Page 102 of Until Landon
“Grab the blanket,” Landon says as we pass the quilt folded on the ledge. I scoop it up.
Ronnie, Asher, and July sit talking on the porch as we walk out.
“You changed into the caftan!” I say, eyeing the royal blue print.
“Of course. Thank you, honey. I love it.”
“It looks good!”
The men smoke Havanas somebody gave for a birthday gift. July doesn’t seem to be bothered by the aroma. Her feet are propped on the low table and she’s having birthday cake. The Galaxie sits center stage in front of the house. Outdoor lights where the road meets the field spotlight its beauty.
Landon calls his father out. “Are you supposed to be smoking?”
“Piss off.”
“See how quickly he forgot who gave him a car today?”
Asher weighs in. “That’s gratitude for you.”
“I haven’t forgotten. Where you two going?”
“For a ride. Hey Dad, can I take the car?”
Chuckles. He digs in his pocket and tosses the keys to Landon.
“This is a privilege. Don’t abuse it.”
Ronnie takes a drag and blows a stream of smoke above his head. He stretches his legs under the table, looking like the Grand Poobah of the house. And he is of course.
We take the steps down, and he comes around the passenger side to open my door.
“That’s what he used to say when I wanted to borrow any of his cars.”
I toss the quilt in the back.
“Thank you, kind sir.”
“That’s my boy!” Ronnie calls. “Elegance.”
Landon laughs. By the expression it’s a private joke between father and son.
Closing the door, he goes around back and gets in.
“Ready?”
“Let’s escape the bonds of Earth. I need to tonight.”
He looks at me and it feels like we both know what it is to be losing the beginning of us. The prologue is ending and it feels a little scary. This is real life now. There’s not a couple on earth who have been able to freeze the first days. When nothing came between you. The space where all things around you fade. Except him. Except her. And if we could, what would we miss? All things move forward.
He takes the frontage road out and toward the highway. I wrap my hair in my hand and feel the night’s breeze against my face.
“Where are you taking me?”
“To one of my old teenage hangouts. Want to park and make-out?”
“Yes. But I’m not going to go all the way,” I tease.
“We’ll see.”
