Page 46 of If the Summer Lasted Forever
“I do my best,” he says.
Does he ever.
She digs into her pocket and tries to hand several twenties to Landon. “Thank you for the design.”
He steps back, refusing to take the money. “It was nothing.”
“Use it to take my daughter out. Drive into the city and catch a movie or something.”
Watching with wry amusement, I cross my arms. “Are you actually paying a guy to take me on a date? Thanks, Mom.”
She grins and waves the bills at Landon, not about to back down. Apparently coming to the correct conclusion that she’s more stubborn than he is, Landon gives in and accepts the money, solemnly promising it will be spent on me very soon.
Hallie shows up with Bark just as Landon pockets the bills. The Greyhound trots on his lead, right by Hallie’s side, and plops his rump down the moment she stops.
“Are you sure he won’t be any trouble?” Hallie asks, dressed in a swimsuit and flip-flops, with a beach towel wrapped around her middle. “He can be rambunctious.”
Bark stares at me, the picture of manners.
“Positive,” I assure her.
She thanks me again—many times. Before she leaves, she turns back. “Oh, watch out. He likes squirrels.”
Thinking she’s joking, I laugh.
Hallie widens her eyes and shakes her head. “No. Hereallylikes squirrels.”
“I’ll be careful,” I swear.
Before she leaves, she kneels in front of Bark and tells him to be good. The dog wags his skinny tail.
“Good boy,” she kisses his head, apparently as attached to him as McKenna is Candy, and finally walks out the door.
“Whatever you do, don’t lose that dog,” Mom jokes as she sits at the desk, ready to do her time. I almost remind her to check my laminated chart before she assigns any sites, but I hold my tongue.
“We’ll be fine.” I look down. “Won’t we, Bark?”
He watches me with his adoring, liquid brown eyes.
“See?”
Landon offers to take the flyers, and he follows me out the door. Bark trots with us, perfect as can be.
“That dog is putting Candy and George to shame,” Landon jokes.
“He is really good, isn’t he?” I ask, and then I give Landon a nudge. “So, are you going to keep me company while I hand these out?”
Landon slides his arm through mine, tugging me close to his side. “We have appearances to keep up, don’t we?”
I tell myself that’s the candy-coated part of the already sweet deal. I get all the perks of dating Landon without any of theheartbreak. I just have to deny my heart is getting tangled up to believe it.
“I see you have your camera,” I say when he pulls the device from his pocket and begins recording. I’ve seen his parents with a bigger one, one with a fluffy audio accessory and larger lenses. Landon seems partial to simplicity.
He focuses it on me. “Never leave home without it.”
I’m growing used to its constant presence.
“Tell me, Lacey, what are we doing today?” he asks in an exaggerated voice.
