RIVALS | MxM MPreg

Chapter 13

A/N: Ugh, this took longer than expected. So sorry my boss has been OOO for the past two weeks, so I've been super busy with more work. Enjoy!

It was well into the evening hours at Stonehouse at San Ysidro Ranch. The sun had already gone down. Yellow blub lights hung over the tables above the patio, casting a shadow over Landon's face as he quietly skimmed through the menu.

The pair were seated there—in an open area that faced a quiet garden of dozens of California lilacs. And while London seemed to be oblivious... Jackson, well he couldn't help but stare straight forward with stern, unreadable eyes at his older lover, feeling so wronged, underappreciated, and maybe undervalued.

He had planned so much for tonight; dinner at a hillbilly-themed place that he knew would appease Landon's lame taste, yet not once received a compliment about his attention to detail from his lover. He brought gifts yet received none for himself. The drive to the ranch had been tedious and bland because Landon hardly spoke a word—like what the fuck was his deal?!

Tonight was supposed to be fun, yet it tasted sour on Jackson's tongue.

Maybe it was Landon's guilt? Or was it Jackson's behavior back at Daytona? Should he say something?

When Landon gazed up from his menu at Jackson from across the table, he smiled warmly. "I like this place," he said. "I keep being wrong 'bout you. You sure know how to pick 'em—I gotta give you that."

Jackson's heart rate spiked. Like finally. Well, maybe he was exaggerating, and his Landon really did appreciate him. "You really like it?" He found himself asking, his voice monotonous, not showing an ounce of emotion.

Landon nodded. "I love it. They got good food too—" he beckoned at the menu. "So what you eatin'?"

Jackson skimmed through the menu. Half a dozen oysters on the half-shell. Grilled spinach octopus. Award-winning baby back ribs. Steak. Everything was meat, ugh. He had been more on a vegan diet recently. He sighed before he skimmed some more... Ah, pan-seared New Zealand John Dory: celery root, rautéed Granny Smith apple, mussels, blooms-dale spinach, apple cider emulsion. Perfect!

"I'll have the Pan Seared New Zealand John Dory, and... a tall glass of water. You?"

Landon took a deep breath and straightened his back before he sat the menu down. "For starters, Grilled Spanish Octopus. The truffle honey glazed Jidori farms chicken breast. Their signature sizes look nice too—you ain't gettin' any? I'll have the charred broccolini for those—and a big ol' glass of passionfruit pineapple to wash it all down."

For a moment Jackson stared at the older man in disbelief. "I didn't know you eat this much."

Landon chuckled awkwardly. "Well, me either... I've been eatin' a lot this past week—I really need to get back into shape."

Suddenly—like a strike of lightning, Jackson's body was seized with weakness. His gaze was an ocean of awe and wonder as he stared at his lover, who stared back at him, seemingly with wordless questions at the tip of his tongue. Jackson could not believe it, but he dreamt it countless times. Could it be? Did it work? Was his Landon actually carrying their child? A smile curled onto his lips and for the first time since Daytona—since he lost—he felt absolute calmness and bliss like everything would be alright, everything was falling into place, just the way he intended it would be. Oh, he needed to propose. No, wait. He needed to mark his Landon first—he needed to show the world that Landon McCoy was his and his alone. Yes-yes-yes.

He was so lost in thoughts that he didn't realize Landon had already ordered their dinner, and the waiter was already there, setting their plates down wordlessly next to him.