Hi all I'm back! It has been so, so, so long, I know I'm sorry. I am not gonna make any more promises about how often I will update, but the goal is to eventually finish this story. I hope that you will stick with me here. Thank you to all the people who left kind encouraging comments for me. I'm so glad you're even a little bit invested in this fic.

Now, on with the story…

Chapter 6: Sandwiches

"Alright team, this has been a productive meeting. As a recap, this Friday will be game night headed by Landon. Landon will reach out to those of you who volunteered to help with what he needs from you by the end of day," Bridgit the director of Footsteps looks to Landon for confirmation.

He smiles and nods, "Yep, I most likely won't need any help with set-up but if anyone has games at home they can bring that will be great."

"Great," Bridgit continues, "Next week is Thanksgiving, I know a few of you have requested time off because you will be traveling, but the rest of you are welcome to join our Footsteps Feast on Thursday if you are in town. Feel free to bring family. We have enough volunteers to staff the event, so really it will be just a fun time to eat and be with good people." She earned a few nods from her team. After Thanksgiving, we will begin planning full steam ahead for our Annual Christmas party, which will be headed by Lara Jean."

"I have so many ideas for this year!" Lara Jean interjected earning a grin from Landon across the table.

"Awesome!" Bridgit continued, "Prep some of those ideas to present for our meeting after the holiday." Lara Jean nodded and made a note in her planner. "Any other announcements team?" She paused, waited and after no response, "Alright let's all get back to work! Thanks everyone."

As everyone shuffled from the room. Lara Jean stayed planted in her seat to organize her planner and make notes. She didn't notice Landon hovering around until the group left.

"You know, LJ, I was surprised that I didn't see your name to help me out with game night this Friday. I guess you only like to stick around on baking or arts and craft nights."

Lara Jean looked up at Landon who had a playful smile on his face, "Ha ha very funny," she said closing her notebook and standing. "I wish I could help out this friday, but I have to do some baking for my roommate and I'm turning it into like a cookie trial run."

"A trial run?" They walked side by side back to their cubicles which were right next to each other.

"Yeah, you know how I work at a bakery?" He nods urging her to continue, "Well I'm trying to get my boss there to put some of my cookies on the menu, so I want to make sure they are perfect."

"So you're gonna be baking a bunch of cookies and taste testing?"

"That's the plan!" She slid into her chair and did a spin for emphasis causing him to laugh.

"Count me in."

"Huh?"

He leaned forward onto the cubicle divider, "Activities around here usually end early. I could stop by…. If you need another opinion….annnnd this is my not so subtle way of inviting myself over to your place."

Lara Jean thought for a moment, "You know what, I can always use another opinion...especially from someone like you." Am I flirting?

Landon bit his lip before grinning, "Great. So glad I didn't just completely embarrass myself there.

"Nope not this time," Lara Jean smiled back and turned to her computer to hide the growing blush on her cheeks.

It's not like Lara Jean had never noticed how handsome Landon was, everyone in the office had as soon as he walked in on his first day. He was tall and lanky, but had strong arms. His hair was cut low and his had a little stubble that he usually kept on his face, but never let it go grow to a full beard. His eyes were a deep chocolate brown. His teeth were perfectly white, which worked well for him since he was always smiling at someone. This was also not the first time, he had not so subtly tried to get her attention, but it was the first time she gave in.

Just as she was settling back down, her phone buzzed and then buzzed again. She looked at it and saw Peter's name appear on the screen.

Peter: Lara Jean, I'm sorry. I acted like an ass.

Peter: I shouldn't have said those things about your boyfriend. It's not my place. I hope I didn't ruin this friendship before it has even started.

Lara Jean sighed and contemplated what to say, but before she could begin typing.

Peter: Can I make it up to you this Friday night? Dinner on me?

Lara Jean quickly responded having an out.

LJ: Peter, it's ok. I'm sorry too. I'm not too pleasant when I'm hungover... This Friday, I'm kinda busy. Baking actually. Having a cookie marathon of the sorts to solidify my recipes for the shop. Maybe another time?

Peter: Cookies? I love cookies! What if I bring take out and help taste test your recipes? I could even help with some of the baking if you want.

Lara Jean began typing to reject him again, but he quickly followed up with a pouting selfie.

Peter: Pleaseeeeeeeeee.

Lara Jean couldn't contain the grin that was tugging at the corners of her mouth

Lara Jean: Ok, fine. But I want Thai!

Peter: Done.

"Hope that's not my competition that has you smiling like that," Lara Jean jumped slightly not realizing that Landon had stood up and was peering over into her cubicle.

