Page 16 of Landon (In Safe Hands)
Asmile blooms on his face and he presses a soft kiss on my lips. It’s sweet andbrief, but I still feel a flutter in my stomach. “Goodnight, Zoe.”
“Goodnight.”
Ihear his car pull away just as I get my door unlocked. When I look behind me towave to him, he’s gone, but I notice Landon’s car parked a few spots away. Washe here when we pulled in and I didn’t notice? What the hell is he doing here?It’s Saturday night.
“Somethingwrong?” I ask as he stalks up the walkway.
“Iforgot to give you my credit card so you can get the stuff for the guest roomsbefore you come in on Monday.” His posture is stiff as he thrusts a credit cardinto my hand. “Sorry if I interrupted your evening.” He turns and marches backto his car without another word and drives away.
Whatthe hell? Hasn’t he ever heard of a phone? He has my cell number. And what waswith the attitude? He can be seriously weird sometimes.
Ethanis lying on the couch, watching T.V. when I come in. “What did you do today?” Iask.
“Hungout with Colin. He’s transferring to my school.”
“Yeah?You happy about that?”
Asmile lifts his lips. “Should be fun.”
Uh-huh.I know not to keep questioning. I’m not his mom, but there’s only so much a boywill tell his sister. “All right then, I’m going to shower and go to bed.”
“Night.”
“Night,brat.”
Ispend Sunday studying and catching up on housework. For once, I go to bedearly, but still sleep until after nine. I have a class from one to three, so Iplan to go to the mall to shop for Landon’s stuff right after school.
Ethanis asleep on the couch when I leave. He may as well enjoy it while he can sincehe goes back to school next week.
Landon’sonly request was that the bedding not look like it belongs in an old folk’shome. When I pull into the mall parking lot, I’m a little excited to goshopping with a no limit credit card, even if the stuff isn’t for me. All fourguest rooms really are in serious need of a makeover. I decide to do two insoft, neutral colors, and two in a darker, more masculine hue.
Mycart is piled high with bedding, curtains, and a few items he still needs forthe kitchen. I can barely fit it all in my trunk. Sweat rolls down my temple asI climb into my car. It must be over ninety degrees and the sun feels like it’sclose enough to singe the hair from my skin. My only thought is the iced tea Iplan to grab on the way to Landon’s when I turn the key in the ignition.
Nothing.Instead of the engine turning over, all I hear is a click. Oh no. Not again. Ican’t afford another repair bill. My palm smoothes across the dash as I mumble,“C’mon now. Start.”
Click.Click. Click.
Ihate my life. No matter what I do, I can’t get ahead. I must’ve pissed off someunseen force since it just keeps pushing my head underwater. My forehead drops tothe steering wheel while I try to decide what to do.
Ireally can’t afford to tow the car back to the shop. Maybe I just need a jump?A peek at the time shows me I can’t call Frannie. She’s at work. Shit. Landonit is, then. I was going after his stuff anyway. I’m sure he won’t mind comingto jump my car. I’m only a few miles from his house.
Heanswers on the first ring, catching me off guard. Am I ever going to be onequal footing with this man? “Landon, I’m really sorry to ask you, but I’mstranded at the mall. My stupid car won’t start. I have all your bedding anditems in the trunk, so I really don’t want to leave the car here. Can you comeand try to give it a jump?”
Asilent pause unwinds until I think he may have hung up. “Are you there?”
Hereleases a long suffering sigh, making me regret that I even called him. “Whatlot are you in?”
“LotC, row 3.”
“I’lltake care of it,” he says. “Let me call you right back.”
Um,okay. Does that mean he’s coming or what? The phone goes dead in my ear beforeI can ask. Five minutes later, he calls back.
“Dareis on his way to check out your car. He’s about forty-five minutes away.”
Dare?His friend that kept flirting with me? Why send him? “Are you not at home?”
“I’mbusy,” he snaps.
