Part 5

As the week stretched on, Landon found himself sitting on the edge of his bed, his phone resting in his hand like a weight he couldn't put down. The screen was blank, no messages, no calls, nothing from Selerity. He hadn't expected her to reach out after everything that happened at his parent's house, but the silence still gnawed at him, each passing day reinforcing the hollow feeling that she was truly gone from his life.

He stared at the phone, almost willing it to light up with her name. But nothing came. With a deep sigh, he set the phone down on his nightstand, trying to convince himself that this was how it was meant to be. Maybe it was better this way. He'd told his friends they'd broken up the first chance he got, cutting off the questions before they could even begin. Now, he wouldn't have to drag Selerity into anything she didn't want to be a part of.

"It's for the best," he told himself, trying to push away the growing ache in his chest. "She deserves better than to be tangled up in my life, especially with how messy things got with my parents." He got up, pacing his room, trying to distract himself with anything other than thoughts of her.

But no matter what he did—whether he was at work, gaming, or even out with friends—his mind kept circling back to Selerity. The sound of her laugh, the way her eyes lit up when she talked about something she loved, the warmth of her hand resting against his. He rubbed the back of his neck, frustrated that he couldn't seem to shake her from his thoughts. She was more than just a rental girlfriend, and the fact that he'd let her go without telling her that gnawed at him.

Meanwhile, Selerity had thrown herself back into her work at the agency, trying to lose herself in the routine of dates that had once been so familiar. But now, each meeting felt like an exhausting performance. Every smile she gave, every laugh she forced, felt hollow, an echo of the real thing she'd experienced with Landon.

No matter how hard she tried to focus on her clients, Landon's face kept creeping into her thoughts. She remembered the way he'd looked at her, not with the guarded expectation of a paying client, but with genuine warmth and interest. The way he'd listened to her talk about her life, her dreams, as if they actually mattered to him.

And that's when it hit her—somewhere between the awkward first meeting and the heart-pounding realization that she was standing in front of his parents, she'd fallen for him. Hard. The very thing she'd been trying to avoid, the blurred line between work and her real feelings, had happened anyway.

Selerity sighed, staring out the window of her small apartment. She could see it clearly now—she was in love with Landon. The truth of it was undeniable, and yet, her job loomed over her like a shadow. She'd spent so long pretending, she wasn't sure how to start being real. How could she ask Landon to accept all of her, including the parts she was ashamed of?

Another week passed, and Landon felt like he was moving through a fog. Every day, the thought of Selerity lingered at the back of his mind, no matter what he did to distract himself. He would sit at his desk, his fingers hovering over his phone, his heart pounding as he considered dialing her number. All he wanted was to hear her voice, to know for certain where they stood. But each time, doubt crept in, and he'd pull his hand away, convincing himself that she didn't want to hear from him. Maybe she was busy, or maybe she'd already moved on.

His friends, sensing something was wrong, would occasionally bring up Selerity, their questions tinged with hope that things could be salvaged. "Maybe you two just need to talk it out," they suggested, or, "It sounded like you were really good together." But Landon, his heart heavy with uncertainty, would just shake his head and tell them she was busy with work. It was easier that way, to keep the distance and avoid confronting the possibility that their friendship—or whatever it had been—was truly over.

Meanwhile, Selerity's life had taken a different turn. The offers from wealthy clients continued to come in, more enticing than ever, with promises of easy money and luxurious gifts. But none of it mattered anymore. Each time she received a new offer, she found herself staring at the message with a growing sense of emptiness. The thought of pretending to care, of plastering on a smile for yet another stranger, made her feel hollow inside.

Landon's absence loomed large over her, his silence a constant reminder of what she'd lost. She'd check her phone, hoping against hope to see a message from him. But every time, her screen remained empty, and her heart sank a little further. It was as if he had vanished from her life completely, and the realization cut deeper than she'd expected. She tried to tell herself it was too late, that she'd made her choice and there was no going back. But the pain of missing him, of wanting something real with him, gnawed at her.

Finally, after one too many nights of lying awake, her thoughts consumed by memories of Landon, Selerity made a decision. She couldn't keep living like this, caught between a job that no longer fulfilled her and a love she was too afraid to pursue. She went into the agency the next day and handed in her resignation. It was a clean break, the only way to start fresh and figure out what she really wanted.

But even after quitting, the loneliness didn't go away. If anything, it grew worse. The job had been her last tether to the life she'd known, and without it, she felt adrift. She spent her days wandering the city, trying to keep herself busy, but every familiar place seemed to remind her of Landon.

Back in her apartment, she sat on the edge of her bed, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. The urge to call him was overwhelming, but so was the fear. She hadn't heard from him in weeks, and the thought of reaching out only to be rejected or ignored felt unbearable. Tears welled up in her eyes as she stared at the blank screen, wondering if she'd made the biggest mistake of her life. Maybe it really was too late.

