Free Not Yet by Laura Ward

knew that was my
reality. For that reason alone, this had to move more slowly or I
would fall too fast, too deep.
    Landon nodded, very begrudgingly, and we left to go
pick up the lovebirds from their dance.

     
    Apply the damn brakes, short stuff.
    ***

 
     
    “NO, I GOT it…. I said I got it, Mom. Yup, I’ll
keep on my workout schedule. I can take care of myself just fine.”
Landon’s back was pressed against the side wall of our guard house. Crap. I’d interrupted a private conversation.
    His eyes were closed as he spoke, but his tension
showed in his hands. One grasped his phone tightly and one was
balled in a fist at his side. He was off duty and had changed into
shorts and a T-shirt. Both of our shifts were finished for the day,
and I was hoping to catch him and say goodbye. Now I wondered if I
should sneak away before he saw me.
    “Ok. Have fun…. Bye.” Landon opened his eyes as he
ended the call and waved me over to him.
    “I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop on you. I
just wanted to say goodnight.”
    Looking around to make sure we were hidden from
public view, he pulled me against him and I wrapped my arms around
his waist. His heart beat furiously next to my ear. “You’re never
an interruption, short stuff. That was just my mom calling to say
goodbye… and to make sure I understood that I was not invited to
join them on vacation.” Landon picked up both of our bags, and we
walked toward the employee parking lot as the sun set over the golf
course. As soon as we were out of public eyesight, he grasped my
hand tightly in his.
    “Excuse me? Why are you not invited?” I looked up and
saw that his jaw was clenched, but his face was otherwise
impassive.
    “I told you about my parents before. They aren’t
really into the whole ‘family’ thing. They make sure the fridge is
stocked with food, and that I have a clean bed and clothes, but
they have no interest in spending time with me.”
    We reached Landon’s truck and my car. We each threw
our bags inside and then Landon rested against his passenger door,
moving me in between his outstretched legs.
    “So, they are leaving you at home and going on
vacation? Seriously?”
    Landon chuckled lightly. “Happens all the time, short
stuff. I learned to cook basic meals for myself by the time I was
eight. They are out almost every night and even when they are home,
we don’t eat together. I’d spend the night with my buddy Dean
growing up, and I’d nearly fall over on Saturday morning when we’d
go downstairs to see his parents making a big pancake breakfast for
their kids. As soon as I moved out of a crib, my parents told me to
go downstairs in the morning, watch TV, and stay quiet. It’s just
how it is.”
    “Wow.” I reached up and moved his baseball cap higher
onto his head so I could fully look into his eyes. “That must be
tough. My mom has always had to do everything on her own, but she’s
always, always been there for us. How long are they gone?”
    “Two weeks. They’re on a Caribbean cruise. It’ll be
great. Two weeks of my favorite TV dinners and really bad sci-fi
movies. Every guy’s dream.” Landon kissed me lightly on the lips as
he rubbed his hands up and down my arms.
    I couldn’t believe he would be on his own for two
weeks. He had to feel so unwanted and lonely. How could his parents
treat him this way? Mom, Evie, and I had always called ourselves a
tribe. No matter how big or how small a family might’ve been, they
were your tribe. You’d stick together—no matter what. You’d
sacrifice—whatever you had to. Had Landon ever experienced anything
like that?
    I couldn’t hang out with him at his home since I had
to watch Evie, but I could offer him some home cooking and company.
“No way. A college athlete cannot exist off of microwavable meals
for two weeks. You’re coming home with me. Every night you feel
like it, you’re welcome. You know I make a badass spaghetti with
meat sauce, but you haven’t lived