A Kiss For You

Heidi grinned devilishly. Her eyes swept to Landon. “You rack, and I’ll break.”

“I’d expect nothing less,” he said as he got to work.

And, suddenly, the three of us were back in high school. We’d spent countless nights at Heidi’s dad’s bar playing pool and having a good time. Half of the time, one of Heidi’s boyfriends would show up. There was a lot of making out in back booths and trying to convince someone to get us drinks and a whole lot less actual pool.

So, this felt normal and comfortable.

I never thought I’d feel like this around Landon Wright again.

And it was nice.

Chapter 24

Jensen

One more call couldn’t hurt.

I’d told myself that after the last five calls.

But Emery still hadn’t picked up.

After Landon had stormed out of my house, I’d called Morgan, and she came over. She hadn’t known that Landon was coming in early either. So, she hadn’t been able to warn me. Though she thought the whole thing was poetic justice.

I thought she was full of shit. I had been planning to tell Landon. That wasn’t bullshit, as Morgan kept insinuating. But a part of me had known he would freak out. I’d told myself that I never would have gone after her if I’d known who she was. I’d told myself I never would have touched her if I’d thought she was staying in town. I’d told myself I’d stay away from her when I knew she was here for good.

With Emery, I couldn’t seem to keep my promises to myself. And I didn’t want to.

I didn’t believe in coincidences. If I kept running into her, it was for a reason. Not on accident. And I wasn’t about to walk away from someone just because of what might be.

But I hadn’t wanted to face Landon. That much was for sure. And it had gone much worse than I had anticipated.

I didn’t know what he was doing. I didn’t know what Emery was doing. And I just wanted to make this all right.

Landon was wrong about me hiding my problems. I’d fixed one problem this weekend when I bought Tarman Corporation out from under Marc’s nose. I could fix this one with Landon a lot quicker if I could talk to my girlfriend.

Except she wasn’t answering her phone.

Morgan gave me a worried look. “Maybe you should let it go.”

I wanted to throw my phone across the room. “I can’t just let it go. Landon is out there, pissed off at me. Emery isn’t answering my calls. What the fuck am I supposed to do, Morgan?”

“I don’t know. You made this mess.”

“Well aware of that. Thanks.”

“Look, I’m not patronizing you. But you knew this was going to happen. You knew that you would have to tell Landon.”

“And I planned to,” I told her for what felt like the hundredth time.

“Then, you should have just done it.”

“You’re right,” I said with a sigh. “Do you have Heidi’s number?”

Morgan frowned. “I might.”

“I need it.”

“No.”

“Why not?” I asked tersely.

“Emery is not answering your calls for a reason, Jensen. Give her some time. I’m sure that she is freaking out about all of this. No one likes to be ambushed.”

“So, I should let her walk?”

“That’s not what I’m saying. I’m saying, give her space. If you were the one freaking out, would you want her to bombard you?”

I closed my eyes and sighed. That was how I had reacted with every other woman post-Vanessa. I hadn’t liked to be bothered. I’d wanted my space. I hadn’t slept. I’d just worked. That had been my life. I didn’t know what it was like anymore.

“Normally, no, but right now, I’m considering going to her house to see if she’s there.”

Morgan rolled her eyes. “You men, so dramatic.”

“What if this were Patrick?” I countered.

“This also has nothing to do with me or Patrick. Stop projecting. I cannot believe I’m even having this conversation with you. With Austin, sure. He’s the one who fucks everything up. He even fucked up whatever was going on with that girl in HR.”

“Julia?” I asked. “They were together?”

Morgan shrugged. “They’re not anymore. But I thought you were always the one who had your shit together. Austin always has trouble with women. Landon has Miranda.” She scoffed. “Enough said. But your life is put together, even with everything going on with Vanessa. Why are you acting crazy over one girl?”

“I care about her. And I care about Landon. I don’t want to see either of them hurt. Not knowing is making me feel insane. I have to go out there and do something.”

I reached for my jacket and pocketed the keys to my car.

“What exactly are you going to go do?” Morgan demanded, following me into the garage.

“I don’t know. I’ll make it up as I go along.”

I hurried past the empty space where my black Mercedes always rested and hopped into my truck. Morgan stood, watching, as if she wanted to jump into the passenger seat or talk some sense into me. I noticed the exact moment when she decided it wouldn’t matter. She sighed and looked resigned.