Page 24 of Best Year Ever
He chuckles. “Maybe just a little.”
“I’m sure it was a crazy household growing up. It sounds like you’re close to your sister still?”
“Definitely,” he says. “We were in the same grade growing up, even though she’s a year younger. She was too smart. Now she helps me stay organized with my day to day while finishing business school. You’d really like each other. She’s one of the best people on the planet.”
A beat later, our server comes with three appetizers, a mix of seafood and vegetarian options.
“We’re going to share all this, right?” Landon asks with a smile.
“Oh, you bet,” I reply, and he grabs my plate to add portions of all three onto it. As he loads up his own plate, we start digging in, and moans come from both sides of the table as we taste the dishes.
“This is so yummy,” I say. “I was starving.”
Landon starts making small talk in between bites, sharing funny anecdotes about his travels during his off season. I’m satisfied being silent, taking in the delicious tastes in combination with his entertaining stories.
Landon’s really fun to be with. I wish I could spend more time with him, I catch myself thinking.
“Where did you go?” he asks jokingly, interrupting that very unhelpful train of thought. “Sorry if I was being boring. Rawley always complains that once I get going on a story, I don’t stop unless forced.”
“No, not at all. I was thinking how much fun this is.” I smile.
“Oh good, same. Ah, here comes more food,” Landon observes as the server brings three more plates over.
“You’re in for a treat tonight. The chef made his special beef dish that everyone raves about. Plus, here is a much-loved Mediterranean chicken dish, and truffle mac-and-cheese too.” I notice she winks atLandon.
“I might’ve snuck in a mention that you’re a cheese lover when I went over to ask for my second beer,” Landon confesses.
“No complaints.” I laugh. “Mac-and-cheese is the best.”
“Enjoy,” the server says as she departs.
“Let me fill your plate up again,” Landon offers, grabbing my plate. “Do you want some of the beef and chicken too?”
“Yes, please,” I respond, starting to melt a little at his care for me. Does he do this on every date with a woman? Or wait, this isn’t a date, right? Is he just this kind of friend?
“Dig in,” he instructs as he does the same with his plate.
Fifteen minutes later, we’ve eaten our fill. This time I’m the one interjecting stories during the meal, sharing more about the academy days once I heard Alex was his friend. Alex’s pack of boys always got in trouble for the stupidest pranks, so I have plenty of stories to share with Landon.
“I’m so giving him shit next time I talk to him.” He laughs.
He is gorgeous, look at his face light up, I think.
Snap out of it, Rori, comes another voice in my head.
I turn in my seat towards the ocean view to refocus myself. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath to soak up the ocean air.
“Nothing like it, right? The smell of the ocean in the air?” Landon says.
“Nothing.” Our eye contact snaps back together as I turn my gaze to him again.
His hazel eyes are oozing warmth and fully focused on my own. I suddenly feel pressure rising in my chest and a tightness at my throat.
Without even meaning to, my eyes dip to his lips. They’re full and slightly upturned, and memories come of how much he knows to do with them.
I see his Adam’s Apple move and he licks his lips. My eyes jerk back up—did he catch me looking? From the intense look on his face, the answer is definitely yes.
“Like what you see, Rori?” he says in a quieter,deep voice.
