Borrowing Trouble(18)

Landon huffed and went upstairs to his bed. He just needed the night to be over. So much for a fun night introducing Jay to his friends. And it all started because of a stupid almost-kiss. Fuck.



Landon blinked his groggy eyes open as sun shone into his bedroom windows. He turned his head, noticing the early hour. Not even eight in the morning. He usually slept in easily on Saturdays, so he couldn’t imagine what had pulled him from his sleep.

He heard a car door slam and rolled his head back toward the window. Then the previous night crashed back down on him. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sat up in bed with an unhappy grunt. With his displeasure stacking back up in his chest and his mind reeling, he knew there was little chance he’d fall back asleep.

He got out of bed, pulling on a t-shirt and shorts before going to take care of business in the bathroom. He supposed the least he could do was make his friends breakfast before they left. Brittany’s attention had been monopolized by Jay last night, so he hadn’t spent much time talking to her. He could mind his manners for the time being. Not like she did anything wrong by flirting with an available guy.

She’d go back to Jackson and that’d be that, anyway, so he needed to just get over himself.

He hit the bottom step just in time for Mitch to come around the corner from the kitchen. “Morning.”

“Morning, hon,” Mitch said. His black hair stood up on end, face still creased from the pillows, so he obviously hadn’t been up long. “Have you seen Brit? She didn’t come to—”

“Morning, boys!” Brittany sang out, walking through the front door carrying her overnight bag. She was wearing her clothes from the night before, hair up in a ponytail. She looked a little flushed. Landon and Mitch shared an unhappy glance.

“Morning, Brit,” Mitch said with a smile, probably overdoing the cheer. Brittany looked at both of them askance.

“You two sleep good?” Landon asked. Brittany’s face split into a happy smile and Landon wished he hadn’t asked. He was an idiot. She had walk of shame written all over her and he did not want to hear about how well she must have slept.

The acid in his stomach boiled with jealousy, his heart ached with despair. Fuck. He’d just known Jay would put her off like he’d done Felicia. Mitch’s downcast gaze said he’d drawn the same conclusions as Landon.

“I’ll make breakfast,” Landon said, scurrying to the kitchen.

“Okay,” Brittany said slowly to his back. “I’m gonna hit the shower.”

Landon put a cork in his roiling emotions. This was not the time. He’d said it himself, he couldn’t get made at her or Jay for… whatever. They were adults.

Okay, he could be pissed at Jay. Fuck him.

“Landon.”

He glanced at Mitch, who approached him cautiously.

“You want one egg or two? I figured I’d do a fry-up.” He pulled down a bowl to beat the eggs in.

“You okay?”

“I’m fine, Mitch,” Landon said with steel in his voice. “I’m not mad at her. This is dumb anyways. I know better.”

“Lan—”

“No. Really. Drop it.” He turned a smile on his friend. “I missed you guys and I just wanna hang out and have a nice breakfast before y’all leave. Okay?”

Mitch hustled over and wrapped Landon in a quick, fierce hug. Landon allowed himself two seconds to relax into it, and was so f*cking grateful for Mitch in that moment. Mitch then let him go, always knowing when Landon had reached his physical comfort capacity.

“Well, if she got to have fun last night, she gets to drive.” Mitch pulled a bag from under the counter and held up champagne and orange juice. “We get mimosas.”

“Oh my God, I don’t think I can drink any more.”

“You can and you will,” Mitch sing-songed.

“Peer pressure!”

“Precisely.”

Aside from good natured bitching about having to drive and a few questioning looks from Brittany, breakfast was their usual good time. But Landon, every once in a while, got stuck in his head, alternating in each instance between bitter jealousy and rage. He was pissed at himself, he was pissed at Jay, and he felt horrible for the brief moments of anger toward Brittany.

When they left, it was one of the rare times he was glad to see the back of his friends. He cleaned his kitchen and tried to think of things to do around the house on his Sunday off. But damn if he hadn’t worked himself up a good mad-on.

He didn’t expect an apology, but he’d made it to the point he wanted an acknowledgment from Jay that f*cking one of his closest friends was f*cked up.

But. It wasn’t. Fuck. It’s not like there had ever been a chance with Jay. Jay was straight.

But. Fuck him. He’d been a guest at Landon’s house and spent the night avoiding him, then f*cked Landon’s friend. Fuck. Him.

Landon knew Jay’s kids were gone until the next weekend, so he didn’t put much more thought into it as he slid his feet into a pair of boots and hopped in his truck. He damn well was gonna tell Jay he was bastard. Landon had apologized for making the night awkward by almost kissing Jay, even though it seemed Jay had been just as close as Landon had. Landon felt disrespected, which was probably entirely irrational.

He tried to tell himself he was acting like a jealous teenager as he made his way down the road to Jay’s house. But it didn’t stop him.