Chapter 83: Playing Hooky

"You're not? You don't have to do that, Landon."

"I don't have to do anything," I tell her, repeating something I said to her the very first time we met, "but I want to. I don't want to waste a minute with you."

"But..." and then I realise she feels guilty. Only Aurora could feel guilty about me playing hooky. I love her a little bit more for it.

"No buts... I'll work tomorrow." I look at the photos above her desk. She'd had shorter hair then. "I like your hair like this. It's cute."

She laughs, clearly disagreeing with my assessment.

"So, what are we doing today?"

"Well... I thought we'd go for a run before everyone else wakes up."

"What time is it?" She stretches, exposing an inch of perfect, creamy stomach.

"Almost six thirty." I'm grinning again. "Your dad is up, but everyone else is still asleep. He says breakfast probably won't be until half seven because of how late we were up last night."

She nods.