Relinquish(54)

The apes stand in front of the bars, just inches from us. I’m shocked at how close they are. Their fur is the blackest of black, matching their eyes. Jaheem is muscled and toned, with a little bit of silver coloring around his ears. Ebele is rounder and chunky, with silver along her neck.

“Hey, Ebele,” Landon greets, putting his arms through the bars to touch her. Ebele gets excited, her mouth parted while she shifts from foot to foot as Landon holds her hand. My heart just explodes. To see Landon show such care and love toward an animal, I know there’s more to his story. This right here, and the man he was in the hotel that night, that is the real Landon.

I smile and look over at Jaheem, who is staring at me intently, tilting his head back and forth as he looks at me curiously. I don’t break eye contact but just smile at him, letting him know I’m friendly. He thrusts his fists into the ground and closes the gap between him and the bars. His quick movement and size has me flinch backwards as he grasps the bars and brings his face to them. I look at Landon, confused if I should pet him or not. Landon’s face is scrunched in confusion, as well, little wrinkles forming on his forehead.

“I’ve never seen him do that before. He won’t come to anyone.” Landon shakes his head like he can’t believe it. I take a deep breath and slowly raise my hand to touch Jaheem. My heart beats wildly against my chest as I move closer. I close my eyes and push my hand forward, caressing the soft fur. I open my eyes and find Jaheem has closed his, enjoying my touch.

“Holy shit,” Landon mutters. I give an uncontrollable laugh and deepen my petting.

“Hey, buddy, I’m a little offended,” Landon jokes, walking up beside me. Jaheem opens his eyes and peers up at Landon before taking off toward Ebele.

“I come out here several times a day, see them to bed, give them treats and toys, and his ass never comes to me. I always have to leave his things for him to collect when I’m gone,” Landon explains, watching Jaheem preen Ebele.

“They’re magnificent,” I admire. I grip the bars, watching Jaheem show love and care to Ebele. They look truly in love with the way Ebele looks up at Jaheem as he picks at her fur. They are letting out little noises back and forth, talking to each other, lost in their own world. I furrow my brows, looking at their surroundings.

“They should be free,” I mutter. I look at Landon for his reaction, and notice him sigh and run his hands through his hair.

“I agree. I’m working on it.” He exhales.

“My grandfather got them from a circus years back. My grandmother didn’t like the way they were being treated, so he just bought them off the guy. As much as I don’t want to see them go, they deserve to be free. I’ve been looking for the right home for a couple years now,” Landon admits, putting his hands in his pockets. “I want them to have something big and deserving. Not something where someone throws some slop their way twice a day.” He shrugs and looks at me.

I nod in agreement and look back at the gorillas.

“They have programs where they can teach them how to survive on their own, don’t they?” I ask.

Landon nods. “Yes, they do, and I’ve called a few people. I’m waiting for a call back is all.”

I smile.

Jaheem is leaning over and pressing his lips to Ebele, who is smiling and communicating with him. I can’t help but laugh. I catch Landon staring at me from the corner of my eye. I bite my bottom lip and turn, finding him still staring at me. A look of endearment crosses his face as his upper lip curls into a smirk.

“What?” I ask, trying to get a handle on my giggling.

“You. That laugh, it’s…” He pauses, swipes his tongue across his lips, and looks back at the gorillas. “It’s something else.” My cheeks heat, as does the rest of my body. My heart, once cold and questionably dead, is warming and growing with need. The worst part is it’s because of Landon, who has the potential to rip it from my chest and make it to where I’m dead to anyone following his footsteps.

Looking back at Jaheem and Ebele, he has her cradled in his lap, still trying to kiss her. They look so lost in one another, and I’m jealous. I want that.

“They seem to have it all figured it out,” I mutter weakly.

“What?” Landon grabs the bars, his hands brushing against mine and causing a tingle to spread to my toes. I don’t move my hand, just leave it next to his and take my gaze toward him. He looks at me as if he might feel the same pull I do.

“Love.”

Landon’s face softens, his eyes holding a fire behind them as he stares at me. I watch his Adam’s apple bob as he swallows and turns his head back to the primates, his profile hardening and jaw clenching.

“There is no such thing as love. Not here,” he rasps. “Love is an amateur term to diagnose one’s affection for another. In reality, we’re all animals, and that so-called love is just us wanting to reproduce. To f*ck. Love has nothing to do with it.”

I sigh heavily. At one time, I would’ve said Landon was right, but I’m not so sure anymore. There’s a difference between the throbbing between your legs and the longing in your chest.

“I refuse to believe that,” I whisper.

Landon’s head whips in my direction and he smirks. “Oh, yeah? Are you one of those ‘love fixes everything’ kind of girls?” he jokes.