"Ah no, it's um a very old friend…It's complicated honestly…." Lara Jean trailed off.

"Hmmm. That's never good," He said his signature grin returning to his face.

"...Actually….maybe you can help me," Lara Jean began.

"Oh yeah? How so?" He crossed his arms and she stood up to peer up at him.

"It's actually ridiculous, and so I totally understand if you think I'm crazy."

"Try me."

In a hushed tone, Lara Jean recapped her scenario with Peter, leaving out the parts that make her sound like she is still totally in love with him.

"So...you want me to pretend to be your boyfriend at this cookie extravaganza, so your ex will leave you alone?"

"Kinda…"

"How about I just tell him to fuck off?"

"Well, it's just because I was stupid and lied about it because I was feeling pathetic and single….and he can't know that…because I'll feel even more pathetic and single...Like I said I know this all sounds ridiculous and I-you do not have to be involved AT ALL-"

"I'll do it."

"What?"

"I said, I'll do it. One condition though."

"What's that?"

"After all this is said and done, you have to let me take you on a real date. No ex-boyfriend talk, just you and me and maybe some wine."

"Deal. Done. I love wine."

Landon chuckled, "You're something else, Lara Jean. You know, if I had known that all I had to do was pretend to be your boyfriend to get a date with you, I would have done this a long time ago. Should we have lunch to discuss the details?"

"The details?"

"You know, how long we've been dating, what type of couple we are, your favorite color?" Lara Jean mentally kicked herself for not thinking of that as if she's never done this before.

"Ah, yes we should have lunch. I can't today, but tomorrow would work."

"Sounds like a date."

Lara Jean narrowed her eyes, "So technically you're getting two dates out of this."

He just shrugged and plopped into his chair, "What can I say? I'm just good at negotiations."

Lara Jean rolled her eyes and reached for her phone. Another text from Peter.

Peter: I'm assuming I should get enough for Jeanette. Any other guests?

Lara Jean hesitated before replying.

LJ: Yes actually. Landon is coming.

Peter: Landon?

LJ: Yep. My boyfriend.

Minutes go by.

Peter: Ah so I finally get to meet the lucky guy.

LJ: Yep! He's looking forward to meeting you too.

Peter: I will make sure I have enough Thai for everyone the

LJ: Great see you Friday!

Lara Jean put her phone down and exhaled the breath she had been holding. She thought about texting her sisters but she wasn't ready to deal with them yelling at her about lying...again. She rationalized her decisions by telling herself after this Friday, Peter will probably back off, and she can break up with Landon and they could go on a real date. She externally cringed at how stupid this all sounded, but continued on with her day committed to her plan.

The next day, Landon popped up from his desk at exactly 11:59. "Still on for lunch?"

Lara Jean smiled and gathered her bag, "Of course!"

"What are you in the mood for?" He asked as they walked towards the elevator to get to the street level.

"Have you been to the new sandwich place across the street?"

"Not yet, but it sounds like today is the day to try it."

Lara Jean giggled and made small talk as they walked towards the restaurant. She noticed the way he opened the door for her and when she tried to pull out her wallet, "Oh no no no, this is on me."

"I'm making you pretend to be my boyfriend. I can at least pay for a couple of sandwiches as a thank you for dealing with my craziness."

Before she could pull her card from her wallet, he handed the cashier his, "It's on me. The thank you is the real date remember?"

She nodded, a small smile tugging her lips, "Right. So I'll pay for that date then."

"I'd like to see you try," he collected his card and then found an open table in the corner by the window.

They each opened their sandwich and took a bite before Landon started speaking, "So," he began popping his pop can, "tell me about this ex of yours."

Lara Jean coughed a little, not expecting the conversation to start there. "Um, idk." Landon raised an eyebrow.

"Lara Jean, did you lie about having a stalking ex just to get a date with me? You could have just asked."

"Oh god no," she said quickly but retracted the statement when Landon made an offended face and grabbed his chest.

"Wow LJ you sure know how to shoot a guy down."

"Oh my god. I didn't mean it like that, I'm sorry," she reached out her hand and placed it on top of his without thinking. At this gesture, his face softened into a grin causing Lara Jean to remove her hand from his realizing where it was.

"He's real." Too real, she thought. "I guess, I just…don't even know where to start."

"How about a name?"

"Peter….and he's really not a stalker. We just kind of started to reconnect." The words began to flow as Landon nodded to encourage her to keep going, "He came into the shop and I don't know, he just wanted to be friends again."

"Ok, so not a stalker...but a friend? This guy doesn't sound too bad."

"He's not," Lara Jean shook her head, "he's funny, he genuinely cares about people, he's sweet."

