Page 66 of This Side of Beautiful

I tugged on the sheet in between us. “Technically, he was right. We could’ve waited.”

“You didn’t hear how he sounded,” he explained.

“I can picture his tone. I’ve dealt with Cedrick enough.”

His brows dipped. “You don’t seem bothered.”

“I can’t let Cedrick get to me whenever he makes one of his comments. I accept that he’s jealous of our relationship, which may or may not change, because he’s used to being number one in your life. But everything someone says or does that’s disrespectful to me doesn’t warrant violence.”

“I was defending you,” Landon protested.

“And before me, you didn’t fight. Just because I love that you want to be my knight doesn’t mean Ineedyou to be my knight every time.”

He sat up. “I can’t sit back and allow people to disrespect you just because you’re good with it.”

“I’m never good with people disrespecting me.” I shot up. “Including you.”

“I didn’t disrespect you. I would never do that to you,” he retorted.

I hit his arm. “You just did when you said I was good with people disrespecting me.”

“And you just punched the shit out of my arm!” he howled.

We glared at each other, neither of us wanting to back down. I was so mad at him. How dare he insult me? Didn’t he get…

Get what?I knew I had a point. What were we arguing about?

He rubbed his arm, and as we stared at each other, the scowl on his face slowly transitioned into an impish smile. I tried needlessly to hold on to my anger out of stubbornness.

“Stop being so damn cute so I can stay mad.” I reluctantly returned his grin.

“You know you want to laugh.” Landon chuckled, pointing to my mouth.

“Did we have our first fight as a couple?” I asked through the giggles that bubbled up from within.

He nodded and touched my cheek. “Yep, and we’ll probably have many more, since both of us have trouble putting filters on our mouths.”

I grinned so hard my jaw ached. “I am so happy.”

“Me too.” He started pushing me back down on the mattress, and I shook my head.

“We have to make up with Cedrick.” I jumped out of bed. “Then, after rehearsal, we can have sex all night long.”

He groaned again and covered his head with his pillow. “You really mean all night, don’t you?”

I smiled as I headed to the shower. If I were to take a snapshot of this moment, I would swear my life couldn’t be more perfect. Landon Hayes was my new man.

When we walked into The Hollow Bones’ studio ten minutes before rehearsal began off 125th in Harlem, Cedrick and Charles were beside each other in the control room. Brian wore headphones and waved from the booth. Santiago hadn’t arrived yet.

Landon’s body emanated tension from every pore. Beads of perspiration popped on his forehead. He hated confrontation, and from what I’d gathered, he and Cedrick had never had any conflict until me. A fact that bothered me, because I’d gained respect for all the men of The Hollow Bones, even Cedrick. They worked hard and didn’t have the egotism I’d often seen in the industry. This group of men just wanted to make “damn good music,” which was their mantra. I refused to allow Landon to make me the reason this band, who’d been together forever, fell apart.

Pulling my wide-brim hat, used to disguise my identity, lower, I marched into the studio. Landon dragged his feet behind me.

Charles rose and hugged me warmly. “Morning.”

I smiled back. “Good morning.”

Cedrick kept his head down, focusing on his cell like he didn’t see me, and I punched his shoulder. “Can you stop? Just stop.”

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