Logan and I completely lose our shit and fall onto the bench in front of the closed flower shop to enjoy the chaos.

Soon we are all singing at the top of our lungs and I’m shocked that we haven’t had someone come out and tell us to be quiet. I know Grayson can hear us because I saw his head pop up from his client, and judging by the smile and shake of his head, he doesn’t care.

Logan leans her head on my shoulder and we continue watching Lainey and H, singing along with whatever playlist H has on inside her head.

I relax further into the bench and pull the sleeves of Landon’s sweatshirt, which I stole from his truck this morning, down my arms.

“I’m happy to see a smile on your face again, Al. Thank you for allowing me the chance to be in your life again to see it,” Logan says quietly, almost in a whisper.

I lean my head down to hers and wrap my free arm around her to give her a hug the best I can. “Thank you for giving me the time and space I needed. I know it was hard. For both of us. But the strongest relationships are often the ones that have had to climb Everest to get to there.”

Logan’s hand goes to her face and I know she is sweeping away a tear, but I let her be. It’s been a journey and I am just happy to be surrounded by an amazing group of people.

I owe so much of it to this amazing group of friends I’ve met here in Cliff Haven. They have surrounded me on days where I fall back inside my mind.

Without them, I wouldn’t be here watching Lainey and Harper square dancing in the middle of the quiet street, laughing my ass off with the girl who is like my sister.

I know I wouldn’t be here without the other half of my damaged soul. Landon Parker Hayes is my sunshine on a cloudy day. He is my life raft on the days where I can’t keep my headabove water. He is my best friend. Now that we have both been home for months, we have grown so much individually and together since the beginning of the year. And I can most certainly say I love this man with every piece of myself.

I just hope that I can break down that last wall soon and tell him.

Speaking of Landon, he rounds the corner of the building and stops in his tracks to take in the scene in front of me.

Before I can catch up to what I’m doing, I’m out of my seat and running at him. A smile spreads across his face and he opens his arms just in time for me to jump into them. Wrapping my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck, I hug him and feel his laughter vibrate against my chest.

His arms wind gently around my waist, and he hugs me tightly against him. His shoulders relax as he buries his face in my neck.

“Fuck’s sake! When did we transport into some romcom movie?” I hear Harper say in a sarcastic tone.

Not bothering to turn around and face them, I bury my face into Landon’s neck, breathing in his warm cinnamon and smokey scent.

“Stop! They are so cute! Don’t listen to them, Al! That was adorable!” Lainey yells back.

Landon huffs a laugh and tightens his arms for a brief second. I slide down and stay tucked into his side. His arm goes around my waist, his hand resting on my hip. Turning my head, I gaze up at him and his dark blues meet mine.

The sound of the girl’s laughter fades away as Landon’s forehead goes to rest atop of mine, our eyes locked in a silent embrace.

A smile spreads across my face at the overwhelming sense of safety and what feels like love radiating off of us. But as his face morphs to return the gesture, I notice something is slightly off.

He must catch on that his mask doesn’t fool me anymore and places a gentle kiss on the top of my head before standing back to his full height.

Keeping me locked against his hip, he says, “Hi Bluebird. Did you have fun?”

I nod and search his eyes for a hint of what’s wrong. My mind immediately goes to the absolute worst things.

Did he relapse? Did something happen to his dad? Did a mission go wrong?

Is he no longer feeling the same way and is about to tell me that the invisible string between us is gone?

I am about to ask him when Grayson steps onto the sidewalk, Noah and Willow right behind him. Logan stumbles over to him, rises on her tiptoes, and kisses him. She pulls away quickly and plasters herself to his front. His arms wind around her and he runs his hand up and down her back.

“Hi Pretty Girl,” he says and Logan buries her face in his chest as Willow plasters her fluffy body against their legs.

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