Page 114 of Desolation

“Wow, Ms. Bar—Maria,” Landon says as my mom shoots him a look. “You did not need to make all this food.”

“Well, you look like you are a growing man and my daughter is too skinny, she needs to fatten herself up.”

I shake my head. “Mom, you are delirious.”

I run back inside and grab Olivia’s booster chair. She is still on Landon’s lap when I come back out. My mom is sitting across from him and Makayla next to my mom.

“Mariela, I saved you a special seat.” The way she looks at me makes me think she knows something is going on between me and Landon.

I ignore her and turn to Olivia. “Come on, bumble bee. Take a seat so Landon can eat.”

“No. I want to sit with him.”

Has my child been abducted and replaced with someone else? When has she ever warmed up to someone so quickly? “I am sure he wants to sit by himself so he can eat.”

She turns to face him. “Teddy bear, can I sit with you to eat? We can share a plate. You can eat everything I don’t like.”

“Olive, stop being a baby!” Makayla shouts at her as she scoops a huge amount of chilaquiles onto her plate.

“Don’t call me that!” Olivia cries. “You’re so mean. I’m not hungry anymore.”

“You are such a child. Grow up!”

“Makayla Natalia Waters, do not talk to your sister like that!”

The wail of Olivia makes me turn back to her and she has her arms wrapped around Landon’s neck, crying into his shoulder. Landon looks slightly awkward like he doesn’t know what to do. One arm is in midair, the other awkwardly pressed to Olivia’s back. I go to pick her up but she clings tighter to him. I meet his eyes, filled with heartbreak and love, like he never had this as a kid. As she continues to cry and shudder into his shoulder, his arms tighten around her before he starts to soothe her with whispers only she can hear.

I look over at my mom who has a smirk on her face. I sigh and shake my head. “Makayla stop acting like a brat. Leave your sister alone. Now you can either eat with us or you can eat by yourself in the house.”

She groans and grabs her plate, storming inside.

“What is her problem?” I ask the universe.

My mom clears her throat and points to Landon and Olivia.

“What, Mom?”

“¿Pensas que soy ciega, tonta niña?”

No, I don’t think she is blind.

I don’t say anything. I don’t want her to look into this more than she already is. She is so good at putting her nose in other people’s business, especially mine.

I sit down next to Landon who is still coddling Olivia and dig into the food on the table. Olivia eventually stops crying and he sets her in her booster seat, serving her exactly what she wants. I try not to watch him because I know my mom is watching me but it’s hard not to. To see this sexy, built man that I am in love with take care of my child.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Landon

What is wrong with me?

Was I struck by lightning?

Did I eat something that put me into an alternate universe?

Who is this man sitting on a beach buried to his neck in sand while two adorable girls giggle and laugh as they pour more sand over my body?

“You missed his hand!” Makayla shouts at Olivia.

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