Nothing Less

I read faster to clear Landon from my head.

“Sophia!” Jennifer’s deep voice shouts through the garden.

What part of “stay upstairs” does this woman not understand?

Her round body is moving fast through the grass, across the lawn from one of the side doors. “I’ve been yelling for you!” She bats her little arms in the air. “Someone is here for you. A guy, and he won’t leave.”

“For me, or him?” I hope that Amir’s family has realized not to fuck with me. I got a lawyer, and as Amir’s wife, I will protect his land from their greedy paws.

“You, girl. I told him you were out here but he’s just sitting in the living room!” She’s frantic. I can’t imagine her dealing with a patient if she’s this frazzled by a delivery guy or whoever.

“Oh, hush, I’ll go inside. Watch him.”

Jennifer gives me an angry look, as if to say she always watches him, and I roll my eyes behind her back.

Debating whether Jennifer is a good fit for this job, now that I’m paying better attention to everything, I wander into the living room.

Only to have the breath knocked out of me to find Landon sitting on the couch. He’s wearing a confidence that I don’t remember him possessing the last time I saw him. And even though I have seen him every time I closed my eyes, I hadn’t remembered him properly. He’s beautiful, with more facial hair than I realized.

His arms are bigger than before.

Is he taller?

“What are you doing here?” More important, how did he find me?

Then I remember the two missed calls from Stausey yesterday. I’m sure this was her doing.

“Jennifer said you were outside,” he says, not answering my question.

“Did she?”

“Yes. And she made me coffee while I waited,” he says with that puppylike smile I love.

Of course Landon would get the impersonal Jennifer to make him a coffee. Landon looks so out of place here, in this massive house. He’s sitting here so comfortably, like he’s been here a hundred times. Why did he come here? How did he know where to go?

“Am I keeping you?” he asks when I glance toward the back door. When I turn back, I take his entire body in again. He looks too big for the couch. His shoulders are slouched, and he seems older somehow, like some of the light has been drained from him. He’s wearing a white T-shirt with a blue button-up over it. He looks so good, so familiar. His hair is longer on top. How long has it been since I’ve seen him? Months? Years, maybe?

“No. I was just sitting outside with Amir.”

I changed my routine, Landon. I’m finally going outside today. Are you proud of me?

I wait for Landon’s reaction to my words, but his expression doesn’t change. He looks at me thoughtfully and runs his hand over the knees of his dark jeans.

“How is everything?” he asks.

I watch his eyes scan the room. The art in the living room is gone now; all the money they once represented is being put into a charity that aids the families of victims of drunk driving. Just one of those expensive pieces could pay all the medical bills of a family. All six of the art pieces are being appraised now.

“I’ve been busy,” I say, clearing my throat. “I’m sure you have too. Tessa said you got promoted at Grind.”

He nods. “Yeah.”

“Congrats, that’s pretty cool. I’m sure you’re the youngest manager they’ve ever had.”