"No, we won't be part of those horrible reality shows you watch. Those guys get a huge fan base, even if they don’t win. We want undiscovered talent. We've been watching videos online and pouring over the demos people send us. There are at least seven possibilities, and I'm sure there will be more. We’ll bring them in and audition them to see who can cut it."
I love seeing Dallas like this. He's in his element, and that calms me in a way I didn't know I needed tonight. He must sense me getting tired, because he starts running his hand through my hair.
"Get some rest, baby girl. I'm right here, and we aren't leaving again tonight."
That soft touch of his hand in my hair makes the whole world right. Our next battle is working things out with Landon, but right here, right now, everything is perfect.
Chapter 38
Dallas
I lay there with Austin, as she falls asleep. It's been a long day, but the texts we got from Mason said she was stressing herself out, while we were gone. She was on edge, and when we got the call that Branden or Jimmy was picked up and in custody, Landon and I both breathed a sigh of relief.
Once I'm sure she's asleep, I gently move off the bed, making sure she doesn't wake up. When I see she’s sleeping soundly, I make my way downstairs. I need to talk to Landon, and I want to do it without her hearing. I want to make things good with us, before she wakes up.
I find him in the kitchen with a beer in one hand and his phone in the other.
"Now that all this is over, we need to talk, and I want to do this, while Austin is asleep. I'd like to have this settled, when she gets up, so it's one less thing she has to worry about. She's been through enough." I say.
"I agree. May I talk first?" Landon asks.
"Okay." I agree and sit down.
"I've been watching you two for the last few weeks. I've seen how you are with her, and how she is with you. Something I should have noticed years ago. Maybe, I knew that and chose to ignore it, I don't know. When all this happened, you took care of her almost without thinking. Your first thought was her, always her." He pauses and shakes his head.
"You did what I would have done to protect her, but she takes care of you, too. She calms you, and I've seen this change in you I can't put into words. She makes you a better person, and you do the same to her. Yeah, I was upset before, but I think I let that cloud my vision, when it comes to not just you, but her, too."
This shocks me. He's right. I don't think twice, when it comes to her. I've known her so long I know what she needs, and I just do it. I don't think I make her a better person, but I know she makes me a better man. She makes me want to be better for her.
I open my mouth to say something, but he holds up his hand, so I nod and let him speak.
"I have spent a few nights thinking, and I always kept coming back to one thing. I trust you with my life. Why wouldn't I trust you with Austin? The thing is, I do trust you with her. That doesn't mean I like the idea, but I don't think I could trust anyone else with her the way I trust you. I don't think anyone else would take care of her like you."
"Or love her like I do," I state, as I look him in the eye.
We stare at each other for a minute, before he nods.
"You really trust me with her?" I ask, having to make sure.
"Yes, and I'm sorry about how I reacted. I knew you guys liked each other back in school. I just thought it was silly teenage crushes, and that you would outgrow them. I never imagined it was big enough to lead to this. Then, I was dealing with my own stuff, when Opal turned me down, and I wasn’t in a good place. I let it all cloud my judgment."
"All is forgiven as long as you make it right with Austin," I tell him. "Everything you told me might make this go over easier," I tell him, as I run my hands over my thighs and sit on the edge of my chair.
"I'd like to ask her to marry me, and I want your blessing to do so," I say. I have no idea how this is going to go.
A week ago, I would have expected a no, but at least, I would have tried. I plan to ask her to marry me no matter what, but I'd like to have Landon on our side. I know she will want him to walk her down the aisle, and I want him to be my best man. Things won't be the same, if he isn't behind us.
Landon sits back and crosses his arms. There’s no emotion on his face, so I let him work through whatever he has to, before giving me an answer.
"You don't think you’re moving a bit fast?" He asks in a flat voice.
"Some might think so, but we’ve known each other as long as you and I have. It's always been her, Landon. It will always be her. If she turns me down, it doesn't mean I'm going to stop asking, because she’s it for me."
Landon turns his head and looks out the window. Then without a word, he gets up and walks out of the room. I'm in shock, I at least expected him to say something.
Looking to the security guy in the corner of the room, his eyes are wide, like he isn't sure
