Page 54 of Landon (In Safe Hands)
“No,I messaged an old friend on Facebook this afternoon. I haven’t heard from herin years. She just messaged me back. She wants to get together.”
“That’sgood, right?” My fingers find their way into her silky hair.
“Yeah,I’m just surprised.”
“Whydid you lose touch?”
Witha resigned sigh, she stares into the fire. “We were raised by strictevangelical parents. They homeschooled us and controlled every aspect of ourlives, including our friends. When I told them I wasn’t a believer anymore,that I wanted to be a scientist, they kicked me out. They did the same to Ethanwhen he came out.
“Theonly friends I had were in the church, and none of their parents would’ve letthem near me once I was destined to burn in hell. I just cut all ties.”
Mychest feels tight just thinking about Zoe, so young and all alone in the world.She had absolutely no one, and now look at her. She still managed not only tohouse and feed herself, and put herself through school, but is doing the samefor her brother.
“You’reamazing, do you know that?” I ask, tilting her chin so I can see into her eyes.
“Amazingfor running away?”
“Youdidn’t run away. You were pushed, and you landed on your feet. I’m so proud ofyou.”
Alight blush sweeps across her cheeks and she shrugs. “It’s all behind me now.My parents insurance and the proceeds from the sale of their house will morethan see us through our college years.”
“Didn’tyou say you inherited a commercial building as well? My realtor can help yousell it, too.”
“Igave it to the Every Life Counts Homeless Shelter. Ethan and I would never havemade it without them.”
LikeI said, she’s amazing. Sweet, funny, and a difficult smart-ass, but I’m crazyabout her. My lips are drawn to hers like I have no choice. Maybe I don’t. Itried not to want her, to fall for her, but I don’t think I ever had a snowball’schance in hell of fighting it.
Alittle moan rumbles her throat as I give her a long, soft kiss. Her foreheadfalls to mine when we break apart and she murmurs, “I love you.”
“Ilove you, too, sweetheart.”
Shescoots out of my lap and traces a pattern in the sand with her finger. I canfeel the shift in her mood, but I have no idea what the problem is. “I need youto promise me something,” she says, and I sense she’s drawing a line in thesand in more ways than one.
“Okay.”
“Ifthis doesn’t work out between us, I want you to tell me. Don’t just disappearand stop responding to me like last time. I can handle being dumped, but notbeing ignored.”
Shit.I’m such an asshole. If anyone should understand how much it hurts to beignored, I should. “Look at me, Zoe.” Her gaze is guarded and wary. “I’m sosorry for hurting you like that. It will never happen again.”
“Whydidn’t you want to talk to me? Did I do something to piss you off?”
Sheallows me to pull her back into my lap. “No, it wasn’t anything you did.”Sighing, I run a hand through my hair, trying to find the best way to explain.“I knew I was falling for you, and that you were getting close to me, too. Thenthe first time I try to take you out for a simple date, we get stuck in ashitty hotel because of my XP. I’ve dealt with the limitations my whole life,and I didn’t want to put that on you. Because it will get old, sweetheart.
“WhenI can’t come to your special occasions, like your graduation, or even if youjust need my help, like the day your car broke down. I can’t always be therefor you, and you deserve to be with someone who can. I wanted to let you go,but I couldn’t do it. I missed you, and every day seemed longer than the last.”
Softhands cup my face and she sighs, “You’re a goddamned idiot.”
Notwhat I expected to hear. It takes me a second to process what she said. “What?”
“Soyou can’t go out in the sunlight. It sucks and I hate it for you, but itdoesn’t mean we can’t have a relationship like everyone else. So we ended up ina hotel. I thought it was fun, kind of spur of the moment romantic. Shit goeswrong in every relationship. That doesn’t mean you give up. Dating me isn’talways going to be a joy, you know. I’m raising a teenager with issues of hisown, and I have more baggage than an airport carousel. Either you’ll be able tohandle it or you won’t. I wouldn’t take that choice from you, so don’t take itfrom me.”
Ican only stare as she tears me a new one because she’s absolutely right. I justdecided that she couldn’t—or rather, wouldn’t want to—deal with it instead oftalking to her about it. “I’m sorry. Even if we weren’t going to be together, Ishould’ve told you face to face. I know what it’s like to be ignored and Inever want to hurt you like that.”
“Whoignored you?” she asks, lacing her fingers through mine.
“Myparents loved to travel. They spent months at a time going from country tocountry, and they didn’t want to drag along a kid who had to be kept out of thesunlight, so I was left with nannies and tutors most of the time. They justparked me at home and went about their lives.”
“I’msorry. Sounds like we both won the shitty parent lottery.” Her hand tightens onmine. “Just talk to me if you’re worried, but you don’t need to be. I’m notgoing anywhere.” Her warm body snuggles against mine.
