It would be impossible to miss Landon’s pleased smile. I’m only a little jealous, I swear.
“Alright, I’ll get the pizza. I’m not sure what to watch, though. I usually watch horror and true crime. I’m boring.”
Landon squirms a bit on the couch. “No horror.”
“Why?” Parker asks, squinting.
“Don’t make fun of me, but I’ll end up with nightmares.”
Parker grins, and Landon huffs. “Not making fun, I promise. But you can sleep in the middle then. Ben can sleep by the door. That way, if any axe murderers come in, he can keep us safe.”
I scoff. “Sure, just sacrifice me.”
“You’re the horror fan,” Parker says, shrugging.
Landon laughs, and the sound is music to my fucking ears. “Yeah, what they said.”
Shaking my head, I pick a comedy show. It’s not long before the two of them are cackling. Not a soul alive could wipe the smile off my face right now. I don’t know what I expected when I started hanging out with these two, but it certainly wasn’t this.
I’m not sure I’d trade it for anything, though.
“They’re asleep,” Landon mumbles, sitting stock-still in the middle of the couch like if he moves, it might disrupt the enby angel sleeping beside him.
“I see that.”
“Should we leave?”
Parker’s eyes pop open. “I’m not asleep. I’m just resting my eyelids, and you better not leave.”
I chuckle. “Wouldn’t dream of it, Cotton Candy.”
Parker huffs. “Jesus, you are so annoying.” They stretch out, raising their arms above their head and arching their back as their eyes fall closed. I can’t help but grin.
When they open them, they look between Landon and me. “Okay, so who’s carrying me to bed? I’m too comfy to move on my own.”
Oh, that sounds like a real fun time, actually. But I also want to see how far the chemistry between Landon and Parker goes. My stomach heats. Oh, fuck yeah, I wanna see that for sure.
Parker groans when neither of us answers quickly enough for them. “God, are you really gonna make me walk? What’s wrong? Can’t carry anything but a football?”
“Landon will carry you,” I say.
Landon snaps his head toward me. “I will?”
I nod, but Parker huffs. “Jesus, I wouldn’t wanna put you out.”
They shift, throwing the blanket off their lap, and start to pull their feet out from under Landon’s leg. Landon frowns, eyes widening. Maybe I pushed too far too fast.
Parker puts one foot on the ground, and I’m about to volunteer—if Landon doesn’t want to, I’m not gonna miss my chance—when he shoots to his feet and bends over, wrapping his big arm around Parker’s waist and hauling them up.
To my surprise, Parker squeals, wrapping their arms around Landon’s neck. “Now that’s more like it.”
Landon’s staring at me like a deer caught in the headlights, big brown eyes wide, like he’s unsure of how he got himself into this position.
I chuckle. “Alright, let me grab the blankets.”
“To the bed,” Parker says, pointing toward their room.
Landon takes a tentative step. It’s adorable how hard he’s working to keep his hand in a respectful place. I love to see it, honestly. It’s also really fucking hot that he’s holding all of Parker’s weight with a single arm. Goddamn. I think I underestimated how strong he is.
