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Landon

"We need to do something fun for Wy's bachelor party." Trevor said next to me.

"We could go to some club and just have a boys night." Bryton suggested. "Strip clubs are out."

"I like my balls attached to my body." I would have laughed at Trevor's words if I was paying attention but my gaze was focused elsewhere. More like a certain blonde.

Across the lawn Lydia was talking to the girls, head thrown back laughing. I clenched the beer in my hand at the sight. Fuck, why does she have such a hold on me. I've been with my fair share of women but none have had the same effect that Lydia Ellis has. And I don't even know why.

She loves to get under my skin and piss me off. Like flirting with Mateos friends. It took everything I had not to march over there and let those boys know who she belonged too. The worst part though...she doesn't belong to me. Lydia isn't mine, yet every part of me wanted to claim her as mine.

I couldn't bring myself to feel sorry for cornering her in the kitchen a bit ago. If she wanted to play games, I can play games. Whether she admits it or not she feels something towards me. Something other than hate.

You know where to find me.

My mind replayed the look on Lydia's face when I said those words. Those gorgeous green eyes had widened before pure lust took over. It took all my willpower to step away from her. All I wanted to do was take her right then and there, regardless of the fact I was at my mothers house.

I remember what it was like to kiss her. The way she grabbed and kissed me in Australia. The softness of her lips compared to the roughness of the kiss was something I don't think I'll ever forget. I had to pull away that night because she was drunk. The last thing I ever wanted to do was take advantage of a woman when she's had one too many drinks. She'd end up regretting it in the morning and I wasn't about to put her in that position.

I may have pulled away but doesn't mean I haven't thought about that kiss every single day. Every time I see her I want to kiss that sassy mouth of hers. The urge getting stronger with each passing day I see her.

"Landon."

"Hm."

"Game to rob a bank?"

"Sure." My eyes still glued to Lydia.

"We're going to dress up as the powderpuff girls."

"Fine with me."

"Trevor has a crush on you."

"Mmhmm."

"Dude." A punch to my arm snapped me out of staring. I looked over at Trevor and Bryton staring at me with raised eyebrows.

"Did you hear anything we just said?" Bryton asked.

"Uh, bachelor party?"

"You just basically agreed Trevor is gay." Trevor shot Bryton a look. "Which would be totally fine if you were. No judgement here."

"I have a girlfriend you asshole."

"She may be mad at first but she'd support you." Trevor shoved Bryton, making him stumble to the side as he laughed.

"Landon would be lucky to date me. I'm amazing."

I rolled my eyes at the two grown ass men in front of me. And to think they were adults.

"Back to the conversation." Trevor turned back to me. "You're going to burn a hole in Lydia's side from how hard you are staring."

"Seriously. What's that about?" Bryton asked.

"Nothing."

"Yeah, right. You two have something going on. Don't think we didn't see the moment you guys had at Mateo's game when he won." Trevor gave me a look daring me to disagree.

"It was..." Fuck, I don't even know what that was about. Seeing my little brother win his game, getting him one step closer to the biggest game of his career thus far, did something to me. I didn't think when I pulled Lydia into a hug. For just a brief moment I let my walls down for Lydia to see. Let her see everything I was feeling in that moment.

"You two have been skirting around whatever this is," Bryton waved his hand between Lydia and I. "for what? A year?" Trust me, I know. "Why don't you do something about it?"

"Because." Because what? Because I was scared to get hurt again? Because I know there's more to Lydia that has made her close herself off to everyone.

"I almost lost Tasha because I was too chicken shit to go after her. You should give it a shot." Since when did Trevor start giving sound advice. First Mateo and now him. I did kind of put things in motion with what I said earlier but I wasn't about to tell them that. 

"Yeah, well it's not that simple." I said taking a pull of my beer.

"It is. You're just standing in your own way." Bryton slapped my arm before walking off towards his girlfriend.

"He's right you know." This time it wasn't Trevor that spoke. I looked at Mateo as he wandered over. "For a guy who's such a know it all you really suck with women."

"Did I forget the part where I asked?" I leveled my brother with a look. The age difference between us was a bit big but sometimes I swear Mateo is more mature than I am.

"Not my fault I'm better with woman than you are."

"Yeah and that's going to get your ass beat one day."

"No pain, no gain." Mateo smirked making me roll my eyes. One day I'm going to get a call about my brother being in the hospital because he flirted with the wrong girl.

