Page 72 of Mine

“Quit,” he said softly.

My eyes met his.

“It’s not the same.” He spoke the words under his breath. “I know your family. I don’t know mine.”

My heart hurt for him even as he pressed into my side.

Later, as I stood looking out at the enormous grounds, the man-made lake, and the edge of the stables, Mr. Carter walked up beside me.

“I hadn’t counted on Landry returning home,” he said to me. “I never thought he’d come. It makes everything so much easier.”

I wasn’t sure what he was talking about, but I let it go.

“Thank you,” he said, tipping his head at his wife and children sitting at the table. “We’re a family too. We might not be one you understand, but we are one.”

I turned to look at him. “I only make judgments if he gets hurt, Mr. Carter, not for any other reason.”

“Your own pride, your own comfort, doesn’t factor into things?”

“No, sir, not if you love someone.”

“We agree on that,” he said even as he caught his breath. Something was wrong, but I didn’t know the man well enough to pry.

LANDRY surprised the hell out of me, and even though I was worried, I was glad to see him trusting us to be apart.

I had to go home; his father had asked him to stay through the weekend. Landry had agreed and planned to fly back Sunday morning because he needed to be back at work on Monday. He had inventory and ordering to do, and billing and all sorts of assorted paperwork hell. So I was leaving that night, Thursday, and I’d see him in two days. The fact that he felt good enough to let me get on a plane without him made me happier than I could express. And I hoped that time alone with his family would bring closeness. Maybe it was me. Maybe without my presence, they would all rebond. I was hopeful. I had a twinge of worry, but he had shown them, and me, how strong he was, how in control. I left that afternoon, and he was bouncing up and down in the back seat of the limousine as Chris told him that they were all going hot air ballooning the next morning.

Outside departures, I kissed him and told him I loved him.

“I know.” He smiled wide. “Take care of things at home and let me know exactly what’s going on tonight when you call me.”

“I will,” I told him, leaning in and kissing his cheek. I waved from the curb afterward.

My phone rang when I was in line to get coffee. “Yes, dear?” I teased him.

“I just, uhm, had this horrible revelation.”

“What’s that?”

“You’re happy I’m staying here because you’re worried that you’re gonna go home and somebody’s gonna kill you, huh?”

“Actually, that thought had not crossed my mind.” I chuckled. God, his brain. “I was just happy that your father asked and you said yes is all.”

“Oh. Who’s picking you up at the airport?”

“Javier and Dave.”

“Okay, tell them I said hi.”

“I will. I love you.”

“I love you too,” he said, but he sounded wilted before he hung up.

The plane ride home was nice. I sat beside a mother with an infant in her lap and a toddler in the seat between us. He was cute and wanted to talk, and I gave him my phone to play games on.

“Ohmygod, thank you,” his mother said, gripping my arm.

“It’s fine,” I assured her.