Because of Us (My Best Friends Brother)

EIGHTEEN | Unwanted Dinner Guest.

POV | Belle

“So where are we heading tonight?” I turned towards Landon, running my fingers along his hand that rested on my thigh. Ethan had showed up only a moment after we almost ripped each other’s clothes off and said hell to dinner. Being in one another’s company for this long alone had turned us into horny teenagers. Even now, Landon couldn’t go a second without his hands on me.

“Some big and fancy Italian restaurant that Cam picked out because Ryan’s paying” Landon answered. Ethan and I laughed, I can only picture the defeated look on Ryan’s face when Cam heard the word free. Ethan sat behind me in Landon’s car. He insisted he drove himself but I refused. It didn’t feel right to make him show up alone.

After everything Landon and I spoke about, I was sure I was tip toeing around Ethan’s feelings. Scared he didn’t feel secure, worried I would be the one to slip through one of his cracks let alone him slip through mine. No matter what, we were all friends, and I’d be damned if I let that be ruined.

Pulling up to the restaurant I giggled as Landon ordered me to stay seated just so he could open my door. Offering a warm hand that I happily took, slipping from the car only to blush as he peppered kisses across my knuckles, along my wrist, across my shoulder, neck, and finally my lips. The public display was far from others but on show for Ethan who watched us with a heated gaze.

My heart fluttered. Looking between the two men, they smiled down at me. No room for worry to sneak in as they both seemed happy just because I was. I couldn’t ask for more, tonight was going to be perfect.

Landon pulled away, shutting the door behind me while holding me close by the small of my back. He guided me gently towards the entrance, him on my right while Ethan lingered on my left. Landon pressed closer, his hand dropping to my hip, claiming me as his woman proudly as we walked.

Ethan too lent closer, his hand grazing mine until his pinky hooked with mine. His own way of staking his claim on me as we entered the building. I bit my lip looking down in an attempt to hide my blush as the two men caged me between them. Eyes flocked to us as we continued through the first room. Some glared in disgust, others looked on with envy.

Part of me wanted to retreat knowing this wasn’t normal, anxiety starting to peek under the pressure that began to surround us.

I took in a shaky breath, focusing on my heels and unpainted toenails. Maybe a coat or two would have been better when wearing these heels. But I hated chipped paint so what would be the point? I breathed, trying to distract myself with the mindless thought.

The pressure around me became hot, the heat filling my cheeks and chest. I felt like I would Burst in that moment were it not for the soothing hands that gripped me. Landon’s hand on my side began rubbing soothing circles, while the rest of Ethan’s fingers tangled with mine. Them both squeezing my, reminding me I was with them, I was safe. A thousand hungry eyes couldn’t penetrate the protective blanket I felt coat my skin.

Raising my head I looked up the rest of the way. Only to Ethan and Landon. The only ones I cared about.

“That’s my girl” Landon praised.

Pride swelled in my chest. I was completely and utterly his girl. And the affection between him, Ethan and I, was nobody else’s damn business. I smiled only to think I may have spoken too soon. My best friend's eyes scanned from me, to her brother, to mine and Ethan’s Hands.

Curiosity sparked in her eyes matching the cheeky grin on her lips. Two could play at that game I thought, giving her back my own questioning look.

When I knew this dinner was happening I asked Landon if I could invite Zoe. He rubbed his neck, brows creasing when he told me she may already be coming. The many questions that I asked remained unanswered, Landon refusing to divulge anything more to me Other than ‘Ryan invited her’

When I thought about it, Zoe had been M.I.A. Recently. Not to mention every weekend for the past few months. I’m not going to say I’m connecting any dots, but the lines may be drawing themselves.

“Well look at you lovebirds” Cam boasts, breaking the table conversation as we make our way to the secluded table at the back of the restaurant. The table was long, covered in a soft grey cloth, surrounded with eight seats.

Myles sat at the head of the table to the far left. Followed by Cam, Zoe and Ryan who sat along the far side. Knowingly, Ethan took the seat closest to Myles, not before pulling out the seat to his left for

me to take. Landon sat to my right, his hand slipping to my knee the minute he was able. His body relaxed when his skin met mine.

***

Landon’s fingers traced circles mindlessly on my thigh as he spoke over the table. Conversation flowed along with the first couple rounds of drinks Cam ordered to the table. He was relishing in the perks of not paying tonight for sure. Happily spending Ryan’s money while he rolled his eyes beside him.

Zoe however looked about ready to jump the table just to talk to me. When I sat she didn’t hesitate to kick my feet giving me a ‘Tell me everything’ look. I responded with my own wide eyed stare that said ‘You’re spilling the beans too’. We laughed it off as we drank, chatting across the distance while the men spoke around us.

Her eyes, every now and then, darted towards Ethan, our childhood friend who’s fingers also brushed against my skin under the table. She was curious but so was I. Her and Ryan seemed to lean into one another every so often, sharing glances that I definitely didn’t miss. Our senses were tingling with unspoken information and subtle gazes to the men we entertained.

The conversation finally broke as our waiter made their way to us. A young woman around the same age as Landon and the other men stood at the free end of the table. Her hair was a soft mousey brown, pinned up in a neat bun. Her face was made up into perfection with the addition of a bright red lip. With the way she looked ready to walk a red carpet, I assumed you had to look the part to work here.

She shared a smile with the men, only for a moment before something flashed in her eyes. Landon’s hand on my thigh tightened. I looked away from the woman to him. Placing my hand over his only to feel his whole body had grown tense.