"Ahh, so he is my competition. Landon wiped his hands together and looked down at his food.

"No, he's not, he's just….a nice guy who I used to care about."

"Sounds like you still care about him."

Lara Jean felt warm all over and popped a chip in her mouth before saying, "I would be lying if I said I didn't," She surprised herself with how honest she was being but something about being around Landon made her feel comfortable. " But it's like how you care about an old friend you know? So you see them after you haven't seen them in a long time and then you kinda remember how you felt but it's different." Landon nodded.

"So if you don't mind me asking, why did you guys break up? You know, because it seems like you used to really care about the guy and now you're going through all this trouble just to lie to him he must've done something pretty shitty."

She took a swig of her water, "He cheated."

"Wow."

"I uh, caught him in the act. We never spoke again until he came into the shop."

"Damn. I'm sorry."

Lara Jean waved her hand and said "No, don't be it's been forever. I'm over it," she ignored the voice in her head. Landon couldn't make her be that honest. "I just felt stupid seeing him after all this time and thought that it would look like I've been waiting for him all this time."

"Have you? I mean you're amazing. I was sure you already were dating someone when I first met you."

Lara Jean blushes pushing a strand of hair behind her ear and then playing with the edge of the paper from her sandwich. "I haven't been waiting on him. I've dated here and there. I just haven't found the right person I guess."

Landon stares at her intently before smiling, "Well I hope you find them soon.. hey maybe you already have," he said shrugging nonchalantly.

Lara Jean just laughed and bit into her sandwich before changing the subject to something that would make her blush less. "So if you're still up for it. This would only be a one-time thing. You don't have to walk around pretending to be my boyfriend."

"I don't know, the only thing that would bother me a tiny bit is the fact that it's pretend," so much for not blushing any harder. He cleared his throat sensing that he was coming on strong, "

Ok so how long have we been together?"

"'Mm. I was thinking 7 months."

"My lucky number. I'm assuming we met at work?" she nodded. "First date?"

"Do you think we need to be that detailed?" Lara Jean asked surprised by how into this he was getting.

"I mean, what if he asks us at different times? We gotta be ready," Lara Jean couldn't disagree with that logic.

"Hmm I don't know..."

"Bike ride and picnic through Central Park?" Landon offered. "You made me a batch of your famous chocolate chip cookies and I was sprung!"

"You've thought about this," Lara Jean leaned in and Landon just shrugged.

"A bit. Do you prefer babe or baby?" He cocked his head to one side.

"Um...surprise me," She laughed nervously.

They spent the next 20 minutes quizzing each other on all things relating to their relationship. Their favorite spot to eat, Lonnie's Pizza, their song, Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran they even made up a fake first fight. They made sure to get to know each other on a personal level too. "I wanna make sure I know my girl unless he tries to trip me up. Now, what's your favorite color?" Landon asserted. As the end of their lunch break neared, the conversation switched tones.

He nodded, "Ok. So you know me, I know you. What are the boundaries then?"

"Boundaries?"

"Things I shouldn't say or do around this guy or while we're pretending."

Lara Jean mentally kicked herself for how naive she was being. It's not like you haven't been down this road before. She thought.

"Right um..."

"..Can I...hold your hand?" He said almost shyly and she nodded. "Put an arm around you?" she nodded again.

"All seems within reason."

"What about tucking your hair back?" as he said it, he leaned forward and pushed the strand that had fallen loose again.

She swallowed hard, "That would be fine..if necessary."

He smiled softly, "Kiss?"

"Huh?" she whispered distracted by his lips now.

"Can I kiss you?"

"Right now?"

He chuckled before leaning back into his seat leaving Lara Jean feeling flustered, "I meant when we're around this guy," Lara Jean wondered if he was intentionally choosing not to use his name.

"Oh ah, I mean sure a little peck here and there can't hurt right?" She regained a little of her composure.

"Just a peck?"

"Yeah or a few...pecks."

"Got it. A few pecks are within the boundaries," he smiled at her and Lara Jean could not stop staring at how cute he looked when his face formed into a smile that seemed just for her.

"We should probably head back to work." He nodded and they gathered their trash.

"So I'll come by around 8 on Friday. Don't eat all the cookies without me."

"I'll make a special batch just for you," she tapped his chest lightly when she said it. There was a moment of silence as they stood in front of their office.

He bit his lip before leaning down to place a light kiss to her lips. He pulled back and smiled "just getting into character."

Lara Jean knew was in trouble with this one.

—-

Thank you again for reading! Next time Landon and Peter will finally meet.

As always let me know your thoughts!

Peace,

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