“You can get dressed in a bit. Also, don’t ever consider walking outside in something like that or I’ll have to rip everyone’s eyes out. So now, let me say that you’re not taking the bus again. It’s too fucking dangerous.”
“Dangerous?”
“Yes,” he insists. I can’t say he’s completely wrong. I saw some crazy shit on the bus. This guy was shooting up in the back, and then another guy was fighting with the driver while this woman was talking to herself to the point she was scaring the people around her. It’s like a madhouse on the bus, and that doesn’t even include all the damn creepers eyeing you like they want to strip you naked right on the spot.
Hell, one time this guy was actually smiling at me, and then I smiled back politely until it turned into a leer and then a lecherous grin. I had to move my seat. Thankfully, this giant biker-looking dude got between us and glared at the guy, who then backed down. So I guess Landon has a point. The CTA isn’t the safest form of transportation, but I don’t like driving through downtown Chicago. It’s insanely busy and so dangerous.
“I don’t like driving downtown. Outside of rush hour and on the weekends isn’t so bad, but most of the time, it sucks ass.”
“Sweetheart, I didn’t say shit about you driving. You’ll be driven because there’s no way in hell I’m letting you get hurt driving these crazy, congested roads.”
“I think we’re moving too fast, Landon.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t have jumped into my bed.”
“Do you say that to all the women that you sleep with?”
“No.”
“Well, then.”
“I told you last night, Lara. Look. I’ll take you to your dorm in a few hours. Now sit down and eat before your food gets cold. I have to check on some matters.” He storms away and then seems to calm down as he gets down the hall before he opens a door and steps inside, closing it behind him. Suddenly, I’m no longer hungry. I grab my purse and take out my cell phone, reading the last text from my roommate.
Girl, already fielded six calls from Toby. Call him. Somebody tricked off about Friday night.
“Who’s Toby?”
“Ahh,” I screech, falling backward off the chair and landing in Landon’s arms. “What the fuck? Are you a fucking ninja or something?”
“I’m gifted at being quiet.”
“You’re used to being sneaky, I see.”
“Look who’s talking. I do believe you tried to sneak into my party.”
“Yeah, well. I did sneak into that party. You knew that, though.”
“You were drinking like a fish, Lara.”
“I was not. Besides, it wasn’t terrible wine, and I was nervous. It does go down smoother when I’m nervous because I wasn’t even paying attention to it.”
“I’m grateful there were no cameras inside, although there will be a lot of talk. Not that I give a fuck about it. The people inside there are not all quality characters anyway.”
“Says the man holding the party.”
“It’s for the charity. It doesn’t matter anyway because we’re off topic. Who the fuck is Toby, and why the fuck is he looking for you?”
“He’s my brother. I didn’t call him like I was supposed to yesterday…thanks to you,” I hiss.
“Well, you better call him and tell him that I’d like to meet with him.”
“Not really a good idea. He’s going to be busy with work, and I’m supposed to see him tomorrow night. He’s not going to like me dating anyone.”
“Sweetheart. We’re not going to be sneaking around.” My phone rings in my hand, and I nearly drop it so Landon snatches it and then to my horror, he answers the call.
“Hello. Yes, this is Lara. I would love to renew my auto warranty for my twelve gauge. Yes. No. I don’t think it’s funny. Auto warranties are serious, but so is committing fraud and when I find you, and trust me, I will, I will destroy your fraudulent scheme just for fun. Trust me, I will.” The entire time, he’s smiling to himself. He ends the call and drops the phone on the table. I look at the number and I don’t recognize it, breathing a sigh of relief.
“Relax. You thought it was your brother. I’ll give you a chance to tell him yourself, sweetheart, but I get that you’re barely eighteen and scared about us. I’m not. From the second I saw you trying to con your way into my party, I knew you were mine and even if you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m in it for the rest of our days. You can take your time and puzzle things out. I have meetings tomorrow throughout the entire day. I’ll be in and out of my office throughout the rest of the week, but will you at least have dinner with me Tuesday night?”