Page 52 of The Close-Up
Even though the expression on Simon’s face seems friendly enough, I can tell by the hard look in his eyes it’s all a farce. He clearly has it out for Landon. I open my mouth to say something to him, but Landon answers him first.
“It’s just that now I can see how badly I screwed up in the past. I thought ghosting was a perfectly acceptable form of ending something. Terrible, I know.”
“Yeah, wow. That’s horrific,” I say, giving him a playful nudge with my elbow. “We’ve all done crappy things. What matters is that you stop doing it and improve from your old ways.”
Simon tilts his head at me. “Really? Have you ever ghosted anyone, Naomi? You don’t seem like the type.”
Pursing my lips, I let out a sharp sigh. “No. I haven’t. Have you?”
Simon shakes his head, his gaze never leaving mine. Then he turns back to Landon. “Glad to hear you’re not ghosting your dates anymore, Landon. I’m overcome with joy that my seminar could help teach you that.”
“Jesus,” I mutter against my glass just before taking another sip.
When I peer over at Landon, I notice the annoyed wrinkle in his brow.
“Look, man, I was definitely a douche back in the day. I won’t deny that,” he says. “That’s why I’m seeing you. I want to be better for the next person I’m with.”
Simon’s jaw clenches. “So it’s not at all douchey to pick up the closest woman in the vicinity during one of my seminars?”
“Simon. Stop. How many times do I have to tell you? Landon didn’t pick me up. We decided to have dinner and a drink as friends. That’s it.”
Simon levels a glare at Landon. “Playing the friends card? Original.”
Landon says nothing as he tugs at the collar of his shirt. Simon rolls his eyes and shakes his head.
“That’s it.” I slam my palm on the microscopic tabletop before jolting up to my feet and bolting to Simon’s side. I tug his arm. “Up. Now.”
He stands up and follows me as I drag him to the corridor by the bathroom. With both hands, I press him against the wall in the farthest, dimmest corner of the area so hopefully no one can see.
Despite how badly I want to take him to task for his childish behavior, I’m expecting him to push me gently back with one arm, then walk away. But he allows himself to be pinned against the wall.
“What the hell is up with you?” I snap.
He says nothing, just staring at me with those warm golden eyes that always radiate kindness when they look at me, even when he’s upset and frustrated.
A long moment passes without him saying a word.
“This alpha crap you’re pulling with Landon is getting old.”
It’s a few seconds of him clenching his jaw and his eyes darting away before he says anything. “I don’t like the guy, okay?”
“Are you kidding me? Are we in middle school? Are you one of the mean girls who expects me to stop spending time with someone just because you don’t like them?”
Simon closes his eyes for a long second before speaking again. “I know I sound like an asshole right now, but it’s just a vibe I get from him.”
Hearing Simon curse is like an electric shock. It sounds so foreign from a guy who censors his own curse words when he texts.
“What kind of vibe?” I ask, the impatience clear in my stern tone.
“He comes off as too suave. Like he’s playing everyone around him.”
“Then why don’t you kick him out of your class?” I retort, giving him a slight push with my hands still on his arms. “You make no qualms about that on your website, how you’d kick anyone out if you suspect they’re there for the wrong reasons.”
“It’s not—look, that’s not exactly it. I make a living reforming guys like him. They’re welcome as long as they’re actively working to better themselves.”
When Simon speaks this time, his tone is softer, but the hardness, the conviction is still there.
“Then maybe Landon is in it for the right reasons,” I say.
