Nothing Less

Chapter Sixteen.

Songs for this chapter are:

Friends, Lovers, or Nothing- John Mayer

Use Somebody- Kings of Leon

Elena's Lullaby- it's from this piano only playlist I found that's literally called "Vampire Romantic Piano Diaries" and I'm obsessed with it. There are songs inspired by Twilight, The Vampire Diaries, etc, and it's just beautiful *sobs*

Landon's POV.

It's been two hours since Nora left my apartment to get her work clothes. Well, her excuse was that she needed her work clothes, but I'm not completely unaware how coincidental the timing would be. A stranger shows up in my apartment and Nora just so happens to know his name?

What a day I've had today. Nora showed me a side of her I hadn't seen, not only is she mind-blowingly sexy, she managed to turn off all of the voices in my head with the sound of her voice. I felt comfortable and as stupid as it sounds, I felt confident in my inexperience with her guiding me, telling me I can be who I want to be when I'm with her. The thought is strange, being able to be a completely new version of myself. With her I can be more than the nice guy, I can be more than someone's best friend. I don't have to solve everyone's problems and neglect my own, when I'm with her.

My head is throbbing and my living room is finally put back together. Hardin argued with me for a little bit before he disappeared and came back twenty minutes later with an extra lock to put on the door. I think of what he said about Tessa, and how nervous she was after our break-in, and go to the closet to grab my small tool box to install the lock.

Ken gave me this toolbox when I decided to move to New York. It's nothing too special, but it meant something to him, so it means something to me. I could see it in his eyes when he handed me the small red box and I noted the way his voice changed when he explained the function of each tool inside. I didn't tell him that he was telling me things I already knew.

I didn't tell him that I've been fixing things my whole life, I'm an expert. Instead, I let him explain each thing to me in great detail. I even asked questions like, "What's the difference between a Phillip's head and a flat-head screwdriver?"

I had a feeling he needed these simple moments with his step-son, to make up for lost times with his actual son.

When the lock is on and sturdy, I sit down on the couch and turn on the t.v. What can I watch to distract me from watching the clock? I turn on Netflix and scroll.

And scroll.

And then, scroll.

Nothing sounds distracting enough to keep my mind off of Nora. While I read the movies recommended for my account, I curse at the irony.

Julie & Julia and Chocolat are the top two. Cooking related movies. Of course. The selections make me think of Nora in her work uniform and then, not. It's possible that the movies are recommended because of her and Tessa's history, but I decide that it's some sign from somewhere. I keep scrolling. Nora should star in her own movie, a beautiful, intelligent, and mysterious woman. A woman who also happens to bake edible heaven. If our lives were a movie, it would be easier to uncover her secrets.

I think about the movies I used to watch with my mom on the Lifetime channel. As much as I hate to admit it, some of those movies were pretty dang good. They always had insane plot lines, like psycho babysitters who try to steal husband or husbands who turn out to be con artists, sometimes even murderers. If Nora was the star of a Lifetime movie, she could be a spy or even an assassin. In my head, I piece together what I know.