Page 55 of We May Be Fractured

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[Now playing ? How Far We’ve Come—Matchbox Twenty]

“G uilty,” announced the foreman, handing down a five-year sentence to David Green.

“Take him away,” the judge commanded.

Aaron took a deep breath as Landon’s shaking finally stopped. He knew this wasn’t the end, just the start of a long road to healing for Landon. But it was still a win, a big one.

Once they left the courtroom, Ria, Nyle, and Luzanne were up for celebrating, but Aaron sensed that wasn’t on Landon’s mind. So, they politely declined and went their separate ways.

“How about we go somewhere?” Aaron suggested, back at the house, as they changed into their usual clothes and shoved their suits away.

“Where to?” Landon asked.

“Trust me. I know a place you’ll like.”

Landon muttered a subdued “All right” and tagged along with Aaron.

*

T he gardens at the retirement centre were still a work in progress, yet the cherry tree showed off some shy blossoms.

“I thought our community payback days were over?” Landon quipped.

Aaron smiled as they neared the tree. He lifted a branch so they could get a closer look. The sweet scent of the flowers wafted around them. “Check it out, it’s starting to bloom.”

“Can’t believe it,” Landon observed, sounding surprised. A small smile tugged at his lips.

“You were the one who gave it a chance when nobody else did.”

Landon brushed his fingers against a blossom. “Guess I did, didn’t I?”

They stood there, admiring the tree. It had taken a lot of effort, but the results were beautiful.

“Muhammad must be so proud,” Aaron said.

“No, not him. This one’s for the founder’s daughter, Lily. It’s like she’s still around, isn’t it?”

Aaron touched his pendant, then let his hand drift to Landon’s arm, thinking about the rose petal tattoos under his sleeves. In every new bloom, in every line of ink, memories and legacies persisted, never truly fading away.

Just then, a loud rumble came from Landon’s stomach. They hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast.

“How about we get something to eat?” Aaron suggested, and Landon nodded in agreement.

Eventually, they found themselves sitting on a pebbly stretch along the riverbank, munching on burgers and fries with a view of Canary Wharf.

Mid-bite, Aaron ventured, “Can I ask you something?”

“You just did,” Landon said but invited him to continue.

“What landed you in prison?”

Landon paused, taking a sip of his soda. “Stole my mum’s car.”

“That got you locked up?”

“Well, I also may have used it to rob an ice cream shop.”

“But you hate ice cream.”

“Exactly why.”

“So, car theft and ice cream? That’s it?”

Landon hesitated. “And I sort of assaulted the arresting officer. Oh, and they found drugs on me.”

Aaron tried not to laugh. “Are you fucking with me?”

Landon stared back, deadpan.

Aaron tried to wrap his head around it. “You’re serious? You did all that?”

“Googled what crimes would get me sent down. Wanted to make sure.”

Aaron shook his head, still in disbelief. “Okay, one more question. Why do you hate ice cream?”

Landon’s grip on the paper bag tightened, and he dropped his gaze to his sneakers. “Every time after…he’d take me for ice cream. Like a reward or something.”

A lump formed in Aaron’s throat, making it challenging to gulp down the rest of his drink. The weight of Landon’s revelation hit hard. Why had he asked? He grabbed another handful of fries from the seemingly bottomless bag, wishing he could shove the question down there with them.

“I’ll never get why this fancy burger place gives you such a heap of fries,” Aaron said, trying to lighten the mood.

Landon shrugged. “It’s their thing, isn’t it? Makes you think you’re getting a bargain, even though it’s no cheaper than the average fast-food place.”

“Then why didn’t we just go there?”

Landon chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Felt like spoiling myself.”

“With burgers? If you were after a treat, we should’ve gone for a steak.”

“Hey, I might get some money after all of this, but I’m not exactly loaded.”

Aaron hummed in agreement, munching on the last of the fries.

“Shall we head back?” Landon made a move, but as they got up, Aaron gently caught his arm.

“Wait…” He fished out a folded paper from his jeans and handed it over. “I’m a bit early, but think of this as your birthday present.”

Landon took the paper with hesitation. Reading it, his eyes widened. “A lease for…a tattoo studio in Camden?”

“You’re too good to be an assistant,” Aaron said with a warm smile.

Confusion flickered across Landon’s face. “But how did you…”

“Turns out my parents had a life insurance policy. It’s…quite a bit.”

“And you used it for this?”

“Not all of it,” Aaron said casually, trying to downplay the significance.

Landon eyed Aaron. “What’s the catch? What do you want back for this?”

“It’s a gift,” Aaron assured him.

“Aaron.” Landon made it sound like both a question and a statement.

“Think of it as an investment, a thank you for all you’ve done for me.”

Landon shook his head, a slight smile playing on his lips. “You’re too trusting sometimes. It’s sweet you see it as an investment, but in the real world, investments are not a gift.”

“How do you mean?”

“If you’re serious about this being an investment, let’s treat it properly. You’re the money man, and I’ve got the skills. Let’s make it more than a kind gesture. Let’s be partners.”

Aaron laughed softly. “Business partners?”

“Yeah. Even though you know shit about running a business and even less about tattoos.”

“Guess you’ll be the boss then, showing me the ropes. And who knows? I might even become your tattoo assistant.”

“That’s not a bad idea. Your sketches, they’re pretty good, you know.”

Aaron hummed, thinking about those he’d done lately. Landon had been the one to nudge him back into drawing, even suggesting creating designs inspired by Australia, stars, and the planets—a tribute to Tori, kind of like what they’d done with the cherry tree.

Landon read the lease agreement again, his face lighting up in the same special way when he was absorbed in sketching a new tattoo design. Aaron felt like the luckiest person in the world, being the only one who got to witness these moments. Landon was beautiful when he smiled.

“You can…” Landon whispered, answering an unspoken question in Aaron’s gaze. “You can kiss me.”

Aaron didn’t hesitate. In a heartbeat, he closed the gap between them.

The remnants of their recent meal mixed on his tongue—cheese, bacon, and the fizzy sweetness of the soda. It was an unusual combination, like tea and cigarettes, bourbon and custard, mint and coffee. But as their lips met and their breaths mingled, it felt right.

It was them. And it was perfect.