Close to You

“Okay, tell me now.” Is this where he tells me that he’s leaving? It’s no secret that Landon loves to travel, to experience different places.

“I have to go to San Diego next week to meet up with an old friend of mine who’s offered me a job.”

He’s taking a job in freaking San Diego?

I frown and cross my arms over my chest.

“When are you moving?”

“Moving?” I close my eyes and pray that the tears don’t fall while he’s watching. “Cami, I’m not moving.”

He’s not moving this week. But next week he’s going to San Diego for a potential job.

“Cami, look at me.”

But I can’t. I can’t look him in the eye, when I’m still hot and wet, craving him, as he tells me that it’s been fun but it’s almost time for him to move on.

Suddenly he pulls into a parking lot and throws the car out of gear.

“Camille, look at me.”

“You know, maybe we don’t have to go out for dinner with Brian and his girlfriend after all. You can just take me home.”

He takes my shoulders in his hands and forces me to face him, a frown on his handsome face. “I’m not moving, Cam.”

“You’ve been here longer than you have been in the past, and I know you like to travel, Landon.”

“So you’re just waiting for me to bail?” he asks, shaking his head. “No. I’m going down to train for a job that I can do here.”

“Here?”

“Yes, as a flight instructor.”

I stare at him in disbelief, and then, as his words sink in, I let out a loud laugh. “Right.”

“Why is the thought of me teaching people to fly so funny?”

“You can’t fly. You’re not medically cleared for it.”

His jaw ticks before he says, “In a classroom.”

I still and watch him carefully for a long moment. “You’re okay with teaching people to fly in a classroom?”

He nods once and looks down at my lap. “It’s still teaching, and it’s being around planes, and people passionate about them. I miss it, babe. But the job is here, not in Southern California. I’ll be managing the whole operation.”

“Wow.” I take a deep breath, my whole body ready to sag with relief. “You’d be great at running an operation like that.”

He drags his fingertips down my cheek. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.” I nod and smile, but part of me is still hesitant.

“I’ll only be gone for a few days, Cami.”

“I’m fine. Really.” I sit back and lick my lips. “Congratulations. This is great news.”

“Thank you.” He watches me for a minute, then starts the car again. “I have no interest in leaving here. I’m happy.”

“Good.” I grin over at him and take his hand in mine, linking our fingers. “I’m happy too.”

“SO, THE LADY gave us the keys to the room, and then she said, ‘Don’t mind the ghost. She doesn’t take up much room.’” Stephanie, Brian’s new and completely adorable girlfriend, shakes her auburn head and smiles as she takes a bite of her salad. “I mean, I don’t believe in ghosts, so I was like, okay! But I think Brian was a little creeped out.”

“I was not creeped out,” Brian says as he watches the adorable Stephanie with big love-sick eyes as she continues to tell us all about their trip to Victoria Island for the weekend.

“He kind of was,” she says, leaning toward me like we’re conspiring against him. “But we didn’t see or hear any ghosts.”

“I’m pretty sure I heard a door slam in the middle of the night,” Brian says as he butters another piece of bread.

“You were snoring like crazy,” Stephanie replies. “You didn’t hear anything.”

“I don’t snore,” he insists.

“Yes, you do,” I reply, and roll my eyes.

“See!” Stephanie exclaims, pointing at me. “You do.”

“Takes one to know one,” Landon mutters, earning an elbow in his side.

“You know, I think it’s great that y’all are friends,” Stephanie says, the South thick in her voice.

“You do?” I ask, surprised.

“Sure. I mean, so many of my divorced friends are bitter and angry and have nothing but shit to say about their exes. It’s refreshing to know a couple who realized they just weren’t right for each other and moved on. No bitterness, no anger, just friendship.”

“It took us a little while to get here,” I reply, holding Brian’s eyes with mine. There was a time when Brian was angry, and for good reason. “But you’re right, we are good friends.”

“Well, I like it,” Stephanie says, and raises her glass. “To friendship.”

“To friendship.”

Dinner is relaxed and fun, and I find myself really enjoying Stephanie, and Brian as well. He’s different with her. More laid-back. More attentive.

Better.

And I couldn’t be happier for them.

After we’ve demolished dinner and dessert, we go our separate ways, and Landon drives us back to my place.

“Tonight was interesting,” he says thoughtfully.

“I had fun.”

“That’s why it was interesting,” he replies as he parks at my house and walks me to the door.

“Me having fun is interesting?” I push inside and toss my keys and bag on the table beside the door.

“You just had dinner with your boyfriend, your ex-husband, and his new girlfriend.”