Page 65 of This Side of Beautiful

“Yet you have beds in the bedrooms.” I regarded him for a second and started laughing.

“Are you making fun of me?” His eyes were lit with humor, though his forehead was wrinkled.

“A little bit.” I slipped onto his lap and straightened the lines on his forehead. “You’re still like every man. You don’t want women walking through those doors feeling this is home. ‘Warm and cozy’ gives women ideas of marriage. You have the extra beds in case you don’t want to fall asleep with her after having sex, and you’re too much of a gentleman to kick her out. You ain’t slick, Landon.”

He smiled. “I plead the fifth.”

“You better call all your lady friends and tell them you’re taken now. And I know just the sofa I want to buy as a housewarming gift.”

“Santiago was right. Youarebossy.” He kissed my neck. “I’ve seen all of you, and this is still my favorite part.”

I slid my hand down into his pants to touch his limp manhood and began urging it to come back to life. “I don’t know. It’s a tie between this and your heart.”

He groaned. “You’re trying to kill me.” I shifted to ride him. He quickly picked me up and headed out of the kitchen. “Need a condom.”

“You’re not about to carry me up the stairs. We’re exhausted.”

“No.” He brought me to the guest bedroom on the first floor and pulled a gold wrapper from underneath the pillows.

“Men are horrible.” I chuckled.

“But at least I’m prepared.” Landon smirked as he sheathed himself before thrusting deep inside.

April 30

The following morning, I woke early in a slight fog. The fog didn’t compare to the darkness, and I breathed a sigh of relief as I rested in bed beside him.

Takeit day by day. Don’t overthink it or staystuck in negativity.I picked up the water bottle from the side table and sipped.Maintain hydration. Breathe in andout. Sleep isn’t the enemy. You can beat this.

My cell alerted me that I had to be in the studio with The Hollow Bones in less than two hours. And I was ready to sing.

Landon slept nude, curled up on his side. Admiring his body, my kitty purred.Focus. Focus. We had way too much to do today to stay in bed. I kissed the back of his neck. “Good morning.”

He mumbled.

I shook his shoulder. “Wake up. Wake up.”

“I need another hour.” Landon pulled the covers over his head, and I promptly removed the quilt.

“We already missed one practice. We can’t be late for this one.”

He placed the pillow over his head. “They don’t want me there.”

“One fight, Landon,” I reminded him.

“We don’t fight,” he grumbled.

I pulled on his arm, trying to lift him. “You’re heavy.”

He rolled on his back and quietly admitted, “I can’t keep fighting Cedrick over you.”

Sensing he was finally ready to talk, I propped my head up on my hand. “What actually happened yesterday?”

“When I told him I wanted to push back the schedule, he told me I could have sex with you later and that he wasn’t changing anything for bullshit. And I pushed him against the bus, and we were about to fight. Brian intervened.”

I was silent. Yesterday didn’t have to happen like that. Cedrick hated me, and now the rest of the band probably hated me, too.

Landon opened his eyes slowly. “You’re never silent. Say whatever you want to say.”

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