“I’m used to it.”
Landon stepped closer to me, so our hips were touching. He rested his hands on my waist.
“You shouldn’t be.”
“Thanks.”
“I was having a good time, though.”
“Me too.”
“I could tell.”
My ears burned, and Landon’s cheeks flushed. He bit his lip.
“I kind of wish we’d been alone.”
I got this prickly feeling.
Like maybe I wished that too.
I wasn’t sure.
I didn’t know how to explain it to Landon that I just wasn’t ready for us to do things.
I didn’t know how to explain it to myself.
Landon squeezed my butt a little bit. “Maybe next time...”
Kerry popped her head in. Landon let go of me.
“Hey Darius,” she said. “We’re getting slammed at the tasting bar. You mind helping out?”
“Oh. Sure.” I kissed Landon. “Sorry.”
Landon kissed me again. “Can we talk about this, though? Tonight?”
I swallowed.
“Yeah. Sure. Tonight.”
BREAKFAST FOR DINNER
After our shift, Landon came home with me, along with a bag full of groceries to make Breakfast for Dinner, which was his favorite. The house was quiet, Laleh and Grandma and Oma all doing their own things, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that a cloud was hanging over our family.
But then Landon started cooking. He made scrambled eggs and hash browns and bacon and Brussels sprouts and brioche French toast.
Eventually Laleh came down, no doubt drawn by the smell of bacon.
“Can I help?” she asked.
Landon smiled at her. “Sure.” He had her dip the brioche and season the hash browns and even taste-test the Brussels sprouts.
Laleh loved cooking with Landon.
I couldn’t remember the last time my sister had smiled so much.
When Mom got home, she saw them cooking together and smiled, too.
