Page 27 of When We Were Young

“Come on, Liz. Let’s go inside and talk.” Landon softens his expression, but I know it’s a trick. Once he’s inside, he’ll revert to his usual self.

I scramble to think of an excuse not to let him into my house, but I can’t come up with one, so I’m going to have to go with honesty.

“Listen, Landon, I’m not comfortable with that. I’m fine to sit out here and talk with you, or we could take a walk, but we’re not going into the house.”

His jaw clenches, a sure sign that he’s annoyed. However, I know him well enough to know he’s trying to keep his reaction under control. Honestly, that might make me more nervous than if he showed his outright anger.

When he doesn’t and tries to mask what he’s really feeling like this, I don’t know what to expect. He sucks air through his teeth while staring at me.

“Fine. I wanted to see what you were doing next weekend. There’s a fall-festivities fundraiser-type thing at the house, and I wanted to see if you’d come.”

I open my mouth to speak, but he beats me to it.

“Listen, we’ve been apart for too long, Liz. We’re in our senior year, and you know that we’re both going back home and that it’s inevitable we’ll be together. That’s how it’s meant to be. Any other girl I’ve talked to⁠—”

I let a sarcastic huff escape me, and he stops speaking for a moment to pin his eyes on me.

“—doesn't matter. It was always going to be you and me, and I think it’s time to start easing back into us now.”

I’m irked and feeling bold.

“By 'talked to,' do you mean fucked? Kissed? Allowed to give you a blow job in the fucking frat house pantry?”

His face reddens, and his features pinch together.

“Don’t be crass. You don’t speak like that. I’m going to assume you’re tired, and that’s why you’re talking like a common nobody.”

Screw him. He’s such a controlling jackass. Against everything I know to be the best way to handle him, I speak again.

“Okay, so none of those women matter. What about the men I’ve talked to?”

He takes a threatening step toward me, and I take another back.

“Don't.”

“You haven’t talked to anyone, Liz, so that won’t be a problem.”

His glare dares me to contradict him.

“That you know of. Why would you know what I do?”

“Why do you insist on pushing me and pissing me off? Do you know how hard I try to be the kind of man you want me to be? I’ll never be a pushover, but I did try to give you some space. I know you don’t like it when I use my leverage. But saying stupid shit to get a reaction out of me isn’t the way to get me to act how you want me to⁠—”

“I don’t really care how you act, Landon, because we aren’t together. We won’t be together. Even if I go back home, it won’t change a thing. You have no control over what I say or what I fucking do.”

He says nothing and smirks at me. It drips with wickedness and arrogance.

A wave of unease hits me, as if he can see inside my head—see all the things I’ve held precious lately. See my thoughts. My feelings about Holden. Maybe I shouldn’t have egged him on.

“I’ll ask you one more time. Why are you so late tonight, Liz?”

Even his smile feels threatening.

“None of your business, Landon,” I say with saccharine sweetness.

“I’m going to assume it’s studying. Give you the benefit of the doubt because I love you.”

I groan obnoxiously. “For fuck’s sake, you don’t love me. Love doesn’t behave like this. Like you.”