Dirty Sexy Alphas (Twenty Book Box Set) - Hannah Ford Page 0,60

Ask if I was going to be back at the lab that afternoon, if I was going to crawl back to Landon. But I couldn’t answer those questions even if I wanted to.

My head was spinning. Was this why Landon had left and not contacted me again? Why did I have to hear this from Annie? God, I wanted him to turn to me like I had with him. I wanted him to need me like I had him, to view me as this indispensable person he couldn’t live without.

But he hadn’t said a word. Like he didn’t need my comfort. And even though I knew it was unlikely, knew that he’d probably just shut himself off from everyone, I couldn’t help this underlying fear that he’d turned to Alexa.

Insecurity was a bitch.

I helped Ben navigate the turns to my apartment building, and when he finally pulled into the lot, I tried not to cringe. Ben put the car in park and raised a brow, taking in the shabby complex. “Is this a joke?”

“I wish it was,” I said, sighing. “Since I arrived so late for the program, they had to scramble. This was the best they could do on such short notice.”

“I’m rooming with Paul and we ended up in a three bedroom unit. You can move in with us. It’s closer to the lab, too. You can walk.”

I smiled. “We can work that out later, okay?” I said, gathering up my stuff. “Will you tell Professor Stewart that I didn’t feel well and went back here? I just need a little time to figure out what’s going on back home.”

“You want me to cover for you?”

“I’d do the same for you,” I said. “I’ll be back in the morning, I swear.” I slid out of the seat, standing in the open car door. “Please? Landon’s family is like my family,” I said. It was a lie, because reality was just the opposite. Landon had pretty much joined my family, but I hardly knew his dad. “I just need a few hours to process this.”

Ben waved a hand. “Sure, sure. I’ve got you. See you in the morning?”

“Yeah. Definitely. Thanks again.” I slammed the door before he could change his mind, and jogged over to the steps, taking them two-by-two until I arrived on the right floor, totally short of breath.

Once inside my unit, I flopped down on my saggy bed and dialed Matt.

“Well if it isn’t my long lost sister,” he said, upon answering. I hadn’t spoken to him since the blow out at home before I flew out to Dallas, and didn’t miss the annoyance tinging his tone.

“I’m still not speaking to you,” I said.

He snorted. “I don’t think you understand what that means.”

Ugh. He was impossible.

“Well, considering you’re not trapped in a collapsed cave somewhere and you do have cell phone service, maybe you can explain why you didn’t bother to call and tell me Landon’s dad died?”

Silence filled the line. I waited, but he didn’t bother to fill in the blanks.

“Matt. Why not? Why are you so hell bent on keeping us apart?”

Matt made a disgusted sound in the back of his throat. “Come on, Taryn. Have you even met his dad? He’s not worth grieving. Besides, why do you care?”

“Come on. You know why I care.”

“Oh, you mean because you’re fucking him?”

“Matt, knock it off. What happens between me and Landon isn’t your business. I’m not a kid anymore. I need you to stay out of it.”

“And yet you’re pissed I didn’t tell you about his dad. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.”

Ugh. I could picture the smug look on his face as he spoke the words. “This shit matters to me, Matt.” I twisted a loose thread from the quilt around my finger. “You can’t keep it from me.”

“It’s not relevant,” he said.

The thread snapped. “Why do you think you get to decide what’s relevant? Quit withholding information. I’m getting sick of it.”

“You’re in Dallas, Taryn. It’s not like you can do anything.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.”

I hit the end button on my phone, cutting off the call. And then I dialed Annie.

“Hey,” she answered on the first ring. “I take it you got my text.”

“Yeah. Thanks for letting me know. I can’t believe Landon didn’t tell me himself. Or at least Matt.” I turned on my side, propping myself up on my elbows and staring at my empty suitcase in the nearby closet.

“Yeah,” she said, blowing out a long, slow