“Um, well, I?—”
“Never mind. Lo just walked in, and she’s giving methe look. Talk to you later, Lando.” Then he hangs up. I pull the phone back to find JD’s number lighting up the screen again at the same time a text from Ethan comes through.
Ethan
dude you might as well answer him
do it now over the phone so you don’t have to hug him
Landry
How did you get my number anyway?
Ethan
don’t worry about that doc
just answer the phone
I growl under my breath and accept the call. “Can’t you leave well enough alone, JD?”
“I literally cannot. In fact, that’s kind of my thing,” he replies, sounding somewhat amused.
“Look, I apologized, okay, what more?—”
“I’m sorry, too, Landry. I haven’t always been very nice to you. But thanks for being the bigger man.”
I sigh and shake my head at the irony of that statement. “Yeah, no worries.”
“I’d really like it if we could be friends after this.”
I snort. “Are you really asking me to be your friend? What is this, first grade?”
“No,” he retorts defensively. “But grown men are allowed to be open with their feelings. It’s healthy.”
“Oh, is it?”
“Yeah. Unless one wants to convey certain feelings about his bro’s wife. Then he’s signing his own death warrant. But, you know, other than that, I’m here for you.”
I choke on a laugh, unable to help myself this time. “Yeah, man. I’m probably never taking you up on that offer, nor am I going to return the favor, but I appreciate it.”
“Anytime, brother,” he says, and I could swear I hear him sniffling. “I might hug you next time I see you, though.”
“The hell you will.”
He chuckles. “We’ll see.”
“Dude, I’m hanging up now.”
“Fine, good night?—”
I tap the red icon and end the call, then I laugh to myself as I toss my phone aside.
CHAPTER 28
daisy
I turnon my favorite playlist as I make my way to the dryer with an empty basket on my hip. After filling it with clean laundry, I bring it to my room for folding.
