begin to walk us toward the elevator bank. Before I get too far, I stop in front of Julie’s desk.
“Forward all my calls to my cell, cancel my meetings for today.”
“But Landry…” she begins.
I hold my hand up. “I’m meeting with the real estate agent, and that’s all. Nothing more. Okay?”
“Yes, Landry,” Julie mutters.
She’s not happy with me, but what’s new? Most women in my life are in a perpetual state of unhappiness with my decisions. Curling Tennessee closer to my side, I guide us to the elevators. Pushing the button, I wait for the doors to open, then we step inside.
“Something is happening today, isn’t it?” she asks as it starts to descend.
I hum, unsure of what to say. Admitting it all aloud, it makes me feel guilty as fuck. “Yeah, honey.”
Thankfully, she doesn’t ask me anything else. Instead, we ride down the elevator in silence. Before we reach the lobby, she leans her head against my shoulder and my fingers flex around her hip and I jerk her even closer to me.
“We’ll have some lunch, look at some office spaces and then come back and get Holden, maybe go to the park?” I ask.
It’s her turn to hum and I know that her mind is probably spinning a million miles a minute as she thinks about what’s to come. Instead of asking me, she lets out a sigh then lifts her head as soon as the elevator doors open.
“Lunch first,” she announces with a single nod.
“Yeah, honey, lunch first.”
Keeping my hand on her hip, we make our way toward the front door. Deciding to detour to Bethie’s desk, I stop right in front of it. She’s talking on the phone, but quickly ends the call before she lifts her head and her eyes find mine.
“Mr. Astor,” she says with a small smile.
Laughing, I shake my head once. “You know me well enough, Bethie. Call me Landry.”
“Landry,” she says, her cheeks tinting pink.
Clearing my throat, I can’t hide my smile at her reaction. It’s cute. “If anyone comes here looking for Tennessee, she’s out of the office today.”
Tennessee lets out a small laugh then leans forward. “Landry is kidnapping me for the day,” she whispers.
“You got the good Astor. Tell me, Landry, is Lawrence more like you?”
“Bethie,” Tennessee says with a faux gasp.
She shifts her gaze from me to Tennessee. “I’m serious. I’m sorry, Landry, but your son is an asshole. You know he screwed around with Abbie from the coffee truck? He never even said anything. I had to watch as he kissed her and grabbed her ass right in front of me this morning.”
I close my eyes, wishing that I could disappear. This doesn’t surprise me about Laurent. He’s always been a player. Even in elementary school, he consistently had three or four little girlfriends at a time.
“I’m sorry, Bethie,” I rasp as I open my eyes.
She lets out a frustrated sigh and shrugs. “I knew who he was. I was just hoping he’d change for me. How dumb, right?”
“He’s going through a lot right now,” I offer, attempting to soothe her.
She laughs, shaking her head. “I’ll tell anyone who comes looking for Tenny that she’s out for the day,” she says, confirming my original question. “And Landry?”
Smirking at her, I wait for her to continue, never sure of what she’s going to say to me. “Laurent has a lot going on, but he’s still an ass, and I still like him way too much for my own freaking good.”
Tennessee saves me from having to say anything else. She reaches her hand out, taking Bethie’s in hers. I watch as she leans over the counter, her eyes focused on Bethie’s.
“He’s an ass, Bethie. He’s been an ass, and you are so much better than he is. He’s a scared little boy who only thinks with his dick.”
I can’t control myself. My laughter comes out in a roar. I don’t know if it’s the way that Tennessee said it, the way her tone was soft, and her words were anything but. It was fucking hilarious, and true.
“Tennessee is right,” I say with a nod.
Bethie flicks her gaze from Tennessee to me, then back to Tennessee. “Yeah, but it still feels like shit.”
“It’s probably going to for a while,” Tennessee says.
“Yeah,” Bethie says with a nod, but she doesn’t believe it.
She is in love with my idiot son. I make a mental note to have a one-on-one with him and find out just what exactly is going on with