Page 22 of Fear of Love (Falling #3)

LYDIA

“ L ook what I bought us,” Tasha whispered beside me on Mila’s couch. Behind us, Mila and Josie were busy making margaritas as we got ready to watch the guys play their next hockey game on TV.

Leaning in, Tasha showed me her phone with an excited grin. On the screen were four sashes, each one with a different saying. One was obviously Josie’s because it said, “Wifey Material.” The others said—Designated Drunk, Bad Influence, and Sexy and Single.

I snorted, not at all surprised that Tasha got these for Josie’s bachelorette party.

“I take it you’re the ‘Bad Influence’ one?”

“Of course.” She didn’t brother to argue. I knew I was the ‘Sexy and Single’ one since no one else in our group was single. “They come later this week. Perfect timing for the party.”

“She’s gonna love it.” Josie still had no idea what we were planning. Pretty sure she thought we were just going to do a small girl’s night.

“Margaritas!” Mila cheered as her and Josie came back into the living room. Tasha quickly put her phone away before grabbing a glass.

I eagerly accepted mine as Mila held it out for me. I didn’t know what she did, but she had the best margarita recipe. Whenever we hung out, we all pretty much begged her to make them, so it was a staple during girl’s night.

Since the guys had a Tuesday night away game, it was the perfect time to hang out at Mila’s after work to watch, especially since we hadn’t seen each other since Mateo’s game on Friday.

Once I was settled on the couch, drink in hand, I felt eyes turn to me. I knew what they were going to ask as I took a big sip of my drink to prepare myself.

“You’ve been a bit MIA lately,” Josie remarked, glancing at me over the rim of her glass. I knew they noticed my lack of messages in our group chat the last few days.

“Sorry, work has been crazy,” I said, which wasn’t exactly a lie. Work was crazy this week with trying to finalize the deal to put the magazine in stores, working on the next issue, and trying to fend off the other magazine company that wouldn’t take no for an answer.

I just wasn’t going to tell them about this weekend with Landon. A weekend that turned into more than I think either of us thought possible. We spent the rest of Saturday and then half of Sunday together.

When I woke up Friday, I hadn’t expected to spent my entire weekend being fucked on every surface in my apartment, but I loved every second of it. It was like a gate had opened where we couldn’t get enough.

Sunday came fast, and before we knew it, we spent all weekend together. I wasn’t prepared for him to stay that long, but I didn’t complain. Not when I was the most satisfied I had ever been.

Oddly, when he left Sunday afternoon, my apartment felt a little bit empty. Because I had been so wrapped up in Landon, literally and figuratively, when Monday rolled around I was slammed with work.

I knew I could have easily told them I spent the weekend with him but part of me held back. What Landon and I were doing was just for fun, and no one really needed to know about it. Once our group did, that changed everything, and I wasn’t ready for that.

“Business is picking up, huh?” Tasha asked.

“It has. Just this weekend we’ve had at least ten businesses wanting to be featured in the magazine.”

“So, what exactly happens when someone wants to be featured?” Mila questioned.

“We look at the business or company and see what they’re about.

We try to stay away from huge popular stores because they’re already known and don’t need us.

Then, depending on the store or the event, we’ll ask for a small fee to be featured.

If we come across a family business, we’ll feature them for free,” I explained.

“Okay, boss babe.” Mila snapped her fingers. I dipped my head in acknowledgment.

I’m a woman CEO in an industry ruled by men.

Most would think women run magazines because that’s who the audience is generally for, but men have long run the media industry.

When I worked at another magazine when I first graduated uni, I watched as men were rewarded for doing nothing while women got zero credit for doing a lot.

Paving the way as a woman-owned magazine was important to me, and I’d gladly hold the Boss Babe title.

“We should all pay to be featured and have an entire page dedicated to us,” Tasha joked.

“Have a huge photoshoot with outfit changes,” Mila added.

“Love that idea.” Tasha beamed. “We could do those ‘beer pictures’ that girls do and give to their men.”

“Oh, I’ve seen those,” Josie piped up. “Bet the guys would love that.”

“That could be a fun wedding gift for Wyatt.” Tasha wiggled her eyebrows at Josie.

“His gift is marrying me.”

I laughed into my glass at the way she said it. I mean, she wasn’t wrong. I might’ve been a bit biased, being friends with Josie, but Wyatt was lucky to have her.

As the girls talked back and forth about the guys, my phone buzzed in my lap. My eyebrows raised as Landon’s name flashed across the front.

