Page 62 of Landon (In Safe Hands)
Hiseyes travel over the bruises that have become much more pronounced, and hislips press together. I close my hand over his. “I’m okay. I promise.”
“Allright.” He drops a kiss on my forehead. “Yell if you need me.”
I’mlounging on the couch, stuffed full of chicken parmesan when Frannie burstsinto the living room. “You!” She points at me. “You were in a car accident andyou didn’t call me?”
“Itwasn’t that bad.”
“Yeah,obviously.” She studies my bruised skin and crosses her arms. “You should’vecalled. At least you called Landon and he had enough sense to call me.”
“No,she didn’t,” Landon snorts, just entering the room to bring me a glass ofwater. “Ethan called me. If she’d had her way, she’d have taken a taxi home.”
Thanksa lot, tattletale. “Because I can take care of myself!” I don’t appreciate themganging up on me, and my head is starting to pound.
Frannieshakes her head and sits across from me. “I know. You don’t need anyone.”
“Ididn’t say that.”
“No,girl, you live it, and it’s time you realized not everyone will fail you likeyour parents did.” Well, hell. “How would you feel if I was in the hospital anddidn’t tell you? Or if Landon was in an accident and you had to find out afterfrom one of his friends?”
“Pissed,”I admit. “I just…didn’t want to bother you if I didn’t have to.”
“It’snot a bother, Zo. You’re my best friend, you bitch. I love you.”
Iget to my feet to give her a hug. “I love you too. I’m sorry.”
“Don’tlet it happen again or I’ll kick your ass. And let this hot ass man take careof you. I’d sure as hell let him take care of me.” She eyes him up and down intypical Frannie style, and I can’t help but laugh. “Do you have any brothers,bright eyes?”
“Nobrothers. What happened with Jeremy?”
“Ranits course,” she replies with a shrug, but I see a slight wince cross her face.She must’ve really liked him. “Anyway, I have to get to work, but if you needme, you call.” Her hands are on her hips as she glares at me.
“Iwill.”
Landonwraps his arms around me and we cuddle on the couch after Frannie leaves. “She waspissed,” I remark.
“Shewas hurt, Zo. Just like I was. Did it even occur to you to call me?”
Myarms find their way around his warm middle. “It did. I just thought why worryyou when you couldn’t…I mean, it was daytime.”
“Iget it, but as you can see, I can also take care of myself. I don’t want you tohesitate to call the next time something happens just because the sun’s out.”His finger slips under my chin to tilt my head until our eyes lock. “Promiseme.”
“Ipromise.”
They’reright. I’ve been on my own for so long, it’s hard for me to ask for help. Deepdown, I feel like they’ll resent me if I become too much of a burden, and thenI’ll lose them too. Even being loved takes some getting used to.
* * * *
Landonstays with us for two days until both Ethan and I go back to school. It’sfinals time, so I pretty much have my nose buried in my books twenty-fourseven, and Landon has been busier than usual with ISH which hasn’t left us muchtime to be together. We’ve discussed getting married and both agree we don’twant a typical big wedding, but when I suggest a quick trip to the courthouse,Landon balks.
“Iwant it to be memorable for us,” he explains. I can’t argue with that.
Whenwe finally get a night to spend together, Ethan is staying over at a friend’shouse, so Landon takes the opportunity to “christen” my new house. Which meanshe bends me over any piece of furniture that will hold my weight. I’m laid outon the kitchen table, trembling from innumerable orgasms, when he curses andsteps back.
“What’swrong?” I murmur, still riding the high. The look of pure fear on his facemakes me focus, and I sit up.
“Thecondom broke. I came inside you.”
“I’mon the pill. It’s okay. I was going to suggest we stop using them anyway.”
