Page 85 of This Side of Beautiful

“Yes, the singer on the song.” Her voice inflection only changed a notch. “Then we can celebrate your success as well. We can meet at Sophia’s for seven, which is in Harlem, so he can’t use the excuse that he doesn’t have time to travel to Brooklyn. Can you make sure he’s there?”

“Yes, I can. Ma’am.”

Even her laughter was haughty as she said, “I love people from the South. Look forward to meeting you.”

“Me too.” I hung up and waltzed into the bathroom, where he showered in the glass stall.

“I have to remember to lock the door when you’re around.” He smirked as he ducked his head, letting the water run over his hair and body. Landon wanted his hair loose again, and I’d promised to oil it once I unbraided it and he’d washed it.

“We leave on Sunday. Do you think we can enjoy the city together later today? Show me where you grew up. Maybe meet the parents,” I said with a smile. If he didn’t have to get to the studio, I would’ve joined him and convinced him with my mouth. I’d learned his body didn’t know the meaning of “quickie.”

“I doubt I have time. The show is tomorrow night, and once we get back into performance mode, we shift focus. The tour is over in another month. Just come back then, and I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”

“What about the parents?” I asked. He didn’t talk about them like I didn’t talk about mine. Still, I was intrigued. A beautiful couple who’d been married for years and raised a handsome son. They were music royalty. Maybe that would be Landon and me one day. A power couple rearing talented and amazing children. A strong family.

“What about them?”

“You said they live here. Can I meet them?”Like tonight.

“We’re not that close.”

“Okay, then maybe for dessert at a restaurant, since you’re not that close.”

He turned off the shower and toweled off. “Not a good idea. I haven’t spoken to them since I got into it with my father.”

“What happened?”Shit. I’d forgotten that he’d had words with his parents. That was probably why his mother had told me the plans instead of directly speaking with him. My face grew warm, and I hoped he couldn’t pick up on my nervousness.

“The usual. They wanted to parade me around to their friends, and I wasn’t in the mood. My father got angry and was in my face. My mama intervened, and he pushed her back with too much force, so I shoved him. Then I left.” He shrugged like it didn’t matter, though his tightened fists and the flash of anger in his eyes said it did.

“Was that the first time you put your hands on your father?” I took the towel and dried off his back.

“Yeah. It upset my mother, and the whole scene bothered me. I was about to have a panic attack when you texted me from the airport.”

“Maybe it’s time to make up. Your mother was trying to help. I learned a long time ago not to intervene when men get mad with each other. They forget what’s around them. They’re so hellbent on getting at the person they’re upset with.”

“I don’t have time for family therapy right now. Too much on my plate. I’ll deal with them after the tour.” He passed me by and strode into the bedroom.

I followed him into his closet as he pulled on boxer briefs. “What about time for me later? Maybe dinner or at least dessert?”

He frowned. “We’re about to go back on the road, and we’ll be together all day again. I just told you that you can visit me after next month, and we can go anywhere.”

I wrung my hands and shifted from one foot to the other. “Just for an hour… maybe two? Around seven tonight?”

Landon lowered his eyes to almost slits. “What did you do?”

“For someone who struggles with social cues, you seem pretty good at reading me,” I joked, and rubbed the coin around my neck.

He glanced at the coin before folding his arms. “Janae.”

“Umm… don’t be mad.”

Landon huffed. “You spoke to my parents.”

“Your phone rang, and you were in the shower. I figured you would want me to answer your mother’s call.” I tried to open his arms. He didn’t uncross them. “Your mother wants us to meet them at Sophia’s for seven tonight. She even said it could be just for dessert.”

He glared at me and had never seemed more like an alpha male than at that moment. Stubborn and unforgiving. My flirting wouldn’t work this time.

“You’re really pissed, aren’t you?”

---