Page 39 of Fear of Love (Falling #3)

LYDIA

“ I f you pose just the right way, it makes your butt look bigger,” Josie slurred at the police officer through the metal bars.

“Show the tatas, too,” Tasha added in, shimmying her chest as she did.

“Show the curves.” Mila lifted her hands and motioned them in the shape of an hourglass.

“And smile.” I closed my eyes tightly as I showed my teeth. I hiccuped loudly and giggled, unable to help myself.

“I’ll have to try that,” the female officer mused from the outside of the jail cell.

“If I managed to snag a hottie hockey player, you can, too,” Josie said with a drunk, dopey, smile.

“My man is so smexy.” Tasha sighed. “The tattoos.”

I leaned back against the wall, thinking of Landon. I really wished he was here right now. That I could run my hands all over that broad chest of his and feel those big hands on my thighs. The male dancer from the club was fun, but I wanted Landon.

“Did you know I’m getting married!” Josie’s voice was loud as she continued talking. “In two weeks!”

“That’s why we went to a Magic Mike show,” Mila said, giggling. “You should have seen the men.”

“Oh, the mennn.” I nodded. “They have abs on abs on abs.” I gestured with my hand like I was running it down the front of their bodies.

“I got a lap dance,” Josie added. “He let me touch his abs.”

“We’re gonna get in troubleeeee.” Tasha laughed.

“Would you ladies like some water?” the officer asked.

“I would love some. You are such a sweetheart,” Josie cooed. “I like her.” All of us chorused her words as the officer went to get us something to drink.

“Wish we had more tequila,” Tasha whined. “Think Officer Newby has some at her desk?”

“We could ask.” Rationally, I knew it wasn’t a good idea to ask a police officer if she had alcohol, but seeing as the logical part of me was drunk, I didn’t care.

“How mad will the boys be?” Mila asked a moment later from her spot on the other side of the bench. She was practically lying down on it.

“For what? Going to a strip show, going to a bar, or getting arrested?” Josie asked, eyes hooded.

“Maybe all three,” a new voice said. Our heads slowly moved to look through the bars of our cell. Standing there was Wyatt, Trevor, Bryton and Landon. All four with their arms crossed, legs spread, and glares on their faces.

“Baby!” Josie jumped up squealing, almost tipping to the side in her heels.

“You came.” Mila beamed at her boyfriend.

“We were just talking about our hotties.” Tasha stood up and stumbled toward the bars.

None of them looked amused. My eyes moved to Landon and found his eyes already on me. Mmm, he looked good. He wore a normal pair of denim jeans with a pullover, but god, he looked yummy.

I bit my bottom lip as I thought about what was under that sweater. I wanted to pull him into this cell with me and do unspeakable things to him, regardless of who was here.

“Care to explain why we got a call at one in the morning about our girlfriends having been arrested?” Trevor asked, eyes glued to Tasha.

“Well, we went to a strip club.” Josie was the first to speak. “And we wore these amazing sashes that Tash got us.” Josie grabbed hers, pulling it away from her body as she was still wearing it. Somehow, we managed to keep them on throughout the night.

“It was so much fun,” Tasha echoed.

“You should have seen the men,” I spoke up. “The abs and muscles.” I made an ‘ok’ symbol with my fingers. I knew our loose lips were going to get us in trouble, but that wasn’t going to stop any of us.

“Jo got a lap dance, and then this really hunky one with long hair gave one to Lyd. He kept flirting with her,” Mila rambled.

“And thennnn,” Tasha took over. “We decided to go to the bar down the street where we got some free shots. They were really good.” The drunken smile she had proved just how much she had to drink.

“Then we got on tables and danced while people cheered.” None of the guys said anything as we kept blabbing.

“But some asshole had to go and ruin the night by trying to hit on us. When he wouldn’t stop, I kicked him in the balls and punched him,” I said matter-of-factly with a proud ass grin. “See.” I held up my right hand, which was swollen and hurt like a bitch, but at least the alcohol numbed the pain.

“The club security didn’t like that and tried to kick us out. Can you believe that?” Josie rolled her eyes. “When we refused to leave, they tried to manhandle us so Tasha hit one.” This time, it was Tasha’s turn to lift her hand with a smug tilt of her chin.

“Right in the nose. You woulda been proud, babe.”

“Next thing we knew, the cops came and brought us here.” Mila waved around as if we were in a five-star hotel and not a jail cell. “The officers are really sweet.”

Right on cue, Officer Newby walked in with four water bottles in her hands.

“Officer,” Josie cheered. “You made it.”

