What I Wish You Knew | ꪜ

Chapter Thirty

To Landon,

30. I wish you knew I really trusted you.

Hayley's POV

"Hi Mrs. Carmichael, did Landon leave yet? I didn't see his car in the driveway but he also didn't text me that he already left." I inquired as I peered up at Landon's mother leaned against the frame of the door. She pursed her lips in a thin line and narrowed her eyes at me before shaking her head.

"Child, you haven't come over in so long and the first person you ask for is Landon? Someone you see mostly every day?" She scoffed in mock pain, her hand draped across her chest.

I chuckled in response and slipped into the house as she stepped out of the frame of the door for me to come in. She slammed the door shut behind me and motioned towards the stairs, "you kids show no appreciation for me these days." She exclaimed as she waved me off.

"You know I love you Mrs. Carmichael!" I giggled as I pulled her into a bear hug. She returned the gesture, chuckling under her breath when I finally pulled away. "Hannah is coming over in a while, stick around to say hi to her, she's been asking for you." She said and I nodded my head vigorously, mumbling that I will as I sauntered up the stairs towards Landon's room.

"Hey, Lan."

He emerged from his walk-in closet and slammed the door shut behind him. I only now realized he was shirtless and as if I were committing a crime, I flickered my eyes shut tightly and lowered my head. "Sorry I didn't know you were partially undressed."

"Yeah, partially undressed, not naked Hayley. You're acting as if you've never seen me shirtless." He chuckled before saying that I could open my eyes. I peeled them open slowly and realized how ridiculous I must have looked.

Of course, I've seen him shirtless before, but now that I'm dating Parker it feels like an unwritten rule where I shouldn't see my best friend without any articles of clothing off.

"What are you doing here? I thought we agreed that I'd text you when I leave, are we not going anymore?" He inquired in concern and I shook my head vigorously as I leaned my back against the door, my eyes scanning his room.

"No! I just didn't see your car in the driveway so I thought you left without texting me. I just came to tell you Parker is coming to get me in a while so we're gonna be leaving. Where is your car by the way?" I asked as I trekked towards one of the picture frames hung up on his wall.

It was a photo of the two of us in sixth grade at the beach. That was his sister Hannah's birthday where all our families came together and threw her a surprise party. Before that picture, Landon dumped a bucket of sand into my bathing suit.

In the photo, you could see the anger and discomfort on my face which then progressed into me punching him in the stomach soon after. Let's just say we spent a few hours in the hospital after that incident. "Why is Parker picking you up?" He asked and I pivoted on my heels to face him, my lips downturned in a frown.

Normally when I had big news I'd immediately tell Landon but ever since our feud over his relationship with Vanessa, there was a small wedge between us. Something that prevented me from including him in my life 1000%.

He was still my best friend and things have gone back to normal, but I know that it hasn't been a smooth sailing boat fully because if it did, I would have told him Parker and I were dating the moment I said yes to being his girlfriend.

Subconsciously I knew that.

"Landon, look a few days ago Parker and I–"

"Hayley?! Hayley is that you?" A familiar voice bellowed down the hallway. I recognized it from anywhere: that high-pitched kind of shrilling voice. The one that wanted you to climb under a bed and remain there until they disappeared. "Hey! There you are! God, how are you?" She cried out as she stepped into Landon's room and immediately pulled me into her arms.