Page 91 of Doing It for Love

The reactions to our toothpaste skin are pretty much what I expected. At least I’m getting to know my future in-laws. Mr. Wangford stands from the table and asks if we’re okay. We are, but he doesn’t sit till we do. Mrs. Wangford doesn’t make a comment about our appearance, but she wrinkles her nose.

Dad and Landon get everything to the table, and after my momma says a quick prayer, she starts dishing out food.

Mrs. Wangford doesn’t eat a bite of turkey. Figures. Of course, it’s too bad for her, because it’s the best-tasting thing on this planet. Cooking it upside down actually made it juicier and more tender. I make no attempt to impress Mrs. Stick-Up-Her-Ass, slurping my food and smiling with it between my teeth. Landon shakes his head and laughs at me, but his amusement could be from the toothpaste all over my body.

I’m changing the In-law Hurdle to “Don’t let them bother you.” I’m hoping it’s not as difficult as the other Hurdle was.

Chapter 29

JANUARY

“C’mon, c’mon, c’mon…” Jace mutters at the TV in his studio apartment, sliding to the edge of the couch and clutching his beer. It’s 21-14 in favor of the Titans, but the Jets are closing in on the end zone. I’d pay more attention, but it’s not like the Falcons are playing.

Landon pushes a salsa-covered chip at me, and I open wide for him to shove that sucker in. We both laugh as the salsa collects in the corners of my mouth.

“Yes!” Jace hollers, both he and Alec getting to their feet and victory dancing. Landon stays seated on the recliner, but probably only because I’m occupying his lap.

The Jets make the touchdown and then the extra point, tying the game and sending us right into a commercial break. I get up from Landon’s lap with a butt wiggle in the face, then offer to get anyone another beer while I grab a water. I’m trying to drop a couple pounds, so I’m avoiding chocolate and alcohol till the wedding. But I’m not completely strict about dieting, considering I hop back into Landon’s lap and let him stuff my face with more chips.

I still have my Spanx if I need them.

“Where’s Chantal?” I ask Jace as soon as he’s settled into the couch with a fresh beer. After the movie wrapped, I expected the girl he’s been seeing to hang out with us a bit, but he’s empty-handed whenever we get together.

He shrugs. “She went home for Christmas. Decided to stay there for a bit.”

“How long is ‘a bit’?”

“I think permanently.”

Landon shifts under me, and I lock eyes with him long enough for him to give me the neck-slicing gesture. Okay, no more Chantal questions.

“It’s back on,” Alec says, and all our attention goes to the game. Well, minus Landon, who is running a hand up and down my thigh. He gives me a half-smile when I catch his gaze, then he shakes his head and sighs.

He’s been acting weird all night. Well…actually…he’s been acting weird since the naked argument. I can feel the shift in our relationship, too, and I don’t even know what it is. We touch and kiss and cuddle, but there hasn’t been that desire formore, and honestly, I don’t remember the last time we talked. Like,reallytalked. And bitterly I think maybe we’re already married and we don’t even know it.

He sighs again, and so I lean in close to his ear. “What’s up, Buttercup?”

“Nothing.”

“Liar.”

He does another half-smile, then slides his phone out and shows me a text from his sister.

Hey. Mom and Dad want to talk to you. If I were you I’d stop by the hotel and just hash it out. Don’t bring Liz.

Well, isn’t that just peachy? I try to force a smile, even though my stomach feels like that salsa was made out of Legos, and say in a singsong whisper, “You’re in trouble.”

“Probably,” he says, sliding his phone into his pocket. He’s not even teasing me back, so I drop the playfulness, settle my head on his shoulder, and give him a good squeeze.

“Do you want to go?” I ask.

“No.”

“Do you think you should?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll be okay here.”

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