𝐌𝐲 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝'𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐲𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝟐 | ✓

- Chapter TWENTY THREE -

"We're back!" Marianna called out walking in with her bag of food and Gabriella with hers.

"Mama, Landon got you something!" Gabriella said, sitting at the dining table. "Daddy, where's Mama?" She asked.

Landon started to realize that the girls only called him Dad when Carlota wasn't around. He started to suspect she had something to do with it.

"I'm not sure," He trailed, worried because of the thoughts coming to his mind.

Carlota came out of the bathroom with a smile on her face and hugged her children. "I missed you two." She whispered, kissing them.

"Did something happen?" Landon asked, worried.

She looked at him and glared at him. "You two should eat and go to sleep, okay? We're going to Abuela's house tomorrow."

After they finished with their meal they all went to bed. Gabriella and Marianna on separate armchairs, Carlota on the longer couch, and Landon on the floor.

Yes, Landon took the floor. Not because Carlota requested him to do so. He had a feeling she wasn't in the mood for people.

She woke up to laughing and talking. She squeezed her eyes tighter, trying to ignore the sounds but they wouldn't stop.

Her body jolted up and her head snapped in the direction of the noise. "What the hell?" She asked, tiredly. "Landon, our kids are sleeping and you're drinking at 3 am with my dad?" She questioned, getting out of the couch.

Landon and Marcus were grinning at Carlota being upset.

"Oh come on, Carly. Your dad is a lot of fun. We were just getting to know each other." Landon explained, through chuckles.

"Yeah, don't worry, Carly. London and I won't be too loud." He said, patting his back.

"You're so f*cking fond him and he doesn't even know your damn name, Landon! You're supposed to be on my side. You're supposed to hate him for me. We're supposed to be a team. But instead of kissing my a*s, you're kissing my dad's own." She ranted, causing both of them to lose their happy expression.

"Why do the men in my life have to be complete and utter trash!" She yelled, walking into the bathroom and slamming the door.

Landon wore a confused upset expression when she lashed out. He never intended to hurt her. He just wanted the two to reconcile and he wanted his kids to have as much family as possible because, from his side, all they had was Annie.

Marcus tapped a wine bottle on his back causing him to turn around. "Want another drink?" He asked, which caused a cheeky grin to form on Landon's lips.

"Why not." He shrugged, taking the bottle and drinking it down.

~

Thirty minutes of avoiding those two which seemed like forever and Carlota finally came out of the bathroom to Marcus and Landon still awake and drinking.

She groaned at their immaturity.

"Carly, we thought you were dead." He joked, earning a glare from her.

"Dad, please go to bed," She whispered, softly giving up.

She walked over to her Dad and helped him get up from his chair. "Where are we going?" He asked, walking lazily with her. "Come on, Carly. I can take care of myself." He protested, getting into his single-sized bed. "Carlota," He trailed, slowly shutting his eyes.

The sleepiness was beginning to hit him and Carlota couldn't help but smile at that. "Dad," She whispered, touching the scar on his chin he got when she was 8. "I do not hate you." She finally said. "I love you."

A smile formed on his lips when she said that. "I don't want to be a disappointment to you Carly. I really don't. I want you to be proud of me." He confessed, closing his eyes. "You don't know how long I've been waiting for you and your mother to say that."

"Do you still love mom?" She asked, curiously. "Like, do you want her again?"

"Of course I do. I never stopped loving her Carly, likewise you. I just-. It's too late now. She's happy with this Joseph guy which everyone loved. Except for that Landon kid. Which is why I like him. He's pretty down to earth and kind of like me in a way." He shrugged.

"Kind of like you?" She questioned, getting a little scared. 'If he was like him then did that mean...' "I have to go." She said, removing her hand.

"No, wait. Carly." He called out, grasping her hand. "Was it something I said? I really want to be a father and this sh*t's hard, okay? W-when you'll leave tomorrow, will you ever come and visit?"

She thought about it and smiled. "Of course."

*-*-*

DOUBLE UPDATE BECAUSE I CAN B*TCH!!!

QUESTION FOR THE CHAPTER: DO YOU LIKE LANDON AND MARCUS'S RELATIONSHIP?