My Bad Boy’s Ego — Chapter 27

Landon swings the shopping bag on his side, walking next to me as we exit the mall. We were both holding ice cream cones; he had vanilla, I had strawberry.

I licked the ice cream and savored the taste like a child. A second ago I was heated, for a bunch of reasons that is; now I was enjoying the time of my life. I smiled at the ice cream as I took another big lick. A hum escaped my lips as Landon couldn't help but release a chuckle.

"Who was that guy?" I randomly asked him, remembering about the incident a few while back.

"Who?" he asks innocently, raising an eyebrow oblivious of who I was referring my question towards.

"The night of dinner," I trailed off, biting the cone.

Landon suddenly became quiet as he continues to enjoy his ice cream, obviously avoiding my question.

"Landon," I called, catching his attention.

He ignores me again and jogs towards the passenger side of his car, opening the door for me. I invited myself in and sat in the seat, waiting for him to enter on the other side. I kept my eyes locked on him.

"Landon Carthy," I ignorantly complained. He stopped licking his ice cream and froze in place. Landon sighs in defeat as he puckers his lips, staring ahead at another car parked in front of us.

"It's my brother's friend," he explained.

It confused me as to why his brother's friend would do such thing to me, and why he left me in the car alone in the first place. What did this guy have that Landon did not have?

I noticed Landon trying to avoid me asking anymore questions again. He inserts the key into the ignition before turning on the engine. Swiftly, I reached over and turned off the engine. He looks at me with disbelief.

"Why did you leave me alone that night?" I asked him, turning my body towards him.

I could tell that his expression suddenly turned into a rush of guilt. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. Instead, he brought the ice cream towards his lips and blankly stares at the car, licking his ice cream.

"Landon," I said his name again.

"I can't tell you!" he finally exploded. He pulled down the window and casually tosses his ice cream cone outside. I could tell Landon was annoyed, he held up his hands towards his face and angrily motions it back and forth, "I want to, but I can't!"

I looked at him, shocked.

"You asked me for a second chance," I mumbled underneath my breath, "I thought you were going to fully explain to me what happened that night. That's the only reason I gave it to you."

Landon turns his body towards me slightly, but stares off at my thighs, "You have to understand that I can't, Aubrey."

"He harassed me!" I screamed at him, trying to hold back the tears from the pain that I felt that night, "You harassed me," I said quietly.

Suddenly, Landon drops his head, staring at his hands that were placed on his lap.

"I know," he slightly whispers. He rubs his face with his palms as he releases a slight groan, "Fine, I'll tell you. Just please don't cry right now."

I blinked back the tears and noticed how dramatic I was being in the moment. My feelings quickly cleared up as I faced the front window of the car with my arms crossed.

He turns on the engine again and backs out of the parking lot, "Let's just go somewhere with less people," he mutters between his lips as he pretends to have more interest on the road.

The car ride was normally quietly. The windows were up and the only sound that could be heard through the vehicle was the smooth sound of the engine. The sun was beginning to set, as all that surrounded the sky was blended colors of purple, pink and orange.

"You're actually such a child," Landon chuckles out of nowhere. He had one of his hand rested on the wheel, the other hand was on the gear shift. For some reason, he had a very contagious smile; I almost wanted to smile back at him. He turns shifts his attention back and forth from the road and onto me.

I ignored him and looked out of the window.

"I never knew I'd ever be babysitting before," he concludes, as he turns the wheel.

"Not even your own kids?" I asked curiously, mumbling between my fingers that were casually rested over my lips.

"Well," he trails off, "I guess I do want kids."

I scoffed at his response as I notice him backing up against a sandy parking lot. Looking around questionably, I was trying to conclude where we were at. Instead, the only scene that caught my attention was the beautiful scenery of the city and hills. I knew Landon was driving uphill, but never did I expect us to end up somewhere so, beautiful yet quiet.

He turns off the engine of his car and exits. Landon quickly jogs and stumbles towards my side of the car, opening the door before I got the chance to. I blinked at him cluelessly and stepped outside. Having Landon opening the door for me was becoming a routine, and I soon got use to the kind gesture.

I followed him towards the back of the car. He opens the trunk of the car and all that caught my attention was pillows and blankets. A smile of amusement slipped out of my lips, as I stared at the organization in awe.

"Why do you have these?" I questioned eagerly like a child, running my hand through the fluffy cream-colored blanket.

He walks over towards the side furthest to me, and squeezed his lean body into the trunk, sitting with his legs hanging out. Landon casually pats the open spot next to him, motioning me to sit. I welcomed myself and was able to crisscross my legs and fit perfectly in the small space.

We both leaned back against the car, and pulled the blankets over my lap. I grabbed the small decorative pillow and hugged it, resting my chin on it.

"The guy you saw," he slightly stuttered, "he's considered as my uncle."

I suddenly felt uncomfortable by the relationship between the two; feeling the rush of fear in me. I pulled my knees up to my chin, slightly tilting my head towards him and pushed myself to listen to the rest of his story.

"He threatens me sometimes. I can't do anything about it because he's such a good friend to my brother and dad. He's second in charge of the company and he just doesn't like me," he shrugged, easily admitting the truth, "I didn't fully finish telling you the story about my past girlfriend."

Landon suddenly seemed hesitate to continue his story. I bravely rested my hand on his shoulder, and comforted him.

"You don't have to tell me," I trailed off as he interrupts me.

"He tortured her too. He touched her in ways where I couldn't do anything to stop him because he used our family's fortune against us."

"What do you mean?"

"He's second in charge in the company. He knows things that I don't know, and for sure he knows things that my dad doesn't even know. He threatens me to the point where I actually regret being born into this family. Even though my relationship with my dad isn't as good as my half-brother's, I love him and I can't let his company be taken away from our family."

I sat there and listened to him quietly, keeping my eyes on the beautiful scenery in front of us.

"Being rich doesn't sound all beautiful as it seems. Although we can afford so many things and I'm grateful for that, our family within the company is honestly fucked up. I never wanted to get too involved with our company but being born in one; you can't avoid it."

Landon releases a small chuckle, also staring off into the sky that was now dark, "I'm just rambling now."

I looked at Landon and sent him a reassuring smile, wrapping my arms around my knees.

Silence soon took over the scene as I felt the sudden need to apologize to him, "I'm sorry about earlier.

He looks at me with a confused expression, slightly raising an eyebrow as his eyes found its way to mine, "What do you mean?"

"For getting angry, and throwing a fit," I slightly whined, throwing a small punch at his thigh, "It's so embarrassing."

Landon shook his head and leaned his face towards mine, teasing me as our faces were only a few inches apart, "It's cute."

Taken aback, I leaned away from him uncomfortably.

Suddenly, I felt the need to speak up about the first thing that popped up in my mind.

"Colton has a girl," I blurted, soon to realize that I randomly started a vent to him.

Landon's smirk suddenly turns into a genuine smile, he raises his hand towards my head and ruffles my hair. He suddenly wraps his arm around my neck, pulling me closer to him. I lost my balance and leaned all of my weight against his body. I tried to push myself away from him but he held me down.

I sighed in defeat and stayed there, "What are you doing?" I asked in an irritated tone.