Even drunk, I didn’t miss the way the officer’s eyes widened at the sight of the guys in front of her. Hard not to stare when they all looked good enough to eat.

“That’s my fiancé.” Josie pointed to Wyatt with her hand sticking out of the bars. I could tell the officer was starstruck as she just kept on staring.

“The ladies are free to go,” came another new voice, an older male officer with a key in his hand.

While Wyatt talked to the officer, I watched Landon. He had yet to say a word, but boy was he hot when he was angry. I sent him a wink, which looked more like I was having a seizure. His eyes narrowed even more but all it did was send a thrill through me. Angry Landon was my new favorite.

The sound of the cell door opening stole my attention away.

“Thank god. I have to pee,” Mila said. She stood up and walked out of our cell. She looked like a newborn trying to walk in her heels. Thankfully, Bryton was there to wrap his arm around her to keep her steady.

I stood from the bench, trying my hardest not to tip over. Now that I was standing, my head was spinning, and my heels definitely had to be taller than five inches. I stumbled a little as I walked past the metal bars, but Landon was right there to help me.

With his hand on my elbow as I teetered in my heels, I gave him a drunken smile. “Thank you.”

“Let’s get you home,” came his gruff response.

“Grrr.” I wasn’t sure if I said that out loud or not.

“Good luck with the dating apps, girly,” Tasha said to Officer Newby as we passed by.

“Let us know how it goes!” Josie said over her shoulder, Wyatt’s arm tight around her waist.

With that, the guys led us out of the police station, saying a thank you to the officers. Each one looked at Wyatt, Trevor, and Bryton with unconcealed awe.

“Only you guys would make friends with a police officer,” Wyatt commented as we walked to the empty parking lot.

“She was the best,” Josie said with a nod.

I leaned into Landon’s side as we walked across the parking lot. My eyes were droopy, but I was still feeling pretty good from the alcohol. Give me another hour and we’d see if that changed.

“You okay to take her?” Wyatt asked, looking at Landon.

“I’m all good,” I answered for him, giving Wyatt a thumbs-up. Beside me, Landon sighed.

“I got her.”

As the guys led the girls away, we grinned at one another.

“I love you guys!” Mila called out.

“Love you more!” Tasha said in return.

“Thank you for my party!” Josie yelled as Wyatt tugged her toward his car.

“Byeee!” I called out, waving as I stumbled in my heels. Landon’s arms caught me just in time, steadying me with ease. “I love your arms,” I blurted out randomly as he guided me toward the passenger side of his truck.

He didn’t respond to my compliment as he grabbed me by my waist and lifted me into the seat. “In you go.” I had a wild grin on my face as I looked over at him.

“So strong.” By the shake of his head, he wasn’t amused.

I watched him walk around the truck. The way his jeans hugged his ass was criminal. When he got in and started the truck, I noticed my purse on his wrist.

“Hey, my purse! I wondered where it went.” I reached for it, sliding it off his wrist before digging inside it. “Where are you?” I mumbled under my breath until I found what I was looking for. “Ah ha!” I pulled out a sucker I stashed inside it the other day.

I felt Landon’s stare as I popped it in my mouth.

The truck was silent as Landon drove away from the police station. I didn’t know why but my alcohol-induced brain took that to mean I had to fill the silence.

“I have a big secret to tell you.” My head lolled to the side to stare at Landon’s face, sucker jammed into the side of my cheek.

The dashboard lit the side of his face so I could see his nice jawline.

My fingers itched to touch it. Even though he didn’t say anything, I continued talking, the words coming out of my mouth ones I hadn’t spoken in years.

“I grew up in the foster system.” Landon’s head turned to look at me. “Yep, I’m a foster kid.”

I never really spoke about my time in the foster care system, yet here in Landon’s dark truck, the words fell from my drunken lips.

“I was seven when my mom dropped me off, addicted to drugs and tired of having to care for me.” Saying the words out loud felt like a knife to the chest.

“I was stuck in a crowded house where no one cared about me, and I had to share a room with two other kids. But at least I had a bed and food.” My voice was calm and unbothered, like I was just talking about the weather and not my life growing up.

“Made friends but they slowly left until I was alone. I worked really hard to get a scholarship to go to uni.” I was full-on rambling now, the words spilling from my lips.

“The best day was when I turned eighteen and could leave. Now look at me.” I gestured to myself.

“A successful business woman. I made it.”

While Landon drove, I kept talking. I told him about the time I had to hide my money when I was fifteen so no one could take it. Told him how I counted down the days to my eighteenth birthday so I could leave and be on my own.