Page 55 of Fear of Love (Falling #3)

LYDIA

O ur entire group followed after the happy couple back down the aisle toward a section of the garden, as cameras flashed, while guests made their way to the tent on the other side of the property where the reception was being held.

Both People’s magazine and the wedding photographers wanted photos of Josie and Wyatt after the wedding, as well as the rest of the wedding party. So for the next half hour, we were posed this way and that.

Josie’s giddiness was infectious as the two barely took their eyes off one another. The rest of us could cease to exist for all they cared. Their love was so palpable you could feel it in the air.

I was standing off to the side, watching the newlyweds whisper to each other, when Landon came up to my side.

“They are sickeningly cute, aren’t they?” Landon asked, taking the thoughts right out of my head.

“I think I’m getting cavities looking at them.” I scrunched my nose up in mock disgust. Mateo snorted from his spot a few feet away.

Turning, I put my hands on Landon’s chest, tilting my head back to drink him in. We were in plain view of the others, but like I said earlier, I wasn’t hiding Landon.

“You look good in a tux.” My hands tightened around the tie, centering at the base of Landon’s neck.

“Yeah? Is it your favorite look of mine?” Landon asked, a sly smirk spreading across his face.

I nodded. “Definitely in my top five.”

“I know I said this earlier, but you look beautiful.” His fingers played with the fabric of my dress at my lower back.

“You like this color on me?”

“Definitely. I think you need to get a few pairs of underwear in this exact shade.” Landon pulled his bottom lip into his mouth, his teeth cutting into it. A look on his face as if he was fantasizing about it.

“Maybe I have a matching thong underneath,” I replied cheekily, smirking when his hands dropped to my waist and his pupils dilated.

“I’ll be finding that out for myself soon enough.” There was a promise in his voice that made me lean in closer to him.

Everything around us blurred into nothingness as I tightened my hold on his tie, drawing him closer until his lips met mine.

His touch was gentle yet deliberate, moving with a rhythm that sent a soft sigh escaping my lips.

God, he knew exactly how to kiss. Every movement filled with quiet intensity that left me breathless.

“What the actual fuck?” Mateo’s voice snapped us out of it. Landon and I broke apart and turned to face him. “You two? You’re a thing now?!”

Mateo looked back and forth between Landon and me, then turned to the others. “Did you guys know about this?” He gestured at us. They all gave a nod. The girls obviously weren’t surprised, and I had a feeling Wyatt told Trevor and Bryton a few days ago after I showed up to talk to Josie.

Trevor spoke first, his tone casual. “Yeah, we knew.” Mateo whipped his head around to look at everyone, a look of utter disbelief on his face..

“Everyone knows?” He looked at his mom for confirmation. “Mom?” She just nodded, looking at her son in amusement.

“I think we broke him,” I whispered to Landon.

“How am I the last to find out? I always know everything! I knew about Trevor and Tasha before anyone else did!”

“Granted, we found out only a week ago,” Mila supplied, which only made Mateo’s eyes widen.

“A week! You all knew for a whole week, and no one bothered to message the Bang Bet Club chat and inform me?”

“We had wedding stuff,” Tasha said. “Plus, Trevor won the bet.”

“The Bang Bet Club, really?” I shot everyone a deadpanned expression. I shouldn’t have been surprised considering we did the same thing for Tasha and Trevor.

“Took you guys long enough,” Bryton mumbled. “I’m done betting.”

“Better late than never.” Trevor came over and slapped Landon’s shoulder, who just rolled his eyes.

“Wait, so how long has this been going on?” Mateo looked at Landon and me.

“Since your game where you made it to the championship,” I said.

“Two months!” Mateo groaned. “All girlfriends have left me.” He practically whined.

“Better find one of your own then,” Landon said with a shrug, tugging me into his side.

The way Landon held me, firm and protective, brought a smile to my face.

Landon’s possessiveness wasn’t controlling.

It was more of a quiet ‘she’s mine, don’t even think about it.

’ Jared, on the other hand, assumed the worst if any guy so much as looked at me.

He couldn’t stand the thought of anyone else wanting me, yet had no issue sleeping around himself.

“This fucking sucks,” he muttered. “I need a drink.”Evelyn cleared her throat, and Mateo’s eyes widened. “A drink of orange juice, obviously,” he quickly amended, to which we all snorted.

“Let's get you that orange juice.” Mila came forward, looping her arm through Mateo’s. “We’ll see you guys in a bit,” she said over her shoulder to Josie and Wyatt. Together, she, Mateo, and Bryton headed for the reception tent.

