Page 93 of Time to Shine

Casey yawned. “Weird timing for what?”

“For—” Landon paused, and had that confused look on his face like he thought Casey was fucking with him. “Okay, remember how we kissed for the first time last night?”

Casey grinned. “Yeah, it was awesome. And then we had sex.”

“Right. And now my parents are coming today, and that’s a lot on its own, but the thing with you and me is also a lot.”

“A lot of what?”

Landon closed his eyes. “I’m not ready to tell my parents that we’re, y’know...whatever.”

Casey was silent for a long moment. He waited for Landon to open his eyes, then he said, “Are we whatever? Like, do you want to be?”

Landon’s mouth opened and closed a couple of times. “That’s...something we can figure out later. Right now I have to focus on my parents, and then meeting your family later this week.”

It wasn’t the “yes, of course we’re together now” that Casey was hoping for, but he tried to be understanding. “Right. Okay.”

Landon slid the last pancake onto the plate. “So which room should my parents sleep in? I’ll make sure it’s decent.”

Okay, so Casey thought this was an easy question. “The basement, obviously.”

It took Landon a moment. “I don’t think we should share a bed while they’re here.”

“Oh,” Casey said, shoulders slumping. “Sure, yeah. I get it.”

“I just—” Landon scrubbed a hand over his face. “Fuck. I’m sorry. Let’s eat and then I’ll clean and...think. I need to think.”

They ate, and the whole time Casey was confused and vaguely hurt. But, he supposed, there were more important things than his and Landon’s...whatever. Landon’s parents were coming and that was a big deal. Their whatever could wait.

Casey couldn’t wait to meet Landon’s parents.

He liked meeting people’s parents in general, but he was especially interested in the Stackhouses. Landon’s relationship with them seemed so complicated. Casey wanted to figure it out.

So of course he went to the airport with Landon.

“Is that them?” Casey asked, pointing to a man and a woman who looked about the right age.

“No.”

He and Landon were standing together in domestic arrivals, and Landon kept unfastening and fastening the snap on the cuff of his parka. He’d been obviously nervous all day, frantically cleaning and second-guessing every decision he made, like whether to make chili or pasta for dinner (he’d decided on chili because he could make the whole thing in advance).

Casey wasn’t much help when it came to cooking or cleaning, but he was good at mellowing Landon out. And at making him smile.

“Do you know how I picture your parents?” Casey asked, now.

“How?”

“Your mom is you, but with a bow. And your dad is you, but with a top hat.”

Landon’s lips curved up. “He doesn’t wear a lot of top hats.”

“I’ll try not to judge him for that.”

Landon was silent for a moment, then said, “I never got him a better Christmas present. All I have are the gloves and stuff.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that. My dad’s got you covered.”

Landon’s brow pinched. “What do you mean?”

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