25

Exactly. He dropped his hand to his side, releasing me.
It’s stupid really. Waving it off.
Well tell me what you think is stupid. I almost laughed out how foreign that sounded coming from his lips. Well. He encouraged me to tell him what was on my mind and I sighed before just blurting it out.
Once we land back in California, we won’t be the same.
I’m not following.
See this is why I didn’t want to tell you. I tried to step away from him but his hand snaked out to stop me.
Okay, can you break it down for me ? Communication is key here.
Like us. I gestured between us. We work together. I’m your personal assistant and you’re my boss.
Okay ?
Okay ? I was baffled that he wasn’t understanding me.
Okay what’s the problem ?
That’s the problem.
That I’m your boss ?
No that we work together and whatever this is, is going to have to remain professional.
Okay, that’s not a problem for me. I eyed him.
Well not that much.
Exactly.
Embre there’s nothing we can do about it.
I could ignored you.
How when we work together ? And besides I know you won’t.
Shouldn’t you go pack ?
I should. He shrugged and I bounced lightly on my toes.
Are you going to go… you know pack ? I ask him, awkwardly gesturing my hand to the door.
You’re trying to get rid of me.
No ! I mean- that’s not…
You think too much.
I know. I say, guilty for having that trait.
Thank you. I raised my eyebrows up at his sudden courtesy. For staying.
I knew there was a double meaning behind what he said a couple of hours ago. No problem. Hearing his phone ring, he cursed under his breath.
Yes ? He answered his phone and he took his leave of absence and I left to go see what Adaline was doing.
You know its too early in the morning to be dancing around. I tell her once seeing her dancing around. She jumps at the sound of my voice she grabs the remote turning down the music.
Maybe I’m a morning person.. I cocked my head to the side, folding my arms in the presence. I just totally lied.
You know we are leaving soon right ?
Yeah I know, Mr Hale came and told me.
He did ?
Are you almost done ?
Barely. She says, slouching her shoulders.
You need help ? I offer.
Sure. She perks up at my words. I didn’t really believe she was going to say yes, but knowing I couldn’t take back my words back I helped with the rest of her things.
You packed a lot.
It’s not that much, besides you brought two suitcases.
Do you want to go grab breakfast ? I ask, once seeing that we had enough time to eat.
Sure.
Going downstairs and into the kitchen and I open the fridge, looking at the items. He must have had this placed stocked with food. Grabbing the food I thought would be good enough to cook. Is eggs, toast, pancakes, and bacon, good ? I ask Adaline.
Yeah, I’ll make the toast and bacon, after all my diner skills should come back to me.
Leaving me with the eggs and pancakes, we went around the kitchen- her standing by the toaster most of the time- it didn’t take long to finish.
Morning ladies. I heard Landon entering the kitchen, while I slide the last of the eggs on to a plate.
Are you hungry ? I ask him, trying to make some conversation.
Yes. Turning my head, I saw him sitting on the stool while eyeing me up and down and I realized I was still in my sleeping clothes.. just great.
I’ll be right back I want to call Josh.
Are you done making the food ? Hinting at her to stay.
Yep, She grins before skipping off, leaving me with Landon. She either got the hint or she didn’t know.
Turning back to the stove, I didn’t hear any movement or a sound from behind me and I was wondering did he leave as well. So nobody was going to appreciate the food ?
I saw him before I felt him, when seeing his hands either side of my body. Landon. I squealed.
I didn’t know you could cook.
I’m not the best at it. I had to tell him the truth so he wouldn’t be expecting gourmet dishes all the time. I slipped at out of his embrace.
Adaline walks back in the kitchen with a bright smile on her face, she ignored me and Landon as she went and grabbed a slice of bacon she cooked. Alright lovebirds, can we eat ? She asked and my eyes widen at her like saucers.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
It was silent from then on and Landon took his leave of absence first after helping clean- which shocked the hell out of me- to answer another phone call.
We should go get our stuff. And we left to go just that.
I stopped in my tracks after hearing his laughter fill the hallway and Adaline continued on to her room.
I can book us a place to meet up. He added, he chuckled again before adding. I miss you too.
He missed someone ?
So many other questions popped up into my head. That’s what you get. I mumbled to myself, clearly already thinking the worse- he was Landon Hale for Christ sake.
Changing into my jean shorts and my red hoodie I slipped on my converse before zipping the suitcase I opened to change my clothes. I carried both my suitcases by the handle out into the hallway, I gave a quick glance back to see if I left anything.
Turning back, I saw Landon exiting his room. And heaving a sigh I tried pretending as if I didn’t see him. Hey. I heard him call out to me and I grimaced before turning to face him.
Yes ? I didn’t mean for it to come out sounding like I was irritated but it above me now to change my tone of voice.
Okay and what did I do ? It wasn’t hard to detect a pissed off women.
Nothing. Absolutely nothing. He stepped in front of me once seeing me retreating away from him. Please move. I was not the the mood for all of this right now.
Later. There won’t be a later.
With an exaggerated pull on my suitcases, I walked downstairs and outside to the car ready to go back home.
Let me get that for you ma’am. I smiled politely at the man that was trying to help me with my suitcases.
It’s okay, I can take it from here. He looked shocked before he gave me back my suitcases, I wasn’t use to people catering to me like this and I didn’t want to start now. Thank you for your help.
The jet ride back was awkward and saturated with tension and Adaline could feel it as well, but she thought it was for other reasons.
I didn’t dwell in it because I saw her being engulfed into a big hug by her boyfriend when we stepped off. Hey ! She exclaimed overjoyed with happiness.
I stare at the scene in awe.
He let’s her down but she turns towards me and she motion me over. Josh meet my friend Embre, Embre meet my boyfriend Josh. She introduced us to each other.
I hold out my hand to him and he takes my hand shaking it. Nice to meet you. I took an his appearance, she wasn’t lying when she said he looked like a Greek god. His hair was buzzed cut and he had grey eyes, he had a stumble forming around his full set of lips. He had on a pair of black jeans on with a dark blue shirt and that’s when I noticed he had tattoos- even when it was almost night time the ink was noticeable. Where did she say she found him again ? She hasn’t stopped talking about you since we’ve been gone.
I let go of his hand and he looks at Adaline giving her a smirk and he pulls her close to him. Have you ?