Page 33 of Safe (King’s Heart #1)

Landon

The weekend goes by too fast. I blink and then I’m standing in front of my locker on a murky Monday morning.

Declan and I watched scary movies until he went home, and then I passed out on the couch, only waking briefly to see Simmons drag himself inside at two in the morning.

On Sunday, we all enjoyed each other’s company, and Simmons informed us that he’ll be able to take us to visit our mom in the next few weeks.

The county jail is an hour or so away, so it’s been hard to find time to make it up there. I’m happy that we get to go, but I honestly don’t like seeing her like this.

The last time she was arrested, it was only her first offense, so everything happened much quicker, but still, being in jail weighed on her. She never said so, but I could tell when she got out. The trudge in her step. The heaviness in her voice. The exhaustion in her eyes.

I haven’t talked to her since the arrest. We don’t have any money to give her for calls, and I’m pretty sure if we did, she wouldn’t want that. She would never want to take anything away from us.

All the information we’ve gotten so far is through her court-appointed lawyer, which is sparse considering how many cases they have.

My mind is still racing with all of these thoughts as I absently switch books out of my bag for my morning classes when I sense a presence at my side.

Grant stands next to me, sheepishly rubbing his hand on the back of his neck while his eyes peer at mine. The blaze that’s usually in his green eyes is dimmed, emitting a deep tiredness, like he hardly slept all weekend.

I haven’t quite decided what to do about him yet. My brain tells me that the only smart thing to do is to avoid him at all costs. But some other part of me, maybe my dick, or something else, says that maybe his assholery is worth it.

“Yes?” I ask flatly, turning my eyes back to my locker. “If you’re here to start shit, go find someone else, Grant.”

Out of my peripheral, I see him shake his head then look at the floor, toeing his black oxford shoe at the sleek tile.

I close my locker. “Okay. So, what then?”

“I’m sorry,” he says quietly, still toward the floor.

“You said that already.”

“I know, but… You’re right.” He looks up at me, pinning me with those stupid fucking eyes. So hypnotic even in their dimness. They scream their sincerity at me. Something I didn’t see before.

On Friday, his apologies were fueled by panic, frantically trying to keep his fuck buddy. If that’s what we are.

He continues, “I’m a miserable person. I lashed out at you. But, I’m sorry. So please don’t—” He swallows and clears his throat. “Don’t be done with me.”

I cross my arms. “Why? What’s the big deal?”

“Being with you is one of the few times I’m not miserable.”

My body sheets itself in goosebumps, something warm spreading through every vein.

My brain is still screaming no. But that other part is begging me to shelter him.

I sigh loudly. “You can’t do that shit to me anymore.”

He shakes his head. “I won’t.”

“I’m a person. I have feelings.”

“I know.”

“Well, I still don’t really know.”

His jaw clenches, grinding his teeth back and forth. “What can I do?” There’s a hint of desperation sneaking into his voice.

“I don’t know. Find a way to show me that you’re not going to be an asshole anymore.”

“To you or everyone?”

My lips quirk. “Let’s just start with me.”

He smiles back. It’s small and tentative, but it makes that warmth spread through me again, and then the smile vanishes as his eyes catch on something behind me.

Turning my head, I watch Cam and two other rambunctious underclassmen, hyping him up as he heads toward us. “Yo, Caldwell,” he calls out, his hand curved around his mouth and way too much swagger in his movements. “What’re you doing talking to Moore? Asking if his mom takes clients in lock up?”

I roll my eyes as he snickers to his friends, who give him equal laughs back.

I go to reply, not completely sure of what’s going to come out, but in a rapid sequence of events, Grant grabs my arm, pulls me behind him, and cocks his fist back, driving it into Cam’s face.

Cam squeals as he goes down, hitting the floor and covering his face with his hands. “What the fuck, man?! I didn’t touch him. You said not to touch him.”

He tries to get up off the floor, his eye already starting to swell, but Grant pushes him back down with his foot, resting it on his chest.

“No one messes with Landon Moore! Got it?!” he yells, his eyes flicking up to scan the whole hallway so everyone who stopped to watch can silently nod back at him.

Grant steps back, letting Cam free so he can stand.

“Fuck off,” Grant says impassively, his tired eyes staring at Cam like he’s nothing.

Cam’s brow draws down, but he quickly scurries away with his two minions in tow.

Then Grant turns to me, a blank look on his face as he waits for me to say something.

But I’m fucking speechless. What the fuck do you say after that?

I certainly can’t mention the half-hard cock I now have because of his caveman antics.

“Let’s go,” he says after it’s clear nothing will be coming out of my mouth.

My face contorts in confusion. “Where?”

“To your class.”

I scrunch my face even more. “What? Why? I can walk myself—you don’t need to do that.”

He steps closer to me. The smell of clean skin and pine needles wafts off of him, making me forget anything but the need to touch him.

I almost do, my hand twitching at my side.

“I’m going to show you that I’m not going to be an asshole to you anymore. Step 1: Make sure no one fucks with you.”

I’m still a little confused. Maybe it’s the fog of his scent infecting my brain, but I smile anyway and let him grab my arm. His skin sears my own, even through all the layers of our uniforms, as he leads me down the hall, neither of us pulling away until he drops me off in my first period.