Landon couldn't take it any longer. Every day that passed without hearing Selerity's voice felt like an eternity, and the uncertainty gnawed at him. He needed to know where they stood, even if it meant risking rejection. As he picked up his phone and found her contact, his heart pounded in his chest. He hesitated for a moment, but then pressed the call button, determined to see this through.

Selerity had been lost in her thoughts when her phone rang, jolting her out of her reverie. When she saw Landon's name on the screen, her heart jumped. A part of her had been waiting for this moment, longing to hear his voice again, while another part of her was scared—scared of what it might mean, of opening herself up to feelings she'd been trying to push away. For a split second, she considered letting it go to voicemail, but before she knew it, she had answered the call.

"Hello, Selerity?" Landon's voice came through the line, and the excitement in his tone was unmistakable.

She couldn't help but smile, her defenses crumbling just a little at hearing how happy he sounded. But the memory of how they'd left things—so uncertain, so unfinished—cast a shadow over her heart. "Hi, Landon," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

"How are you?" he asked, his voice warm, but tinged with nerves.

Selerity took a deep breath, fighting to sound casual despite the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside her. "I'm doing fine," she answered, though she knew it was only half the truth.

There was a brief silence on the other end, and she wondered if he was gathering his thoughts, just as she was. Landon, relieved that she hadn't hung up, scrambled to find something to say, anything to keep the conversation going. Finally, he blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "You know, my mom was asking about you."

Her heart skipped a beat at the mention of his mother. Despite everything, knowing that his parents hadn't forgotten about her, that they might even like her, warmed her more than she expected. "Oh? What did she say?" she asked, trying to keep her tone light, though the curiosity—and hope—in her voice was clear.

"She was hoping you could come over for dinner again," Landon said, his voice softening. "I told her you were busy with school work and stuff, but... she really liked you, Selerity."

Selerity felt a mix of emotions at his words. The warmth of knowing that his parents—especially his mother—hadn't written her off was overwhelming. But it also brought back the pang of sadness, the reminder of what could have been if things were different. She swallowed hard, trying to find the right words to respond.

"Landon..." she began, her voice trailing off as she tried to gather her thoughts. "I... I didn't think they'd want to see me again after everything."

"They do," he reassured her quickly, sensing her hesitation. "I do too. I've been thinking about you a lot, Selerity. I know things got complicated, and I... I just wanted to hear your voice, to know how you're doing."

Her heart fluttered at his confession, but the sadness still lingered. "I've been thinking about you too," she admitted quietly. "I wasn't sure if I should reach out. I didn't want to... complicate things even more."

Landon's heart soared at her words. "What if we don't worry about complications right now? What if we just... talk, like we used to? I miss that. I miss you."

Selerity felt a tear slip down her cheek, a mix of happiness and fear. But his words, the sincerity in his voice, were breaking through her defenses. "I miss you too," she whispered, finally letting herself admit what she had been denying for so long.

For a moment, neither of them spoke, the silence filled with unspoken feelings and the weight of what they'd both been through. But it was a comfortable silence, the kind that felt more like a connection than an absence of words.

Landon hesitated before asking, "Hey... would it be okay if we could meet somewhere and talk?"

She felt her heart racing hearing his invitation. "Is that so? Where do you have in mind?"

"I was thinking maybe we could meet at the park," he said. She agreed to meet him there.

Landon's heart pounded as he waited at the park, his thoughts racing just as fast. He had no idea what he was going to say to Selerity when she arrived, but he knew he had to see her, to talk to her face-to-face. The weeks without her had been unbearable, and the sound of her voice on the phone had only made him realize how much he missed her. Now, standing under the shade of a large oak tree, he kept glancing around, hoping she would actually come.

When he finally spotted her jogging towards him, his heart skipped a beat. She was here. She'd come. For a moment, all the nerves and uncertainty vanished, replaced by a surge of warmth and relief.

Selerity tried to keep her cool as she approached Landon, but inside, she was a whirlwind of emotions. Seeing him standing there, waiting for her, made her chest tighten with a mix of anxiety and joy. She had spent the entire walk to the park thinking about what this meeting could mean. Did he want to say goodbye for good? Or was there something more, something she had secretly been hoping for?

When they finally stood face to face, neither of them knew how to begin. They fell into a casual conversation, dancing around the real reason they had come. They talked about the weather, the park, anything to fill the silence. But the undercurrent of tension between them was palpable, both knowing there was something important left unsaid.

Finally, Selerity took a deep breath and decided to break the ice. "I, uh... I quit the agency," she said, her voice wavering slightly.

Landon's eyes widened in surprise. "You quit the agency?" he repeated, his voice a mix of shock and curiosity.

She nodded, trying to gauge his reaction. "Yeah, I... I couldn't do it anymore. After everything that happened, after meeting you... it just didn't feel right. I wasn't happy doing it, and I realized I wanted something more. Something real."

