Page 83 of Until Landon
“My mother’s gonna go batshit crazy on my ass,” Bing says, fingers to each temple.
“Mother? We can’t tell our mothers! You think yours is going to be mad? What about mine?”
“If you don’t think they are gonna find out, you’re crazier than I am. They’ll be planning our executions.”
I grab Bing by the shoulders.
“We need to tell Landon. That’s who needs to know. Maybe he will understand we can’t let the women know anything about this. They will overreact for sure.”
He pushes my hands off.
“Overreact? Your mean to the drugging of their sons and the theft of Landon’s things? Or maybe you’re talking about the fact we didn’t seek medical treatment or call the police to report the crime.”
I hate when he is logical. But I fight it.
“As long as we are okay, the medical treatment is unnecessary. What about reporting the crime though? What good would it do? They’re long gone, and not going to hit the same place twice. They have already taken what they want. I bet they’re from another town. No need to get the police involved.”
My take does little to calm us. We both know no adult is going to think we are geniuses for coming up with the plan. And it stands on the shakiest ground imaginable. Our self-preservation.
“We have to hope Landon will cut us a break and just lecture the shit out of us about what idiots we are.”
“You think there is a chance in hell he will keep the secret?”
“Maybe if we tell him we’re gonna pay back everything. It’ll take time, but we need to do it. I’ll work my ass off to do it if we can keep it on the DL.”
Bing’s shoulders drop.
“We’re never gonna get to use the house again. Shit.”
“Are you fucking nuts? We’ll be lucky if he doesn’t kill us.”
“I hope this doesn’t mess up things for your mom. He could figure you’re just too much trouble.”
Way to twist the blade, dude. That doesn’t help a bit.
“I don’t think so. Listen, he wants me to like himbecauseof my mom. This would be a good way to do it. I mean I like the guy already, but he doesn’t know that. I heard him tell her he loves her.”
“He did?”
“Yeah. So if he does, this won’t end it. I think. God, I hope. He’s a good guy, and she loves him apparently. The crime has already happened, so it’s not like we can undo it. We can only man up and reimburse him for the losses. Remember, he’s a man and understands what we are up against.”
I think that landed with Bing. He’s nodding.
“When are you going to tell him?”
“As soon as I work up the courage. It has to be in the next hour for sure. But we need to think about whatweare going to say. It’s not just me who let them in. We need to stick together.”
It feels like we are lifelong criminals planning alibis.
“Wait! We don’t have our cells. Should we go down to the Mighty Mart and see if they’ll let us use their phone?”
“Landon has a landline. I saw the plug-in old phone in the box of cords. If they didn’t take it. Let’s go see.”
We make it down the stairs, but not at our usual pace. We are slow as fuck, coming off the drug.
“Hey, see if he has YouTube on the TV. Maybe you can find shit about roofies.”
Bing drops onto the couch, while I dig through the one box left nearly untouched.
