The thought of Landry in his apartment angers me, but I don’t lash out. Instead, I keep a tight leash on that shit. I’m smarter now. Especially when dealing with Constantines.
“You need a loan?”
He groans. “No, I mean, that’s not why I wanted to meet up. But, yeah, man, if you’re offering. The sooner I can get her out of there, the better.”
“I can spot you the cash,” I assure him. “Why’d you want to meet up then?”
“To vent. Catch up. Ask for advice. I don’t fucking know.” He rubs at the back of his neck, frowning. “I really, really like her. But, I’m basically helping her leave. Kind of stupid of me to hope for her to date me once she’s free from her father, right?”
“Completely stupid,” I agree.
“Thanks.” He sighs heavily. “No, you’re right. The best thing is to help her. If something comes of it, then that’s great.”
It won’t.
Guys like Ty Constantine don’t get girls like Landry Croft.
He’s a golden prince and she’s a prickly princess. He’ll never appeal to her because her life is too fucked up. She’s more of a villain girl. I’m sure of it.
“She looked so damn hot last night,” he mutters. “Damn, I’ve got it bad for this girl.”
Join the club, moron.
He meets my gaze and cocks his head to the side. “Enough about me and my drama. What’s up with you and your girl? Did you talk to her?”
“Actually,” I say, leaning forward, “I had a revelation.”
“A revelation? Let’s hear it.”
“I like the idea of my girl, but when push came to shove, I didn’t choose her.”
Ty squints his eyes as though trying to make sense of my words. “Okay…who did you choose?”
“Someone new. I didn’t realize my feelings for her until I needed to be in two places at once.” I close my eyes remembering the fear on Ash’s face and how I chose to leave her standing there so I could get to Landry. “I chose to leave her. The girl I’ve been obsessing over for this new girl.”
He gapes at me. “No shit? For the record, I don’t think this is a bad thing. Your old girl is married. Kind of a tough situation. What about the new girl?”
“Not married.”
A grin transforms his face. “Tell me about her.”
She let me finger her in the bathroom and came like a good little princess.
“Pretty. Innocent. Sweet.” I smile at the thought of tasting her. “So sweet.”
“Good for you, man. I’m glad at least someone is having luck in the female department. Maybe if I can get Landry to trust me a little, she’ll let me take her on a real date. Then, who knows, maybe by then you’ll be with this new chick. We can double date.”
That won’t be happening.
“What happens when her dad finds out it was you who helped her escape?” I ask, sitting back and popping my knuckles. “You think he’ll let you continue on being his intern?”
The stupid smile on his face is wiped away.
“He can’t find out,” Ty grumbles. “Which, you loaning me the cash, actually works better. Less chance of him tracing anything back to me.”
Ty eventually stops yapping long enough to go grab us a couple of sandwiches. While he’s gone, I think about Landry.
Her breathy moans.
The way her body clenched around my fingers.
How pretty her mouth looked and tasted.
My brothers are just as captivated by her. There’s something different about Landry. Something addictive and tantalizing. She lives with a monster, so it’s only natural for more monsters to gravitate to her.
Obviously it’s not the first time we’ve fixated on the same woman. It’s a habit we can’t seem to shake. But, unlike in the past, where we ended up fighting over the woman, this time I have a plan.
Ty returns and passes me my sandwich. It’s a shame he’s a Constantine. I don’t completely hate the guy. Because of his last name, though, I’ll always dislike him.
“Want to go clubbin’ this weekend?” Ty asks around a mouthful of bread. “While I wait for Landry, I may as well have a little fun.”
“Yeah, man. It’s a date.”
Ty says a whole lot of nothing. It doesn’t require much engagement aside from the occasional laugh, head nod, or exclamation. Mostly, I think he talks to hear himself speak.
I pity the guy.
I really do.
He thinks he’s going to save the girl from her monster. People like him aren’t heroes. They’re not ruthless enough. The ones who ever make it ahead are the ones who aren’t afraid to cut their competition off at the knees.
His cousin Winston is that type.
Like me.
Willing to do whatever it takes to get what he wants. Ty is nothing but a dreamer. A watcher, not a doer.
I watch until the time is right.
And then I do absolutely everything in my power to get exactly what I want.
Ivy and Ash and countless others slipped through my fingers. When I get my hands back on Landry, she won’t be going anywhere.
“Sorry about your luck, bro,” I say, grinning at Ty, though I have no idea what the fuck I interrupted him saying.
He gives me a strange look and then laughs. “You’re so fucking weird, man.”
“And you’re desperate as fuck if you chose me, of all people, as your friend.”
We both laugh, but one of us isn’t joking.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Landry
This is happening.
It’s really happening.
I take the entertainment magazine from Sandra and try to play it cool. The sticky note on the front does a good job of masking the real reason for it.
Landry,
Seeing a movie with you was fun.
I want to take you out again.
Let me know if anything interests you and we’ll make a date.
-Ty-
“He wants to go on another date,” I say, smiling at her. “I wonder if Dad will let me.”
She stares at me for a long, penetrating beat, but finally gives a shake of her head. “That’ll be between you and him. I’ll need to make sure I’m available whichever day because I know he prefers I stay to care for Della in your absence.”
I don’t let her guilt trip me. She signed up for this job. There’d be no way in hell I’d ever willingly work for that man.
“I’m going back to my room now,” I tell her, feigning disappointment.
“For the best. Your dad won’t be pleased to see you out and about when he expressed his wishes you stay in your room.”
“Grounded for life.” I shudder. If only she knew this was so much more than a simple grounding. He’s ripped my life completely out of my hands and I don’t think he’s ever planning on giving it back.
I try not to hurry to my room as not to garner any unnecessary attention. Once the door is closed and I’m seated on my bed, I flip open the magazine, looking for my true hidden message. I find it on a Starbucks advertisement written along the inside edge of the page in neat, precise writing that could almost pass for a typewritten font.