I wake up before Landon does. It’s raining again.

I arrived home last night, relieved to find Landon hadn’t run away. Instead, he passed out on the sofa bed, his leather jacket pulled over him with Babeen asleep on the arm rest. I don’t know if he went through more of my stuff and don’t care to find out.

I stay wrapped up warm beneath my comforter, watching Landon from my bed for a good half hour, trying to mentally process my new reality. He still sleeps the same, with a light purring from his throat. I reminisce about how much I wish he could be here in bed with me, comforting me but, strangely, he’s the thing I need comfort from right now.

I’m overindulging in his presence. I can’t keep watching him like some creep so I head to the kitchen to cook us up some breakfast. I remember Landon’s curious way of enjoying his eggs— Scrambled with caramelized onions and douses of Tobasco sauce. Hopefully he can still remember enjoying it that way or I’ve just wasted five eggs on him.

Though I’m attempting to be quiet, the pans still make the odd clattering noise. Landon stirs and outstretches his free arm.

I see his eyes open, fold my arms and stand beside the bed.

“Morning,” he says wearily. Babeen leaps off his torso.

“I’m sorry about yesterday… I shouldn’t have stormed off like that.” I walk back to the kitchen to get his serving of eggs then present them to him.

“We’ve both had a bad run these last couple of days. Don’t overthink it. I’m sorry too.”

“I made you apology eggs.”

“Apology eggs? You didn’t have to do that.”

“Again, I wanted to.”

He sits up and I take a space of mattress beside him so I can backtrack on why the name was in the journal. More almost-truths pour out of me. “I—I knew a Landon once.”

“You wanna do this right now?”

“Please.”

“Okay. Go ahead.”

“I knew a Landon… I left him behind a long time ago.”

He straightens up further, letting his leather jacket slip off to reveal his muscular torso that I hadn’t had the privilege of drooling over yet. I swallow hard then continue my confession, keeping my eyes on Babeen as a distraction.

Landon looks down at his eggs, a faint smile crossing his lips. “Sweetheart, you don’t have to explain yourself.”

“But I do… Landon… I need to tell you…”

“Tabasco?” He tries to lighten the mood. “Good call. Love spicy eggs.” He takes a forkful.“So, you off to work again today?”

Words catch in my throat. Maybe if I wait just a bit longer… If I give him a chance to remember…

“I’ve got the day off. I was thinking maybe we could go for a walk. I can show you around the place a little bit. Maybe nature can help bring some memories back… If you feel up to it.”

His presence is making me nervous again. Maybe it’s the sight of his bare body, or the way he’s looking at me. He takes another bite of eggs then smiles.

“It’s lame, huh?” I continue when he doesn’t reply. “Never mind. I might go off by myself. There’s a waterfall a few miles down the cliff and you can swim there. It’s nice.”

I can’t shut up. I turn around and mouth ‘oh my god’. I have to consciously stop myself from slapping my head in embarrassment.

“Lucy,” Landon says.

“Yep?”

“Y’alright?”

“I’m just tired… Or more erratic than usual.”

There’s another long pause and I head to my closet to change into my hiking gear, assuming Landon wouldn’t want to hang with this much crazy for the day. I bend down to pick up my boots, but when I stand back up I can feel him just over my shoulder, his breath along the edge of my neck.

“A walk would be nice,” he says, his voice low and seductive. “I’m already getting cabin fever out here.”

My nerves calm a little.

“Off-the-grid not appeal to you?”

I ask the question because I remember a time in the past when it did. Back when Landon was afraid of being arrested for yet another petty crime. He wanted to disappear, but he stayed because I couldn’t leave with him.

“Its just a little too quiet out here. Puts me on edge.”

He’s still behind me as I bend over to grab my other boot. I can feel his eyes raking over me and a little thrill goes up my spine as I pull it over my foot and tie the strings into a double knot.

“That’s what I like about it.”

“You like being on edge?”

He’s still watching me. I turn on my heel, bringing myself face to face with the man I’d never been able to resist.

“I like the quiet.”

I walk past him, removing a tank top from my drawer. I don’t know why I do it but I lift my nightshirt over my head without asking Landon to turn around this time. I wish I could know if he’s staring at my bare back right now.

My silk shorts are still on. Should I risk teasing him by removing those too? My shyness get the better of me. I take some panties and my hot pink workout leggings and head back to the bathroom.

“Should I expect you back soon or is this gonna be another hour long bathe?”

I smile over to him. “I’ll be right out.”