"Did you come over here for a reason?" I switched the conversation away from me. Better to not talk about whatever is between Lydia and I.

"Can't talk to my favorite brother?"

"Favorite brother?" My eyebrow raised. "What do you want?" He was quiet for a moment before he gave me a sheepish grin.

"My friends and I want to go to Kawartha Lake tomorrow until Monday." I had a feeling I knew where this was going. "Would it be possible if you could help with the cabin?" He instantly turned on the puppy dog eyes that always works with mom.

Some would ask why couldn't Mateo pay for it himself and why is he asking me. He did have his own money. Wyatt and I set up a fund for him when he was 10 which he was able to get access to at 18 but that didn't mean he could spend it all.

When he started Uni, Wyatt and I sat him down and had a serious conversation about money and his fund. Yes, he had access but only for things he actually needed. Textbooks, rent, groceries, gas, phone and insurance, things for football and school. But he wasn't allowed to blow through it. It helped Wyatt and I had access to his account as well to make sure he wasn't wasting it.

I was firm on the fact that he needed to focus on school and football. He didn't need to go around campus playing the rich boy card. Just because Wyatt was rich doesn't mean Mateo was too.

Was it a bit controlling? Yes. But I wasn't about to let my little brother become some pompous ass. Once he gets a bit older than the leash on money could loosen up. If it made me an ass then so be it.

"Just you and how many?"

"Just us five." He gestured to his four friends standing behind him. They were trying act like they weren't listening in but they weren't doing a good job.

"Do you have a place picked out already?"

"Yeah, here." Mateo brought out his phone, flipping to a booking page for a cabin near Kawartha Lake. "We made sure the place wasn't too far and good priced." He listed off everything as he scrolled through the pictures for me to see.

I let him do his little spiel. I knew the five of them came here with a plan to ask, trying their best to convince me. They were adults and could do whatever they want without permission but it did make me feel better that Mateo asked.

I was the over-protective brother but I did it out of love. I was the person who had to hold this family together when my father walked out. I had to step up and be the father figure to my brothers. It came with a lot of sacrifices but I don't regret it.

As Mateo continued on talking I looked him over, a pang going through my chest. Crazy how grown up he is. Feels just like yesterday he was a little kid trying to learn to ride a bike.

"Promise to let you know when we get there and what we are doing and when we leave." He had a hopeful look in his eyes.

"Give me your phone." At my words Mateo grinned widely.

"Knew you were my favorite brother."

"Uh huh." A smile played on my lips as I grabbed his phone and started booking the cabin. He deserved to go and have fun. They won a hard game today and he needed a break before the Championship game.

As I paid, Mateo turned and gave his friends a thumbs up, which earned a loud cheer and everyones attention.

"Let me know when you leave tomorrow and when you get there. Be safe." I handed him his phone back as I pocketed my wallet.

"Thanks Lan." Mateo pulled me into a tight hug surprising me. With a small shake of my head I hugged him back.

"You played great today. Go and have fun." I knew my words meant a lot as he sent me another wide grin before turning back to his friends. As the boys animately talked I looked around the yard, my eyes once again clashing with Lydia's.

The way she was looking at me had me tilting my head to the side. There was heat in her eyes but not the usual heat she had when looking at me. No, this was a look of need.

Everyone's words rang in my head. Maybe they were right. Maybe it's time I do something about this tension between Lydia and I. 

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Little sneak peek into Landon's head. I know a lot of you are still iffy about Landon saying he's a bit of an ass, which he is, but as the story goes on you'll see why. There's more to Landon's hard exterior. Same goes for Lydia, which in my mind makes them the perfect couple.

Think something is going to happen between Lydia and Landon soon or think it's going to take a bit longer for them to cave into their feelings? 

I hope you guys liked this chapter! I know you guys want to binge the whole thing and trust me I want to post the whole book but I'm still working on the ending. It's taking me a bit longer to write cause I have so much going on, but I gave myself a deadline for the end of October to finish writing this book. So just a tad bit longer I promise!

Love you guys so much!!! Thank you for the endless support. If you are new here and looking for stories to read head over to my profile! I have like 16 books up and posted for you to read if you'd like. You can also go give Book 1 and Book 2 some love! Would love to get Fear Of Intimacy to 1M reads soon!

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<3 <3

-Ken

P.S Anyone else waiting impatiently for Book 2 of the Fourth Wing to come out in a few weeks!? Because same. It's going to become my whole personality :D