“Poor Mateo. I think we need to find him a girlfriend,” I said, watching the three walk away.

“That’d get him to stop hitting on ours,” Trevor muttered.

“Yeah, I don’t see that ever stopping,” Tasha added with a chuckle.

“But he does need a girlfriend,” Josie mused.

The three of us glanced at each other. It was about time we played matchmaker. He meddled in all of our love lives, so it was only fair we returned the favor.

We put a pin in that as Josie, Wyatt, and Tasha said they’d meet up with us in a bit and headed back toward the manor. Josie was going to change out of her dress with Tasha’s help, and of course, Wyatt wasn’t letting her out of his sight.

With the three of them gone, Landon, Trevor and I started for the tent. I laced my arm through Landon’s to keep my balance in my heels on the grass. We only made it a few steps before Landon spoke.

“Emily, the girl who works for me, is the same age as Mateo.” I came to an abrupt stop, so I could tilt my head back and look at him in shock. “What?”

“Is the world ending?” I made a show of looking around us. “Are you feeling okay?” I reached up to touch his face.

He rolled his eyes. “I’m feeling fine.”

“You just voluntarily offered to help your brother,” I pointed out as we started walking again.

“I always help my brother.”

“Yeah, but this is about his love life. I didn’t have to force you, either.” I opened my eyes wide. “You’re growing up.”

I heard a snort that turned into a cough come from Trevor, who walked ahead of us and earned a glare from Landon.

“You’re just full of jokes, aren’t you?” His gaze was narrowed on me, but I could tell he was amused by the way his eyes sparkled.

“Oh, I’m hilarious.”

“Clearly.” Landon deadpanned. I sent my elbow into his side, but he just laughed. From here, I could see the reception tent up ahead.

“Be careful. I saw you crying as Josie walked down the aisle. I can use that to blackmail you,” I playfully threatened.

“I wasn’t crying. I got pollen in my eyes,” he lied.

“Uh huh.” He could use that as an excuse, but I knew the truth. “Let me go ask Trevor about that.”

I quickened my steps to catch up with our friend, but I didn’t get far before I was lifted off the ground. Landon’s arms wrapped around my waist as he spun me in a circle, making me laugh out loud. It echoed through the air before he gently set me back down.

“I’m keeping you far away from Trevor,” he said it against my ear.

“It’s okay to admit you cried a little. It’s cute you got choked up about your brother getting married.”

“Are you always this persistent?” His hands squeezed my hips.

“How else do you think I started my company?” I shot back.

“Fine.” He sighed. “I got a little emotional. Happy?”

Deciding that I teased him enough, I nodded.

Hand in hand, we walked the rest of the way to the tent.

When we stepped in, I was instantly in awe.

When I saw it with Josie the other day, it was pretty…

. but now? With the fairy lights flowing overhead, elegant tables adorned with stunning flowers, and a massive dance floor at the center with a DJ booth tucked to the side, it was absolutely breathtaking.

“Wow,” Landon said, looking around. He clearly hadn’t come to tour the place like us girls had.

“Let's go find the others,” I said, giving his hand a gentle tug as I led him through the maze of tables and guests. I didn’t recognize half the people, though I spotted a few familiar faces from the Knights. Josie had wanted to keep things small, so there were maybe fifty people tops.

When I walked around a table, I almost ran into someone, stopping short.

“Sorry,” I apologized and then smiled at the person in front of me. “Oh, hey Coach,” I greeted.

“Lydia.” He dipped his head in greeting. “Landon.”

The six-two coach for the Toronto Knights was intimidating as hell.

That permanent scowl never left his face.

Even at sixty-two, he was in better shape than most men half his age, with biceps that almost rivaled Landon’s.

His dark brown hair and beard were flecked with a bit of gray.

If I were into older guys, he’d definitely be my type.

“The usual. Getting grayer everyday, courtesy of some of those guys.” He nodded toward the group of hockey players just a few feet away. I laughed softly at his words. He pretended he didn’t care about his team, but he definitely did. He wouldn’t push them so hard if he didn’t.

We stood there and made small talk for a few more minutes, Landon silent behind me, before Coach excused himself.

One of Wyatt’s teammates stopped in front of me, eyes wide. “How did you do that?” I couldn’t remember his name for the life of me. I wanted to say it was Will?

“Do what?” I asked, my eyebrows drawing in.

“You talked to Coach like it was no big deal.” Will, I was guessing, said. Behind him, a few more players appeared.

“He doesn’t talk to us like that,” one explained.