Landon was stunned. He had never expected this. "Wow, Selerity, that's... that's huge. I didn't know you felt that way."

She looked down, kicking a small pebble at her feet. "I didn't either, at first. But the more time we spent together, the more I realized that I wanted something different. I wanted something honest, something that wasn't just pretending."

His heart swelled with emotion as he listened to her. The fact that she had quit the agency because of him—because of what they shared—meant more to him than he could express. "I'm really proud of you," he said softly. "It takes a lot of courage to make a decision like that."

She glanced up at him, her eyes searching his. "Thanks. I just... I couldn't keep lying to myself. And I couldn't keep lying to you."

Landon took a deep breath, feeling like this was the moment he had been waiting for. "Selerity, I called you because I needed to see you again. I couldn't stop thinking about you, and I knew that whatever we had, whatever we were... it wasn't finished. I didn't want it to be."

She felt her heart race as she listened to him, his words filling her with a mix of hope and fear. "What are you saying, Landon?"

"I'm saying that I don't want to say goodbye," he confessed, his voice raw with emotion. "I want to be with you. For real this time, no pretending, no games. Just us, figuring it out together. If... if that's what you want too."

Tears welled up in Selerity's eyes as she heard the sincerity in his voice. This was what she had been hoping for, what she had been too afraid to wish for. "I do want that," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "I've wanted that for a long time."

Landon couldn't contain his happiness. He reached out and took her hand, holding it gently in his. "Then let's do it, Selerity. Let's see where this goes. No more doubts, no more fears. Just us."

She smiled through her tears, squeezing his hand as she felt a sense of peace and certainty wash over her. "Just us," she echoed, knowing that this was the start of something real, something that could finally be theirs.

As they stood together in the park, the world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them, connected by the feelings they had been too afraid to admit. But now, with everything out in the open, they were ready to face whatever came next—together.

Landon leaned in, his heart racing as he closed the distance between them. Selerity's breath hitched as she met his gaze, and then, in a moment that felt like it was meant to be, their lips met in a soft, lingering kiss. It was a kiss that sealed their connection, solidifying everything they had confessed to each other. In that moment, the weight of their past doubts and fears melted away, leaving only the promise of what lay ahead.

When they finally pulled apart, their foreheads resting together, they both smiled, knowing that they had just taken the first step towards something real and lasting.

Not long after, Landon and Selerity returned to his parents' home, their hearts lighter and their hands intertwined. This time, they were not pretending; they were there as a couple, ready to face whatever came next. As they sat in the living room, Karen and Robert listened attentively to their announcement.

Selerity spoke with a new sense of confidence, explaining how she had quit the agency and was now focused on building a meaningful relationship with Landon. Karen's sharp eyes softened as she listened, and for the first time, a genuine smile spread across her face.

"That's good to hear," Karen said, her voice warm but still carrying that no-nonsense tone. "But what are you doing now, Selerity? Where are you working?"

Selerity hesitated for a moment, feeling a bit nervous. "Well, to be honest, I haven't found a new job yet. I've been focusing on school, but I'm actively looking."

Karen exchanged a glance with Robert, who nodded in silent agreement. Then she turned back to Selerity, her expression thoughtful. "You know, my office could use someone like you. We're always looking for reliable help, and I think you'd be a good fit. It's just a part-time position, but it's flexible, so you can continue your studies without any problem."

Selerity's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? That sounds amazing. I'd love to!"

Karen smiled, but there was a hint of something more in her eyes. "And there's one more thing. The office I work for offers a scholarship. We know how hard it can be to balance work, school, and everything else. This way, you won't have to worry about money, and you can focus on your studies and your future."

Selerity felt a rush of gratitude, her eyes welling up with tears. She had never expected such generosity, and the thought of being able to pursue her dreams without the financial burden was overwhelming. "I don't know what to say... Thank you so much. This means the world to me."

Landon squeezed her hand, his heart swelling with pride and relief. He could see how much this meant to her, and knowing that his parents were willing to support her in this way made him love them all the more.

Karen reached over and patted Selerity's hand. "You're a part of this family now, Selerity. We take care of our own. Just keep working hard, and everything will fall into place."

Selerity nodded, her smile radiant. She felt an incredible sense of belonging, something she hadn't realized she had been missing until now. With a new job, a scholarship, and the support of Landon and his family, the future looked brighter than ever. She was grateful for the blessings that had come her way, and as she looked at Landon, she knew that together, they could face anything.

The rest of the evening was filled with laughter and conversation, the atmosphere light and full of warmth. Selerity no longer felt like she had to prove herself; she was accepted for who she was, and that acceptance gave her a newfound sense of peace. As they left his parents' home that night, Landon and Selerity walked hand in hand, their hearts full of hope and excitement for the future they would build together.

The End.