Total pages in book: 156
Estimated words: 145676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 728(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 728(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
“You did?” The whiplash sent his heart crashing a different direction. Robert’s mood instantly changed. A giant genuine smile pulled at his cheeks. So many emotions ran through him, some trampling his heart, others filling it with hope and pride. Landon had worked hard for his promotion to Master Sergeant.
Robert slid his arms around Landon’s waist, drawing him forward into a tight embrace. “I’m proud of you!”
Landon stiffened, not reacting to the praise Robert wanted to give. He loved this stubborn man. Landon never wanted any kind of praise for his accomplishments. Robert didn’t care. His shy guy deserved the fuss. When he reared back for a kiss, he stopped short at the sober intensity in Landon’s stone face.
“What?”
“They selected me to attend a special training course on a new system. I’ll have to come back and train my squadron. I’ve gotta go to Oklahoma.” The highs and lows of tonight were too much. Robert felt like he took a right hook to the gut. His brain blipped, and he stared at Landon as if he hadn’t understood. How had this day gone so terribly wrong?
“Then I’ll go with you. Isn’t that how it works? A spouse follows?”
“Not with this. Even if we found a way for you to be nearby, you can’t leave everything we’ve been working for,” Landon said, shaking his head.
Robert’s heart sank, his breath suddenly harder to draw into his lungs as he stepped away, needing room to think. He didn’t want to believe it was really happening. “I can’t manage our business without you. You keep everything running smoothly. We’ll have to take a temporary break with the taco stand and start back when you return. So, I can go—” It seemed so reasonable. Why was Landon shaking his head again?
“You know it won’t be the same. We can hire people to help while I’m gone. We’ll have to anyway. I’ll be moved to days, Monday through Friday, when I get back. I won’t be available like I am now,” Landon said, his thick arms crossed over his chest in that stubborn way he had.
Robert dropped his head between his shoulders, the heavy weight of the world weighing down on him. He had to remind himself that this wasn’t about him. He had always known Landon could be relocated from DC at a moment’s notice. He’d just thought he would follow along too. Their life had been going too smoothly, and now their course had changed in a matter of hours.
He took a deep breath. They loved each other, and they would figure it out. He could be brave. On a deep exhale, he asked, “How long will you be gone?”
“A minimum of six months.”
What? “Okay.” Now, he wanted to cry. What little bravery he thought he had vanished. The concerns of La Bella Luna didn’t compare to the prospect of Landon leaving him. Robert tried to act untouched. He had to keep this in perspective, try to hold back the depression edging forward, praying it didn’t win.
He started for the kitchen, not wanting to breakdown in front of Landon and ruin the excitement of his husband’s accomplishment. Landon had achieved his goals, things important to him, so they were important to Robert. He pushed all the negative thoughts away. They needed to celebrate, not mourn.
“I didn’t cook tonight, so let’s order in. Or we could go out and celebrate with some drinks. Maybe dancing for a couple of hours.”
“Robert.” Landon clasped Robert by the wrist, stopping him before he could get too far away. He tried to school his features before turning and lifting his gaze to Landon’s. “I’m saying this without thinking through it all… Buy La Bella Luna. Move to Minneapolis and modernize the place, bring your ideas and fresh approach to the restaurant and the menu. You have the talent to turn that restaurant around.” Landon spoke in his firm level tone. The stubborn set of his jaw told Robert that Landon thought what he said had merit.
Reasonableness just wasn’t anywhere on Robert’s radar, and he shook his head.
The picture Landon’s words created helped to alleviate some of the pain gripping his heart, but Landon owned him body and soul, and he couldn’t willingly be away from his husband. The more the news closed in around him, the more unrelenting dread seeped in. As much as he liked to pretend he had gotten himself back, Robert knew the truth, healthy or not, his happiness was contingent on Landon. He couldn’t do it. He didn’t have it in him to leave Landon behind.
As Robert rejected Landon’s suggestion, he could see Landon building on the idea, turning confident in his plan. “Listen to me, Robert. I want you to call Rodney back and tell him you’ll buy La Bella Luna. We’ll make it work. It’ll make leaving you easier for me if you’re in Minnesota. Revamp everything about La Bella Luna—remodel the interior, rework the menu, hire better staff. When I’m done with training and can take leave, we’ll have a re-grand opening. By that time, I’ll only have a year and a half left before retirement. We can go back and forth on the weekends—”