Landon & Shay: Part Two (L&S Duet #2)(53)

The doorbell rang as her words settled into my mind. She began limping out of her room with her shoulders rounded forward and her eyes staring at the wooden panels. She always walked with her eyes glued to the floor as if she was too afraid to look up.

I followed behind her, trying to control my heartbeats that were currently losing their mind inside my chest.

As Karla opened the front door, she crashed her body into Landon’s who pulled her into the tightest embrace. He bent down to hold the young girl against him and whispered something into her ear that made her laugh again.

That laugh.

What a beautiful sound.

As she pulled away from him, he combed her hair behind her ears so he could see her face. The way he looked at her as if he only saw perfection as opposed to her scars made every piece of resentment I held for him momentarily melt away.

Then, he spoke the words that sent my soul into a tailspin.

“How’s your heart, Karla?” he said, his voice low and controlled with such tenderness and care.

She shrugged her left shoulder before letting it heavily drop down. “Still beating.”

Tears welled up in my eyes as the familiar saying left his lips. I blinked away the emotion the best I could before swallowing hard and clearing my throat.

The two looked over to me, and the shock that rocketed through Landon’s eyes from seeing me made me feel as if I was invading a very private moment. Then, his eyes softened as if he was pleased to see me there.

I stuffed my hands into my jeans pockets and awkwardly swayed back and forth.

“Oh, Uncle Landon, this is Shay! She’s Eleanor’s cousin, and is teaching me how to be a writer.”

“You’re already a writer.” I smiled to the girl who hadn’t lost her grin since Landon arrived.

“But I want to be great like you,” she commented. She turned back to Landon. “She’s an amazing screenwriter, Uncle Landon! You should be in one of her movies. She’s the best.”

“I believe it,” he said, his stare still on me. He blinked a few times and parted his lips as if he had something more to say, but then he turned to Karla. “Maybe you should go get your coat and shoes so we can head out for the day.”

“Okay,” Karla agreed, starting back off toward her bedroom. “Shay, maybe we can make up for the stuff we missed today and meet twice next week? If you have time. I don’t want to take up too much of your time.”

“My time is yours.” I smiled. “I love our time together, Karla. You let me know when you’re free, and I’ll make it fit into my schedule.”

She thanked me again before heading off to get ready for her date with Landon.

I stood frozen in the foyer as Landon stuffed his hands into his pockets.

“Hey,” he whispered.

“Hello,” I replied, trying to keep myself cool and calm. Cool as a cucumber.

Luckily, I wasn’t drunk off whiskey with this interaction.

He stepped toward me and raked one of his hands through his messy hair. His hair, along with his appearance wasn’t as perfect as it was at the whiskey party. He looked like your everyday person—a really attractive everyday person—but still. He looked more like Landon Harrison and less like his actor persona.

“I was hoping to talk to you again at the whiskey party, but everything kind of went crazy toward the end.”

“I know.” I nodded. “I saw the magazines about the events that took place after you and I had our…situation.”

He grimaced. “That was all smoke and mirrors.”

“And models,” I added. “One must not forget the models.”

“Listen, I’m in town for a bit longer than I thought. Maybe we can meet up for coffee.”

“I don’t like coffee.”

“You used to like coffee.”

“People change.”

“Okay. Maybe tea.”

“It gives me gas.”

He shook his head. “Tea doesn’t give people gas.”

“What are you? The tea police? Mainly what I’m saying is, I don’t want to see you, Landon. The other night was a one-time thing. A mistake of the highest proportions. We were drunk, and made a mistake, and now we’re allowed to just leave it in the past.”

“I don’t want to leave it in the past.”

“Yes, well, it isn’t like we are ever going to have a future. So, again. Let’s keep it easy, okay? If we happen to cross paths again, then we engage on a very simple level. We are adults, now, Landon. We don’t have to be the angst-filled children that we once were. I know I said some things at that party that were heavy, but I was honestly wasted. I didn’t mean any of it.”

“Really?” he asked, his brows lowered. “You meant none of it?”

“Not a word.”

“Even the part where you said you hated me?”

I snickered a little and rubbed my hand against my neck. “Of course, I don’t hate you, Landon. I reserve my hatred for people I actually know.”

A flash of despair past through his eyes as he nodded slowly. “That makes sense. Okay, well. Maybe we’ll cross paths and can exchange a few easy words.”

“Yes, of course. If we just so happen to cross paths, we’ll do exactly that.”