Page 92 of Desolation

I shake my head. “It’s fine. I’m just being paranoid.”

“About what?” he asks as his hand snakes down my back and slides along the top of my pants.

“Everything. Dax didn’t want me to come because of all that shit. He says you are the only one who knows about my problems. He didn’t want the other guys to get suspicious. And then that got me thinking it would be weird if we were together even though you invited me. I should have driven with you and pretended I don’t know Dax.”

His hand slides over my ass and pulls me closer to him. “We can say I met you through Dax.”

“Have you two ever hung out before?”

“No. I’m telling you, it’s not a big deal. I’ve heard stories about the guys. They don’t care.”

I hear footsteps in the house and try to pull away but Landon just smirks at me.

“Oh, hey,” Catherine says as she carries a few empty wine glasses. “Didn’t know you were in here.” She looks between the two of us. “You two know each other?”

“We’re friends.” It’s clear what type of friends we are with the way Landon says it.

“Ah, okay. Mari would you like some more wine?”

Wow, so maybe they don’t care. “Um, sure?” I say as a question.

Catherine busies herself in the kitchen pouring a few drinks.

“Told you,” Landon teases.

I roll my eyes at him and walk away, helping Catherine with whatever she needs.

Luckily Landon lays off on any PDA and leaves me alone for the next few hours. I don’t miss the glances he keeps giving me but I am glad he isn’t acting like we are a couple of teenagers in the honeymoon phase.

I actually enjoy hanging out with Dax and Landon’s coworkers. It’s refreshing to see someone other than those two.

As the afternoon passes, I get sad as I watch the kids. I miss my girls so much. I wish they could be here and play with other kids. The guilt eats at me as I know they have done nothing but hang out at Michael’s parents with no one their age.

I want to call them but I can’t. I told them to always call me. I don’t want to accidentally make a call and have Michael be around. I only hope Dax can figure out enough to let me go home safely next week.

Landon glances over at me and gives me a curious look. I am sure he can tell I am sad. He starts to walk toward me but Mark stops him.

“Yo, Stud Muffin!” Mark yells.

Both Landon and Jackson turn to him and Mark starts cracking up.

“God, I love doing that.”

Catherine sits down next to me, laughing. She must see my confused look. “Call signs. Mark is fascinated by the fact Landon’s is Stud and my husband’s is Muffin.”

I smile at her. “I can see the humor in that. He gave me one earlier.”

“Oh, I cannot wait to hear this.”

“Marigold.”

“Oh, that’s cute. Much less annoying than when he calls me Kitty. It makes me glad Mark doesn’t live here. I can only put up with so much of him.”

“He seems to be the one that keeps everyone together.”

Catherine chuckles. “Yes, in our mutual annoyance of him.”

I sip from a bottle of water as I watch the guys talk.

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