Page 28 of When We Were Young

His face reddens again, and I know it’s at least partially because I said fuck again. A few times. The funny thing is, I rarely swear, and when I do, it’s usually to annoy him.

“Whether you like it or not, everything you do is my business—whether it happens at home or here. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that just because we aren’t technically dating, you aren’t mine.”

His words feel like an omen—one he makes no effort to soften.

“What’s going on here?”

Thank God. Sylvia. My best friend. I turn to look at her, and I’m even more relieved when I see her boyfriend, Tyler, with her.

“Nothing.” I turn and pin my eyes on Landon. “He’s just leaving. He forgot we weren’t together, so he came over to see me.”

“I didn’t forget anything. But I do need to leave. Someone’s waiting for me.”

I should just let him walk away. I know better. But sometimes my mouth gets me in trouble.

“Oh? Is it someone you need to talk to?” Sarcasm drips from my voice.

He’s already taken a few steps to leave, his shoulders now in line with mine as we face opposite directions.

“Yeah. There's going to be a lot of talking. Probably for hours.”

He starts walking again, and I climb up to my porch, where Sylvia and Tyler are waiting.

It takes me forever to find the keys in my bag, but Sylvia already has hers out. Since she’s my best friend and emergency contact, she’s got a key and has opened the door and walked in when Landon calls out to me.

“Liz?”

I sigh and turn my head enough to see him. “What?”

“I know you were fucking with me when you mentioned talking with other guys. But just in case you get any stupid ideas and forget that you’re mine, just know that I’ll be very displeased. I don’t tend to forgive easily and definitely not without making sure everyone involved learns their place.”

I cross my arms over my chest and shake my head.

“I’m not yours, Landon, and I’m free to see anyone I want. There’s nothing you can do about it, so shove your threats up your⁠—”

“The Carter Family Foundation College of Engineering Scholarship. Have you heard of it, Liz?”

I freeze.

My heart pounds in my chest. I’m nearly positive that’s the scholarship Holden has. I never asked him about the details because I didn’t want to talk about how Landon’s dad funds it.

“Cat got your smart tongue now? In case you haven’t heard of it, it’s a full scholarship renewable for up to five years. But there are conditions. Grades must be excellent, and conduct must be above reproach. In fact, there are lots of things people can do—or appear to do—that jeopardize the scholarship.”

“Why are you telling me this?” I practically whisper.

He says nothing for a few seconds, but his gaze pierces mine, the look in his eyes malevolent.

“You're not stupid, Liz. You know exactly what I’m telling you and why. I’d recommend you think long and hard about what happens next, because my patience is wearing extremely thin. You’ve had enough time to come to your senses about us on your own.”

Then he turns and walks the rest of the way to his car, parked several houses away, and I rush into the house, locking the door behind me.

I stay in the tiny foyer for a minute to calm myself. My hands shake. After a few deep breaths, I head into the kitchen and find Sylvia and Tyler sitting at the table.

“Tyler, I’m sorry. I know he’s your friend, but he’s such⁠—”

“You can stop right there. He used to be my friend, and even then, it was mostly because our dads worked together. I stopped considering him a friend when he became... whatever version of himself that was out there. So yeah, I know he’s an asshole. I have to be civil because my dad still works for his, but beyond that, he’s no friend of mine.”

“I’m surprised he has any friends,” Sylvia says.