Drunk Dial(75)

“Yeah. Whenever Lilith is around, it takes me back in time. I feel like a kid again around her. It’s good for my soul.”

After Landon tucked the photo back into his wallet, he wrapped his arms around me, kissing me repeatedly on my forehead. I’d lived for so many years feeling alone and scared. For the first time in my life, I felt truly safe. His hands may have been calloused; his arms may have been inked; he may have looked dangerous, but Landon was as gentle as he was protective.

“I couldn’t have ever foreseen this happening between us, Landon. I’m so grateful to have you with me now.”

“I never thought I’d see you again in a million years after you left. Life can be hard as shit, but sometimes…sometimes it surprises me in the best way.”



That night before heading to sleep, Landon was brushing his teeth while I readjusted the sheets on our bed. I happened to look up and noticed something bizarre. My stuffed animals from childhood had always been lined up on a shelf that was situated high up on the wall across from my bed. There were so many crammed together, all different colors and kinds. One stuffed bear in particular caught my eye—because I didn’t recognize it.

It wasn’t mine.

When Landon walked in, I asked, “Did you buy me a stuffed animal?”

“No. Why? Do you want me to?”

Walking over to the shelf, I lifted the brown bear. “I just noticed this one. It’s not mine.” I handed it to him.

Landon’s expression grew to one of concern as he inspected it. “You know there’s a zipper back here.” He opened the bear to find a camera inside. “This a fucking spy cam!”

My heart started to race. “What?”

“Look…the nose is the lens.” Landon’s hands were shaking. I’d never seen him so worked-up. “That sick fuck must have been filming you.”

Admittedly, I probably hadn’t taken a good look at the shelf since Lenny moved out, so I had no way of knowing how long the bear had been there. Since we’d changed the locks, it was doubtful that he’d been back since leaving. Still, it definitely shook me up.

He threw the bear on the bed. “It’s empty…no tape or anything inside. Will you let me go to the fucking police now?”

“No. I don’t want any trouble. I know that sounds crazy…but I just want to let it go.”

Landon let out a frustrated breath. “I have to work harder at finding us a new place.”

Looking for a new apartment had somehow fallen by the wayside. With each day that had passed after Lenny left, it’d seemed less necessary to move.

But this unsettling discovery definitely opened old wounds, making the need to relocate once again a priority.





FERRIS WHEEL





Lilith turned eleven this week.

I’d only been around for a couple of birthdays with her, but they were always bittersweet.

This year was going to be different because Landon was here to help me celebrate. That would hopefully distract me from the inevitable moments when my mind wandered to the day she was born or to thinking about the years that I missed.

Even though her birthday had technically passed, we’d be marking the occasion tonight. It happened to work out that the carnival was in town, so we planned to take her there in the early evening after the truck closed.

Around 4PM, Landon was taking a quick shower after a long day of work. I had already gotten dressed and was waiting for him, feeling really anxious for some reason.

Landon emerged from the bathroom with a small towel wrapped around his waist. A few droplets of water were dripping down the veins of his ripped torso. He looked good enough to lick.

He approached me in the middle of the living room, and his towel dropped to the floor. His fully erect cock was on full display.

“Be careful,” I said. “The curtain’s open and God forbid, my father walk in.”

“That would serve him right because he promised not to barge in anymore. It’s bad enough he leaves religious statues around that judge me when I’m getting you from behind in the kitchen.”

“She’s not judging you. She brought us together.”

“Say what?”

“I prayed to her right before you called me to tell me you were moving here.”

“Oh, good.” He tugged on my tank top. “Then she won’t mind if I stick my dick between those beautiful tits right now, either? The whole time I was in the shower I kept thinking about how good they look in this shirt. I was getting really horny but intentionally didn’t jerk off in the hopes we could have a quickie.”

As much as it pained me, I said, “We can’t. We’re already late.”