Silence fell over the table as all the men looked up. Zoe and I glanced at them before one another, something wasn’t right. I looked back at the girl. She is now wearing a grin that mimicked that of a Cheshire cat, wide and wicked. My stomach turned seeing who it was aimed at.

“Hi Landon” Her voice is cold “What’s it been like now? Four years, five? You look good” Landon clenched and unclenched his jaw, eyes focused on the table. His grip never lessened on me, rather it consumed me, becoming more possessive with each second that passed.

“Shelby” Ryan warned. Shelby. I’ve never hated a name as much as I hated hers right now. Even more so remembering the few times in the past I had heard it. The woman that stood before us was Landon’s ex.

Ignoring Ryan’s words and my eyes burning through her, she lent forward. Resting her palms against the table and arching her back in an attempt to give Landon a show he didn’t fúcking want. Confrontation was something I wasn’t common with. It was something I would usually avoid. Right now however I refused to budge, anger boiling in my blood and my glare.

Ethan’s hand found my shoulder, reminding me he was with me, with Landon. Shelby seemed to take notice of that. Her eyes lighting up like she just found another piece to the puzzle that was Landon’s life without her.

She laughed. “What’s this, not one but two submissive? Guess one wasn’t enough. You always were greedy.”

“Shelby that’s enough” Ryan stood from the table. His words a demand that Shelby seemed to hesitate at. It was too late. Her words have already done their damage. Zoe stood with Ryan, not okay with the insults directed at her brother.

“Fúck off you psycho” Zoe spat, attempting to jump the bloody table. Ryan’s arm came out, wrapping around her front so as not to let her move any closer. Her angry eyes darted to me with a look that matched my own. I was pissed too. And I’d be damned if I let Shelby get away with it.

Standing from my chair with fire in my veins, I draped a hand over Landon. Eyes focused on hers. I smiled. Swaying my ships with each step, I walked around the chair and closer to her. Running my hand across Landon’s shoulders. Her eyes followed my every move, ignorant to everyone else. More worried about the display of affection I was giving the man she took for granted.

Breaking away from her stare, I turned back to Landon. Sinking into his lap so that my back was to her. My hand found his neck while he slid his hand up to my waist. He held me tightly, focused on nothing but me as I trailed a finger up his chest. His heart raced beneath my touch, I hid my frown wishing I knew a way to calm him. She had gotten under his skin, but I refused to let her know.

“Another Round of drinks…” I threw my head back, locking eyes with her over my shoulder “…be sure someone else serves us, someone not as pathetic” her eyes lit with anger.

I ignored her scowl, turning back to Landon. His eyes were still watching me as I sat in his lap. Hands tensing around my sides, claiming what was his with a growl as he pressed his lips to mine. I melted, leaning into his kiss. Completely absorbed by his touch. His smell. Him. I didn’t care who was watching from our table or the room. She would never win. She would never make him feel any less than I knew he deserved. He was a king. She was never taking his crown.

Pulling away from the kiss, I held his face in my hands. I wanted to smile at him but I knew this was far from over. His eyes stayed on mine, finally letting me see the tears that threatened to spill. Shelby turned away with a huff, I shielded Landon from her view as she stormed away. I wanted to tell him it was okay. That I was okay. I wanted to crack a joke and make him laugh, I wanted everyone to laugh with us and enjoy the night while we celebrated.

But I knew we couldn’t. This wasn’t about me being okay with an ex. This was about Landon. Questions filled my mind. so many questions about Landon’s past. About Shelby. What happened to make him retreat like this? To become nothing but a cage that needed me trapped inside it with him.

Hearing her footsteps retreat he finally let go of the breath he was holding. Relaxing beneath me and letting his head fall against my shoulder. Ethan moved from his seat to mine. Closing the space between us to rest a hand over mine and Landon’s thighs.

“What the Fùck Cam” Myles chimes in from the end of the table.

Cam raises his hands in defence “I swear I didn’t know” he looks to Landon “Dude I promise I didn’t know she worked here” Landon kept his silence. Looking only at me as Cam continued his sorry’s.

"You guys should leave, we can do this another time" Ryan spoke to us though he words were more directed at Ethan and I. Landon's face was still buried against me, his body still tense.

"No way should they leave, she should fùcking go" Zoe snapped, crossing her arms. Ryan turned to her, smoothing a hand over her hair with a shake of his head. Zoe knew her brother well, but I knew as much as she did when it came to his ex. The girl that stole his heart all those years ago. The girl, that for some reason, we never met. Now I was happy I never did.

Standing from Landon's lap I agreed with Ryan "We'll go" Ethan followed suit, standing as I turned to Landon. Taking his hand in mine and helping him to his feet. Not a word was spoken, nor a look was shared. He simply slipped his hand in mine, looking only at me as we walked away.

Making our way to the car, Landon remained silent. I slipped the keys from his pocket, handing them to Ethan to drive us home. I sat in the back with Landon, letting him pull me over his lap before securing a belt around us both. He buried his face in my neck, wrapping his arms around my waist as I snaked mine around his neck. White noise filling the car. Nothing but the hum of the engine could be heard beyond our soft breaths.

"I love you," Landon whispered, breaking his silence. His voice was so quiet I barely heard the sound. Even if I hadn't heard him, I felt him. His warm hands circled me tighter. His lips grazed my neck. Whatever he was trapped in, he was pulling me towards him like a beacon of light. Reminding him he was free of whatever nightmare he was reliving.

"I've got you, I've always got you" I whispered back, feeling him sink further into the safety that was us.

I knew it was coming. Everything Landon had on his plate, it was piling over. Shelby just happened to be his tipping point. Landons weight had finally crushed him. But I was here and I was ready to carry the weight he couldn't. Just like he did for me.