Second Chance Mates

-18- 🌹 Change My Life

[A/N - Don't play the song until it says to in the story 🌹]

"If you knew how lonely my life has been, and how long I've been so alone. If you knew how I wanted someone to come along, and change my life the way you've done."
~Chantal Kreviazuk, 'Feels Like Home'

~~~

*Ryland's POV*

Lunch with Landon's family went a lot better than I expected. While his parents were a bit... wary at first, they gradually warmed up to me. Landon's mother, Isabel, appeared a lot more enthusiastic about my relationship with Landon than his father did. Not to say that Victor was hostile in any way; he sat quietly with a small smile as we conversed.

Lia bombarded me with wave after wave of questions. I sort of expected to be interrogated by his siblings, but Lia was kind of... intense. Landon rolled his eyes the entire time, which signified that her behavior wasn't unusual. I smile along and answered all of her questions until Isabel finally cut in and told Lia to give me a break.

Landon's nieces, Opal and Amy, were far too excited about meeting their uncle's mate. Easton passed away before they were born, so they never got the chance to meet him. They insisted on sitting in my lap, begging with their adorable puppy eyes. Lilian apologized and tried to remove her daughters, but I waved her off. I didn't mind the affection of the 3-year-olds. They were sweet and beyond cute.

Looking around at all of them, I realized how much my life has changed in the short amount of time since I met Landon.

Landon's family treated me like I was part of their family, opening their arms lovingly to me. For so long, it's just been me and Kai, but now... I have a real family again.

Tears prickle my eyes as I stare out the window of the moving Jeep. My chest is warm with happiness as I smile to myself. Landon reaches over to grab my hand, raising a brow quizzically.

"You doing okay?" He checks on me as he drives. "You're smiling like crazy over there."

I hum, leaning my head back on the seat. "I'm happy."

This time, Landon is the one who smiles, lifting my hand to his lips. "I'm glad," he says, kissing the back of my hand. Tingles shoot up my arm, making me want to wrap myself around Landon and never let go.

Landon turns his focus back to the road in front of us, giving me ample time to admire him secretly. Light shines in through the car window, reflecting on his golden hair. His eyes remain transfixed on the road; those deep blue oceans drawing me in with the temptation to drown in them. The blonde stubble on his cheeks have grown out a bit, surrounding his plump pink lips. I bite down on the inside of my cheek, replaying how soft his lips feel against mine.

"If you keep staring at me like that, we're going to end up crashing into a tree," Landon says without looking away from the road. "It's pretty distracting."

Heat rises to my cheeks as I yank my hand away. "I wasn't staring!"

His lips quirk up in a smirk. "What were you thinking about over there? I can feel your emotions, you know."

I mentally curse, remembering Landon is able to pick up on any arousal I emit. Biting my lip, I look up at him as he pulls into my driveway.

"You're coming in, right?" I ask once he parks.

"I don't know," Landon draws out with a teasing smile. "I should get to the cafe... go over some paperwork..."

My shoulder slump. "Oh," I pout.