Page 51 of Achievement Unlocked

“Spending the money.”

“Good for you.”

I was making things worse, wasn’t I? “I’m not boasting or anything.” WhatwasI doing? “Let’s say it wasn’t money I was offering, it was my expertise. If you needed, I don’t know, advice on the best kind of sanding sticks and paints for eyes on Bratz dolls.”

“Why would I need that?”

Cue internal screaming. Was he being intentionally obtuse? Was I being unreasonable? “I don’t know. You want to make sure a friend’s kid has the doll they want, but you’re determined to do the work yourself.”

“I wouldn’t do the work myself. I don’t know how to do that kind of work.”

Grrr. “Then you’d ask someone who knew how to do the work for you, and that would be me.”

“This sounds like an expensive project.”

“Materials aren’t much, but my example isn’t about money. Let’s say you have all the supplies. You found them in a box on the side of the road with a sign that saidplease take me. Or this imaginary friend of yours gave them to you, because you know a person who can do the work. Then you’d ask me for my expertise.”

“I wouldn’t. I don’t know you well enough for that.”

Of course not. We’d only fucked and slept together and drifted to the top of the world in a balloon side-by-side… How was I supposed to make my point? “Let’s say you knew a woman who needed help moving out of her apartment last minute, and she asked if you were available to help. You wouldn’t hesitate to sayyes.”

“Depends on the woman.”

Was it me? Was I the one who didn’t get it? How did people do this on a regular basis? I just wanted to curl up in a hole and hide and let Landon win, if it would make this tension stop. But I also wanted him to understand me, and me to understand him. “Work with me on this. Please?”

Landon sighed. “I did hesitate when you called, just not for long.”

“Because what I asked for was something you could offer. Something that may not have meant much to you, but it meant the world to me.”

“Breakfast doesn’t mean the world to me. Not being beholden to other people is pretty important though. Why does this matter to you?” Landon asked.

Because I was hungry? Because I wanted to pick up food? No. There was more to it than that. “I want to spend time with you, I’m having fun, and I don’t want this to be a barrier to what we’re doing.”

“Okay.” Landon sighed as if it had cost him everything to give his answer. “Let’s go to breakfast. But please no place fancy.”

“Definefancy.”

“Wait staff, mimosas, and quiche on the menu.”

I could avoid those things. “All right. There’s a bagel place off the next exit. Let’s go there.”

Landon followed my navigation instructions, and a moment later, we were walking into the bakery. When I saw what was in the glass display case, I turned away.

“Maybe we should go.” I tried to keep my tone playful.

Landon grabbed my arm. “After all that? Why?”

“They have quiche.” I teased and nodded at the glass.

He rolled his eyes. “I’m sure it’ll be fine.” A smile threatened to tug up the corners of his mouth. “Wait. How much for a sandwich?”

No. We weren’t doing this. “Ignore the prices or this will never work. Please.”

Landon frowned.

I ordered one of the more expensive sandwiches, to set a bar, and after a little more hesitation, he got a bagel with cream cheese and a black coffee. We grabbed our food and found a table in a quieter corner of the dining room.

“What’s next on the list?” Landon asked.

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