Forever Light(21)

Cash looks around before turning to look back at me. “I figured something was up. Landon was off his game today.”

Good, serves the bastard right.

I fidget with my hands, “Yeah, well I figured it was for the best. I think he needs some space.”

One of the guys from the team, I can’t ever remember his name, comes over and hands Cash a beer. Cash takes it from him and gives it to me. “I can’t drink that shit tonight.”

My brows draw in confusion, “Everything okay?”

Cash waves me off, “Yeah, yeah. Just some shit I’m dealing with plus we’ve got a pretty big game coming up next weekend.”

I spot Heather in the kitchen looking around for me. “I’ve gotta go. I’ll talk to you later?”

Cash nods and walks off towards Saylor and a few other guys.

When I reach Heather again she looks down to her watch, “I’ve got four minutes left in this bet. We need to make our rounds.”

I roll my eyes as she takes my hand and we make our way around the house. We say hi to a few people as we pass by them. Heather looks over her shoulder, “You better be swaying those hips.”

I laugh, “You’re fucking crazy.”

She laughs right back, “You bet that fine ass of yours I am.”

A shiver goes right down my spine and I freeze. “A fine ass you do have.” The sound of his voice charges the electricity flowing between us. I hate that he has this hold over me.

I turn to face Landon. I don’t know how to respond to his comment so I wait for him to say something else. He reaches for my hand and brings me closer to him. I go because that’s what I do. He whispers in my ear, “I missed you today.”

I close my eyes and rest my head on his shoulder. “I didn’t think you’d even realize I wasn’t there.”

“You know better than that, I always see you.” Landon says, “And I’m sorry for being a dick.”

I lift my head and stare into his eyes gauging his sincerity. I know Landon knows I always go to his games but I never knew he checked to see if I was actually there.

He bites back a smile, “I’m sorry.” He mouths.

I give him a little smile because that’s what I do. I always give into Landon Hayes. He’s my weak link. My heartbeat. My soul mate.

Heather clears her throat behind us. When I turn around she has her hand out. I shake my head and dig into Landon’s back pocket pulling out ten dollars. He’s paying for this.

“Told you.” She says winking and leaving Landon and I standing there.

“Want to explain that one?”

Landon pulls me into his arms. He’s so warm and comfortable. “Not a chance in hell.”

He laughs and I feel his chest vibrate.

I huff, “She bet me that you would be talking to me within ten minutes of showing up.”

“That’s it?”

I close my eyes and lean my forehead on his chest. “She may have mentioned something about me swaying my hips.”

Landon groans, “Don’t listen to her, ever.”

I lift my head. “You only do that shit when I’m with you. If not, I can’t promise not to beat the shit out of every guy who looks at you.”

My Landon is back for just the briefest of moments but it’s enough to give me a slight hope that one day, someday, we’ll find our way back to each other.

Landon and I gravitate to the kitchen away from the thumping of the music. He’s telling me about the game and what I missed. I let him tell me because I just want to hear him talk, I just want his attention, I don’t want to share him. I don’t tell him I watched every second of it on T.V.

Things for the moment are back to normal with Landon and I. Whatever the fuck our normal is, I guess. There is no denying our attraction for each other but there is a mountain between us. I want to go down one side while he wants to go down the other.

Landon’s eyes go cold and his body stiffens.

Someone clears their throat behind us and I mentally scream because I know it’s Cash. And here I thought things were going so good.

I turn in Landon’s arms and he brings my back flush against his chest.

Cash looks directly at me never even acknowledging Landon, “I’m outta here. I’ll talk to you later.”

I feel cold, something’s wrong. “Alright.”

When Cash steps around us he bumps Landon’s shoulder so hard his back hits the wall. Landon pushes himself from the wall, visibly pissed with Cash and throws his arms in the air, “He’s lucky I don’t kick his quarterback ass!” He yells loud enough for Cash to hear, but it doesn’t stop Cash or even cause him to turn around. In typical Cash fashion, he holds up his middle finger before disappearing into the crowd.