Listen to Me (Fusion 1)

“That’s right, baby,” I croon, brushing loose pieces of hair off of her damp cheeks. “Let go.”

“Come with me.”

“I’m right here with you,” I assure her and let go, exploding inside her, around her. She holds me close until the aftershocks subside, and I roll us to our sides, facing each other.

“It always feels like the first time,” she says, almost shyly.

I smile and kiss her nose, her lips, her cheek. “It’s all you, sweetness.”

“No, it’s us.”

Chapter Thirteen

Addison

“Hey, blondie.”

I twirl at the sound of Landon’s voice in my ear, and am instantly caught up in a big bear hug. “What are you doing here, handsome?”

“My flight leaves in a few hours, so I thought I’d stop in here before the place got hopping for lunch to say goodbye to my best girls.”

My heart sinks at the thought of Landon leaving. It could be another year before we see him again.

“I hate that you’re stationed way the hell over in Europe,” I reply with a pout. “Aren’t there naval bases in the States?”

He just smirks and shrugs. “I like it there.”

“Well, stop waiting so long between visits home,” I scold him as we walk toward the bar.

“Now you sound like my mother,” he replies with a laugh just as his eyes land on Cami, who’s sitting at the bar, spreadsheets laid out before her. She’s biting her lip as her fingers fly over a ten-key calculator.

“I’ll grab Mia,” I murmur and saunter toward the kitchen. Maybe Jake’s right. Maybe Landon isn’t as immune to Cami as we all think he is.

He’s just a stubborn man, which is entirely typical.

“Mia?”

“Yeah?” she calls from inside the walk-in refrigerator.

“Landon’s here to say goodbye.” Mia walks out of the fridge, carrying a tray of chicken.

“In the bar?” she asks.

“Yep.”

“Be right there.”

I nod and return to the bar, where Cami and Landon are laughing and Kat is pouring them each some coffee.

Mia walks in behind me.

“Your flight doesn’t leave until this afternoon,” she says with a frown.

“I thought I’d stop in before you opened for lunch,” he says as he hugs his sister close. “Gonna miss you, brat.”

“No you won’t. You’re too busy flying planes and failing at staying out of trouble to miss me.” She has tears in her eyes as she leans her head on his chest and hugs him tightly.

“I always have time to miss you,” he says. “You should come visit me.”

“Sure.” She laughs and steps away, wiping at her eyes. “I’ll do that as soon as I get a vacation.”

“You work too hard,” he says, but Mia is already shaking her head at him.

“We had this conversation already. It’s closed.”

“I didn’t close it,” he begins, but stops when she glares at him. “Fine.”

“How long will you be traveling?” Kat asks, changing the subject.

“About twelve hours,” he says, as if it’s a short flight to Seattle. “I’ll sleep most of it.”

Kat stares at him in horror. “How can you stand it? Oh my God, I’d have a stroke. I’d lose my mind.”

“Kat is afraid of flying,” Cami informs Landon dryly.

“If God had intended for us to fly,” Kat says, “He would have given us wings.”

“He did,” Landon replies with that cocky smile we all love so much. “Metal ones.”

Kat shivers and shakes her head. “No thanks.”

“You’re safer in a plane than—” Landon begins, but she cuts him off midsentence.

“Yeah, yeah, I know. I’ve heard the statistics. I still don’t like it.”

“You’d feel safe if you flew with me,” he says confidently.

“No offense, and I’m sure you’re an excellent pilot, but bullshit,” Kat says with a sweet smile, making us all laugh.

“Okay,” he says, holding his hands up in surrender. “It was good to see you again, Kat.”

“You, too.”

I’m watching Cami, who’s fidgeting with her pen and looking down at her spreadsheets.

She looks so damn sad, and it breaks my heart.

“Come here, chameleon,” he says to Cami as he pulls her in for a hug. He’s called her that since we were in grade school. Cami the chameleon. “Stay safe,” he whispers to her and takes a deep breath, smelling her hair.

Mia and I share a quick glance, but don’t say anything as he pulls away, waves at Kat, and grins at me. “Be good, blondie.”

“I’m always good,” I reply, batting my eyelashes. “Take your own advice, please. Stay safe and be good.”

“I’ll be fine,” he replies with a nod. “Love you, ladies.”

And with that, he walks out. When we hear the front door close, Cami dissolves into tears, resting her head on her arm.

“I’ll get the chocolate,” Kat says, rushing toward the kitchen as Mia and I flank Cami, rubbing her back and speaking softly to her.

“I’m so sorry, Cam,” I say.

“Don’t cry,” Mia croons, running her hand over Cami’s pretty blond hair. “He’s a big dork.”

Cami laughs through the tears. “I’m stupid.”

“No, you’re not.” Kat sets a plate of chocolate cake on the bar. “How long have you loved him, Cami?”