Logan Chapter 76

-Landon-

I have one job today. I’m finally free of Cora for once, and I try to enjoy the absence of blue balls to the fullest. I don’t know if it’s a holdover from when I didn’t know she was a psychotic bitch, but the more I watch her the more she sticks in my head. I haven’t mentioned anything to Logan about it, but I’m starting to wonder if I landed on my kidnapping plan just to resolve this obsession growing like a fungus in my brain rather than actually fixing my mistake. Honestly, I could be making a worse mistake by grabbing her…. Damnit, she’s in my head again.

I’m picking up Emory’s family from the airport. I’m not sure if I was chosen for the job because of my sparkling personality, or as Logan’s first line of defense if they actually turn out to be assholes. I’m ready for it to go either way. I checked up on social media, and they all seem like normal enough people. Bryan might be a bit paranoid- it’s unusual for someone his age not to have an account on any platform. Mr. Davis is probably the type that’s a bit out of touch. I bet his wife keeps him up to date with her account. Hunter’s account was your average post twice a month about whatever bullshit he found on a joke page about trucks, and Elliana had both a family-centered account and a true account where she posts about partying and how much she hates school. I wonder if Emory knows about that. Come to think of it, Elliana should be in school right now, shouldn’t she? March seems like a time kids should be in school. Whatever, that’s not my business.

I have my little Davises sign in my passenger seat as I pull up to the short term parking outside of the airport. I grab it and head in to hang out in front of the baggage claim. I was going for a classy, embellished-page-in-an-old-book vibe, but one of the pups wanted to help. Bobbie just has one of those faces you can’t say no to, so I let her put unicorn stickers and swirls of glitter glue all around the edges. It would actually look great- if I were picking up a family of dolls. I’ll have to tell her mom about her budding artistry. Probably, her mom already knows. But the result is I’m a huge-ass man holding a pink and purple glittery sign with Emory’s last name on it. Good thing I’m secure in my masculinity. I make glitter look sexy- but not in a stripper kind of way.

Mrs. Davis is practically dragging the rest of her family behind her in grim determination to be the first to baggage claim. Too bad that doesn’t make the luggage come through any faster. She laughs outright when she sees my sign, and Mr. Davis smiles a little behind her. Success. Elliana is neck deep in her phone and wouldn’t notice a bomb going off from the looks of it, but both of Emory’s brothers smirk a little at me as they walk my way. Mrs. Davis puts a tiny hand out to shake mine as she walks into range. The top of her head hits me right about mid-pec. She seems a lot taller from far away, and I can already tell she’s a force of nature. Logan is really in for it.

“Hello, young man. My name is Theresa. I’m Emmy-Jo’s mama. You must be driving us today.” I feel my lips twitch as I try to hold in my laughter. Young man, for real.

“Yes ma’am Mrs. Davis, I’m Logan’s little brother. My name’s Landon. He and… Emmy-Jo” I will never, never let her live it down, “had some work to do this morning so that they could have a stress-free weekend with you guys. Even being the boss doesn’t get you all that much time off, seems like.” There. Brownie points for Logan.

“Oh, now, call me Terri. This is Bill.” Her husband shakes my hand with a polite murmur, apparently used to being a background character in the Terri show. “And these are my boys, Bryan and Hunter.” Hunter seems nice enough, while Bryan gives me some hard eye contact and tells me how nice it is to meet me. His accent is the lightest of all of them- on purpose, or just because he feels the need to sound more professional like Emory does sometimes? Terri sets her hand on top of Elliana’s head, much to her daughter’s dismay. “This here is my baby, Elliana.”

Elliana starts to mumble a greeting similar to her dad’s as she glances in my general direction, but when she catches sight of me she puts her phone away and beams at me. “Well, now.” she says, her accent heavier than anyone else’s. Shit. “It is so very nice to meet you, Mr. Landon.” Oh damn. I have to restrain myself from actually taking a step back.

“Uh, nice to meet you too.” I mumble as I shake my head minutely at Bryan, whose face picked up an interesting brick red in his anger. I suppose all of Emory’s siblings share her transparent skin tone.

He smacks the back of Elliana’s head, which allows me to relax. “Shut up, jailbait. He’s like thirty.” I’m not, but I let it slide. Logan can never hear of this. Terri starts to scold her children- who all tower over her- for fighting, and I take the opportunity to motion toward the baggage claim so Hunter, Bill, and I can grab the luggage and get this show on the road.

I’d say this first meeting has gone alright, and Logan should have a great time with Terri, in particular. Emory must have more of her dad’s personality, because Terri would’ve smacked Cora into next year before that article could even hit the web. Come to think of it, she’ll probably whip Logan into shape as well. I’m sure whatever bad habits the perfect brother may have will be ironed out by the end of the week. I can’t wait to see it.