The first ring barely finishes before he picks up, and the second I see his face, my lips twitch into something almost real. God, I miss him.
“Oh, I know that look,” Chad teases. “What’s wrong?”
I wet my lips, my fingers gripping the phone a little too tightly. “Landon,” I manage, and it’s the only word I can get out before my throat closes up.
Chad’s teasing expression shifts, his brows pulling together.
He warned me. Told me Landon wasn’t the type to settle down. Told me I was going to get hurt, that Landon wasn’t built for forever the way I thought he was. I should have listened to him. There are a lot of things I should have done. I should have walked away when Landon hesitated. I should have fought harder for myself.
I should not be standing here, surrounded by three men who are supposed to be guarding me, while my body is betraying me and craving something dangerous.
Chad’s eyes narrow, confusion slipping in. He knows I’ve avoided this topic. Hell, the last time he brought it up, I hung up on him.
I don’t talk about Landon. Most of the time, I pretend he was a mistake I don’t remember. It’s kind of hard to keep pretending with him here in New York.
But I really don’t talk about him to Chad. Especially since one of his mates is Landon’s twin sister, Lakelyn. She believed in him. Convinced me he’d changed.
She was wrong.
“He’s here.”
“Shit,” Chad curses, his easygoing expression vanishing. The screen wobbles as he moves through his house.
“Lake, your brother went to New York,” he calls, and I hear the faint sound of something clattering in the background.
A second later, Lakelyn appears, her curls damp from a shower. Her face twists in a frown. “What do you mean he’s in New York?”
“He showed up,” I say.
Lakelyn drags a hand down her face. “Goddammit, Landon.” Her eyes flick back to the screen. “Are you okay? Mason said?—”
I know what she is going to say…I know it’s why Landon is here. He felt it when the mark faded. He probably feels bad. He should.
“I’m fine.” I’m not fine, but I say it anyway.
Her lips press together, then she blows out a breath. “I’ll call him. I’ll tell him to come home.”
A tight, ugly knot twists in my chest. “Will he listen to you?”
She hesitates, then shakes her head. “I don’t know.”
A heavy silence settles between us, stretching long enough that I feel it in my soul.
“Try,” I whisper.
Lakelyn nods. “I will.”
We hang up, and when I go back to the living room, I’m met with three sets of eyes. Watching me. Waiting. Because this isn’t just about Landon.
And we all fucking know it.
How did I get into this mess?
I arriveat practice the next afternoon, eager to escape the men who have my skin tingling and my heart racing.
The team is in good spirits as we tie up our laces and get ready to skate sprints. Cheese and Knox joke with each other while Twinkle and Daisy stretch.
Coach Crusher skates in front of us. “Ready to work, ladies?”
