I Don't Mix Business with Pleasure

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓯𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓽𝓮𝓮𝓷

                                   𝓕𝓵𝓸𝓻𝓮𝓷𝓬𝓮

I feel relieved once we land. Knowing I'll be back on that plane tomorrow morning though, I dread it. Part of me feels somewhat excited to see Landon's apartment. I'm feeling so many emotions at once that I might be losing it. That's the only explanation.

"How was your flight?" Hudson asks me, loading my luggage into the back of his SUV. He seems different. He hasn't hugged me like usual.

"Not sure, I slept most of the time." I left out a quiet laugh, while we both getting into the car.

"You've been sleeping a ton."

"Yeah, it's an escape."

"Landon did the same thing when our mom died. I swear he was never awake except to eat."

"Oh, that's so sad," I whisper.

I feel less alone the more I learn about him. I give him shit for the way he acts, but we're more alike when it comes to dealing with grief than I thought. We relate. What if I turn bitter like him? Have I already? I've been quite mean to him. He's been so nice to me though. Is it a mask he puts up and he really is nice or is he just pretending to be nice because I'm hurting?

"Did you hear anything I said?" Hudson asks, breaking my train of thought.

"No- I'm so sorry. I'm just lost in thought." I shoot him a sorry look.

Yeah, lost in thought about his brother once again.

"That's okay. I understand."

"I really am sorry. Thank you for taking the time to pick me up, I do appreciate it."

"Don't worry about it. You don't have to thank me for anything. I don't mind at all." he smiles at me then looks like he remembered something. "Can I ask you something? Please be honest." His expression turns serious, which worries me.

"Yeah- sure. What is it?"

"You and my brother- do you have something going on? Sorry- I just wanted to ask."

"No- what? Why do you ask?" I feel guilty as if I'm lying. We don't have anything going on though- at least I don't think we do.

"You sure?" he asks, scanning my face. He's acting like I'm lying.

"I- yeah, I'm sure." I stutter.

"Okay. one last question." he sighs, "Landon and I were talking. Would you mind tonight since you're heading home tomorrow, to have a get-together? Just the three of us? I can get stuff to make drinks. You don't have to drink- but we can watch movies."

I think that's a good idea. I could use some fun.

"Yeah, we can do that." I give him a weak smile.

"This is random, but I was teasing Landon earlier. I walked into his apartment and he was lying on his couch staring at the ceiling and listening to Noah Kahan's, Stick Season album." he laughs. "He hurried, paused it, and straightened up like it was an accident that it was playing."

"I love him. That whole album is just love songs and heartbreak. I was just listening to that album on the plane oddly enough." I giggle.

"Yeah, he's full of surprises. I guess both of you are." he laughs.  

"Yeah- you could say that," I mumble.

We pull up to my apartment and he stops the car.

"So, I'm going to head back to work. We will be off at 4:00. When do you want me to pick you up?" he asks, turning to face me.