He slips into my car, and after I congratulate him, he shuts the door and drives off. Walking into the restaurant, I’m greeted by the hostess, who then leads me to the lounge area and seats me at the bar before going to get Landon.
“Tori,” Chelsea says from behind the bar. “Landon said you’d be coming up, but I didn’t believe him.”
“I know. I’ve been really busy lately.” There was a time when I used to come around more often, but with the girls and my busy travel schedule, it’s been months since I’ve been here.
Chelsea sets a cocktail napkin in front of me. “The usual?”
“Please.”
I watch her as she makes my drink, looking fabulous in a black shift dress and high heels. She’s tall and fit with bright blonde hair that makes me miss being in my mid-twenties. What I wouldn’t give to have perky boobs and a face free from emerging wrinkles. Most of the time I feel young, but when I’m around girls like her, I feel old.
“So . . .” she says, stringing out the word as she sets down the lemon drop martini. “I finally got around to reading your last book.”
I pick up the glass and take a sip.
“All I can say is Landon hit the jackpot with you.”
I practically choke as I swallow the alcohol and try not to laugh. “Don’t believe everything you read.”
She laughs quietly and shakes her head, saying, “I mean, I thought I was kinky, but you have me beat by a long shot.”
I laugh along with her as I take another sip and will the vodka to curb my embarrassment. If she only knew how boring my sex life actually is. Landon and I are anything but kinky. We are so predictable, going through the same routine of motions each time we have sex. It’s pretty standard and boring, but what can you expect after being with someone for as long as we’ve been? I’d never admit that to anyone aside from Brooke, so I go along with Chelsea’s illusion of me and instead of denying, I opt for coy silence.
“Hi, honey. I hope you weren’t waiting long,” Landon says before giving me a sweeping kiss.
“I just got here,” I respond.
Chelsea gives me a wink before walking away to serve an older couple at the other side of the bar.
“What’s that about?”
“She read my latest book and now worships me as a sexual goddess,” I quip.
He laughs it off.
“How were the girls when you picked them up from school?”
“Good,” I respond as we go into our usual line of questioning and conversation, which is just as predictable as our sex life. Next, he’s going to ask me about work.
“Did you get a lot of work done today?”
“I got in around three thousand words.”
“That’s good,” he says.
“How has your day been?”
“Not too bad.”
We continue with our idle chitchat when one of the servers brings us our food, which Landon had previously told the kitchen to prepare for us.
“You know, I was thinking. We should get away, just the two of us.”
“When? You’re always traveling,” he says before taking a bite of his swordfish.
“Why don’t you come with me to one of the signings and we can extend our stay?”
“That sounds doable,” he responds halfheartedly as he takes another bite.
I reach out and touch his arm to get his attention, and when he looks at me, I stress, “I’m serious, Landon. We need to take some time for us. Lately, it’s been nothing but kids and work.”
He pushes his plate out of the way and takes my hand in his. “You look amazing,” he says as he looks at me—his first real look since I got here, finally slowing down enough to notice the navy, pencil-skirt dress and strappy nude heels I’m wearing.
His eyes are shadowed in exhaustion as he sits here in his white chef coat, and I see how worn down he is. “You’ve been working so much lately,” I tell him softly. “I miss you.”
“I just need to get through next week and then I’ll be home more.”
“You need to take care of yourself.”
He cradles my cheeks in his hands as we face each other. “Do you know how much I love you?”
I nod.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been home much, but don’t doubt that you and the girls are my life.”
“I’ve never doubted you—”
“Excuse me, chef,” Chelsea interrupts. “Damon is on the phone for you.”