Seemed doubtful when Landon and Aly shared an easy, companionable kiss in greeting, and Cal had to fight off a grimace.
Aly instructed them to set the table, and Cal did as he was told, settling around the table once Aly was done with everything.She’d made do easy enough, and there was plenty to go around.
“Everything taken care of in Texas?”Landon asked casually as they all dug into their meal.
“Yep.Quit the job.Sold the condo.Even got registered to take the Montana bar in a few weeks.”Now was the time to say the rest.“I’m going to stay in town.”And because he was a coward, he tacked on, “For the time being.”
“In town?”Aly’s forehead creased.
Landon’s mouth firmed—not because he’d want Cal underfoot, no doubt, but because he’d want Aly happy.
“Yeah, I’m going to rent a place in town.”
“Why?”
“Once I pass the bar, my business will be in town—or even out of town.It doesn’t make sense for me to live all the way up here, particularly once winter rolls around again.I might as well make plans for permanence and all that.”
He’d hopedpermanencemight ease what he saw reflected on their faces, but Aly was frowning at him, and so was Landon.And in their expressions, everything he didn’t want.Worry.Concern.
Because they thought he was still as bad off as he’d been before the trial.When thetraumatic amnesiahad been really fucking with his equilibrium.
And, hell, he wasn’tmuchbetter, but better enough.Better enough that he understood he needed not just a job that made him feel capable again, but that he needed to stand on his own two feet everywhere he went.
“But you could stay here for the time being,” Aly pressed.“Ease in.”
Cal shook his head.“No.I’ve already got a place all lined up.I want to settle in like… well, the point is staying.Here just feels like visiting.”
Cal watched as Aly opened her mouth to say something, toargue, no doubt, but Landon put a hand over hers.In that hand, they had some kind of nonverbal communication.
Maybe that was the source of all his discomfort when it came to Aly and Landon.
It reminded him of his parents.Who hadn’t been happy.His father had been a narcissistic abuser, excellent manipulator, and—something Cal hadn’t realized at the time—an absolute terrorizer.
But his parents had done things like that.Exchanged easy affection.Had conversations with their eyes and gestures.Maybe there’d been a lot more fear and threat in that than he’d ever realized, but it was still… marriage.
Cal didn’t think Landon was secretly some evil, abusive asshole.Cal didn’t think Landon was bad at all, but he looked so much like Dad sometimes…
The reminder of everythingbeforeset him on edge, and he didn’t want it.
“Where are you going to be staying?”Aly asked, clearly trying to sound bright and excited for him when she wasn’t.
“The apartment above Honor’s Edge.”
“Oh.”The crease on her forehead smoothed out, and she seemed almostrelieved.
Which is when it dawned on him.
She assumed Sam and Nate would be babysitting him then.
Well, if it made her feel better, he’d let her think that.
But he’d be damned if he was letting anyonetake care of him.
*
“I don’t likeit.”
Landon glanced at his fiancée.Aly had her hands on her hips and that stubborn expression on her face that Landon knew better than to argue with.
