FOR HIM [Lando Norris] ~ Gridlock Series Stand Alone ~

Time Presents Me A Future

EVELYN

It was like during the next week, something had shifted. It was as if I were still walking through my normal day to day life, but the dark clouds that had been suffocating me for so long, were starting to clear.

Charles was around the house more, and I noticed a change in Landon as well. He was more alive, more willing to let happiness in.

"What are you smiling about over there?" Charles mocks.

I bring my attention up to him from where I had been staring off into the distance, mixing through a mixture of red velvet cupcake batter.

"Nothing, just thinking" I admit, returning my attention to the mixture.

"Do tell" he pushes, rounding the island bench and taking the bowl off me, pouring the mixture out evenly into the cupcake dishes.

"I don't know. It's just a little bit of everything I guess. I feel, lighter" my face matching the hesitancy in the choice of wording.

"Lighter?" he quizzes, gliding his finger along the edge of the bowl, gathering up some left over batter before bringing it up to my lips.

My eyes meet his as if it were happening in slow motion, I take a hold of his hand with my two to steady it before parting my lips, taking the mixture off his finger.

The corners of his lips twitch only slightly before I drop his hand and he clears is throat, returning to the cupcakes.

I shrug my shoulders, "I just feel like, I don't know really, time is healing"

"That's really nice to hear" he coos, placing the tray into the oven and closing the door with his foot.

I push myself up onto the kitchen bench, my legs dangling over the side. "It's nice to feel" I agree.

Charles moves himself to the sink, right next to where I'm seated, handing me the tea towel that was resting on his shoulder, "I'll wash, you dry" he winks.

As he turns on the tap and begins filling the sink, I keep my place on the counter, already knowing I'm going to make this ten times harder for myself.

"Are you going to tell me what you and Landon have planned for this weekend?" I beg, I knew they had been planning something all week, Landon wasn't exactly the most subtle of humans.

Charles shakes his head, "No way" he bursts, handing me the now clean mixing bowl.

I retrieve it, drying it off with my towel before placing it on the bench beside me. "That's no fair" I whine.

"Trust me, Ev" he promises, "you're going to love it, well at least I hope you do"

"I'm sure I'd love anything you two had planned, but I don't like surprises"

He eyes me amused, "don't you ruin this for Landon, he's been so excited" he points the wet cleaning brush at me as I have to dodge the flying particles.

"Hey!" I gasp in a chuckle, "I won't, I won't" I muse.

"Good. Just for this once, please, let us have this one" he lands the puppy eyes on me.

I screw my face up at him as I pretend to mull it over. "Fine" I groan, "I promise"

"Good girl" he coos, returning to the dishes.

I let myself think quietly whilst we continue with the dishes like a train line, "Can you just tell me what I need to wear?" I groan.  

He moans loudly, "Oh Ev, you're impossible" he chuckles. "Warm clothes" he finally admits, "Dress warm"