Landon: Watching the game?

Lydia: Yeah, with the girls at Mila’s place.

Curious as to why he was asking, I kept my eyes on the screen as three dots appeared at the bottom.

Landon: If it’s not too late after the game, want to come over?

I read his text twice. I knew what he was implying, yet I was surprised at the hookup text.

Lydia: So we can braid each other’s hair?

I bit my bottom lip to stop from laughing at my response.

Landon: The only thing involving hair will be my fist wrapped around yours.

Images of that came to mind, my mouth instantly drying. I crossed my legs as I glanced at my friends, phone angled away from them. Thankfully, they were oblivious as I shifted on the couch.

I struggled to type out a response, my head scrambled with dirty thoughts.

I typed something then deleted it, trying to come up with something witty.

I didn’t even remember a time where I sent dirty texts to someone.

I knew sexting was a thing, but I never actually did it.

I’ve always been straight to the point when it came to hooking up with men.

My phone buzzed with another text. I felt my body flush as I read what Landon wrote.

Landon: I love seeing you speechless. Just wait, I’ll make sure that mouth stays busy later.

I quickly flipped my phone over as I tried my best to look unaffected. On the inside, I was internally screaming. How could he say it so easily, and why the hell was it so damn hot?

“You good?” Tasha softly elbowed me. I prayed my face wasn’t as red as it felt.

“All good. Haven’t eaten, so the alcohol has gone straight to my head,” I lied.

“I have a ton of snacks!” Mila said, immediately jumping off the couch.

“Oh, no I…” I trailed off as Mila ignored me and went to the kitchen. Not even a second later, she came bouncing out, holding multiple bowls. “Chips, popcorn, and different kinds of candy.”

“We are making Mila host every time,” Tasha declared as she reached out and grabbed a small handful from the candy bowl—a mix of M&M’s, gummy worms, and Skittles.

“I’m going to have to up my snack game,” Josie mused as she grabbed her own handful.

I snagged a few myself. It was something to occupy my hands so I didn’t grab my phone and reread what Landon sent me.

“I’m gonna move in with you,” I joked.

“You really don’t want to do that.” Tasha shook her head. “Her and Bryton are like rabbits.” Her eyes went wide. “On every surface.”

I looked down at the couch before dragging my gaze back to Mila. She sat there grinning, not at all embarrassed.

“You need Jesus.” I scrunched my nose at her.

“Hey, I’m getting laid. I don’t care.” Mila replied with a smirk.

“Please tell me you at least clean the couch.” Tasha sent her a pleading look.

“Most of the time.” Mila shrugged, which made Tasha slap her arm as we all laughed.

“Lydia’s right. You need Jesus.”

“I’m on my knees a lot, anyway.”

“Get it! Get it!”

Josie screamed at the TV. Tasha, Mila, and I leaned far away from her, sharing a look.

Every time we did this, we all said we weren’t going to put the game on, yet we did.

Then we were left sitting here, cringing away from Josie’s screaming.

Mila could be just as bad at the arena, but at least she knew to keep her voice down here. Josie…not so much.

“Now you understand why I banned hockey in our apartment years ago,” Tasha said from the side of her mouth.

“Fitting she’s marrying a hockey player,” I whispered back.

“Shoot!” Josie screamed, jumping off the couch.

“No wonder we got kicked out of a bar once,” Mila muttered on the other side of us.

On the TV, the Toronto Knights were behind by one goal with only a few minutes left in the game.

There were multiple penalties on both sides.

A bogus call put Trevor in the box that had Tasha cursing at the screen.

Bryton was slammed into the boards so hard we all winced and had me wondering how he managed to stay on his feet.

With only minutes left, my phone buzzed once again on my lap.

For the last hour, Landon sent me a string of dirty texts, every one worse than the last. I’d been trying to focus on the game, but he was making it hard to do.

The girls gave me a few curious glances at the continuous texts, but thankfully didn’t say a word.

Landon: Care to soothe the sting of the loss?

I tugged my bottom lip into my mouth so I wouldn’t smile as I read his newest text.

Lydia: Sounding a bit desperate there.

Landon: Get your ass over here.

Even through text, his demand was noticeable. I could easily say no and stay here with the girls, but my skin felt itchy and hot after being teased for the last hour. There was no way I was staying here when there was a promise of knee-shaking orgasms in my future.

His address came through in another text. A reminder I had yet to actually go to his apartment.