Landon & Shay: Part Two (L&S Duet #2)(17)

“Worse than the last?” Landon asked, his brow knitted. “What do you mean worse than the last?”

April crossed her arms. “He had a mini heart attack a few months back. I was going to tell you, but he made sure to tell me not to, saying it was his business and he didn’t want you to know. This time was different. I was so scared when it happened that—”

“You were there when it happened?” Landon cut in.

April’s eyes widened with shock. I took a quicker look at her appearance and noticed that the hem of her garment peeking out beneath her peacoat looked like satin—satin with a trim of lace.

April caught my stare and tugged on the bottom of her coat. “I, um, I was.”

Landon didn’t hesitate with his next question. “Are you screwing him?”

April shook her head. “That’s none of your business, Landon, and it’s highly inappropriate for you to be asking.”

“Spare me the scolding, April. You’re like six years older than I am, and I don’t need a lecture about what’s appropriate from a woman who’s screwing her boss.”

She parted her lips to argue but then paused when she realized she couldn’t lie about the situation.

“Mrs. Harrison, sorry to interrupt, but your husband is awake if you’d like to see him. He’s in room 2033,” a nurse said, walking over to the three of us and throwing another curveball into the situation.

Landon’s face paled as the words left the nurse’s mouth.

“Thank you,” April muttered, her tone brusque.

“What the hell does that mean?” Landon barked. “Why did she call you Mrs. Harrison?”

“I think we all know what marriage is, Landon.” She stood taller, but nowhere near tall enough to meet Landon eye to eye. “Your father and I love each other. We have for a while, and after the divorce was finalized, we were finally able to act on it.”

“Why do I think that’s bullshit, and you didn’t wait to act on it at all?” he murmured. “Screw it. I’m not here to talk about whatever the hell circus you and my father are living. I’m here to make sure he’s all right. So, if you will excuse me, I’m going to see my father.”

He took my hand into his and pulled me away from April and her revelations.

We headed to his father’s room, and when we reached the door, I paused my steps. “I’ll wait here.”

“You can come in,” he offered.

“I think this is something you should do on your own with your father.”

“Please, Shay,” he said softly, voice low. “I need you in there with me.”

I couldn’t say no to that request. If he needed me to, I’d follow him to the end of the world.

“Okay.” I nodded, squeezing his hand in mine. “I’m here.”





5





Landon





Dad was lying in the hospital bed, looking drained as ever. I supposed looking as if you’d gone to hell and came back battered and bruised was common after having a heart attack.

Shay came into the room with me and stood back in the corner, not wanting to get too involved with my interaction with my father. At least she was there, though. Knowing she was in the same room as me made it that much easier to breathe.

“Hey, Dad.” I grimaced as I approached his bedside.

He looked over to me and huffed before turning to face the window. There were machines beeping around him, wires running all around. Oxygen tubes sat in his nose, and each breath he took seemed to exhaust him.

“What are you doing here?” He exhaled as if the effort of those words was enough to shave three years off his life.

“I wanted to make sure you were okay. April messaged me and—”

“I told her not to.” He frowned deeply.

“I’m happy she did.”

Grumbling sounds came from him as he moved around slightly in the bed. “Who’s the girl?”

I glanced at a nervous-looking Shay in the corner. “She’s my girlfriend.” It was a term we’d never used before, girlfriend or boyfriend, but I figured it was a given that Shay was mine, and I was hers. We’d just never really needed labels to express that fact.

Dad eyed Shay up and down and shook his head. “You think you’re good enough to keep a girl happy?”

Fuck you, Dad.

I cleared my throat and stuffed my hands into my pockets, not wanting to be a dick toward the dick who’d had just had a heart attack.

“He is,” Shay shouted, her voice loud and stern. “He’s more than enough.”

“Wait until he crumples,” he muttered, shutting his eyes. “You can always count on that son of mine to crumple and leave you with his mess.”

Shay stepped forward to give Dad a few choice words, but I held up a hand to stop her. It didn’t matter what he thought anyway. He was just an old man with a cold heart. He’d never understood me, and he never would.

Still, I hadn’t had a choice about showing up to check on him. Call it stupidity, but even if I didn’t love my father, I still cared to know that he was all right.

“If you’re not here to tell me you’re back in school and coming to the firm, then leave,” he told me. “I don’t want pity from the most pitiful.”