“O-okay.” Landon nodded feebly.
“Excuse me for like two seconds,” Noah said to Alistair, turning to walk over and grab Landon’s arm to help him up.
“Thank you, Noah.” Alistair’s eyes shifted to Junior. “Go with them.”
“Yous got it, Mr. Star,” Junior replied.
Noah chose to ignore his escort and marched on ahead, pulling Landon close as he hissed in his ear, “Look, I’m fuckin’ fine, but you really don’t need to be here for a while. Like, a long fuckin’ while, okay?”
“B-but why?” Landon hissed back frantically. “What is going on? Who are those people? They all have fuckin’ guns, you know—”
“Please, Landon!” Noah begged. “For once in your fuckin’ life, will you please listen to me?” He could hear Junior catching up to them, and he went on earnestly, “Just leave me alone, okay?”
Landon pulled away, his eyes wide as he stared at Noah. “You don’t wanna hang out with me?”
“Not right now!” Noah reached for Landon’s arm again. “I need you to, like, fuck off for just a few days or something, okay? I swear I’m fine. Okay?”
Landon frowned. “You… wait… Wait a second. Wow. I can’t believe I didn’t see it before.”
“What?”
“You don’t like me, do you?” Landon’s eyes were wet. “All of this time… you’ve been brushing me off, haven’t you?”
“Okay, maybe a few times, yes, but this isn’t one ofthosetimes! I’m trying to help you—”
“Wow. Yeah. Here I was just thinking you were busy or something, but I see it now! You don’t give a shit about me!”
“Landon. Come on, dude!”
“And to think I came over here looking for you because I was worried about you! You don’t care! At all!” Landon gritted his teeth. “You use me! That’s it! For parties and money you never pay me back—”
“I swear, I will pay you back! With interest! Just listen—”
“No, it’s fine!” Landon snapped, wiping at his eyes and readjusting his glasses hurriedly. “I get it. You just want me to ‘fuck off’. Well, don’t worry. I am. I’m fucking off right now, and I’m not coming back, okay?”
“Landon, for fuck’s sake!” Noah groaned in frustration. “You stupid goddamn motherfucker! I amtryingto fuckin’ help you, and as usual, you’re too fuckin’ stupid to hear what the fuck I’m saying!”
He hadn’t even realized he was shouting until Landon whimpered.
“Fuck,” Noah said, his gut wrenching sharply with regret. “I’m real sorry, man. Just… please…”
“No, I’m going.” Landon rubbed at his eyes again. “You are the worst kind of person… and… I just…” He swallowed back what may have been a sob, marching toward the door and then slamming it behind him.
All Noah could do was watch him leave, his stomach turning and leaving him wondering if he had done the right thing. He needed Landon to leave, it was for his own good, and he couldn’t tell him why.
And now he felt like the world’s biggest douchebag.
“Smooth, Crisco.” Junior whistled. “Real fuckin’ smooth.”
“Fuck you, Junior,” Noah muttered.
“I will shoot yous, ya jackass.”
“Whatever. Let’s just go.”
Head hanging low, Noah headed back to the dining room. He was happy there was a glass of wine waiting for him, and he flopped down defeatedly in his chair and immediately began to drink.
“Everything all right?” Alistair asked cautiously.
