Landon & Shay: Part Two (L&S Duet #2)(90)

I wanted to celebrate the news with Landon, but he was off in New York City doing promo with the devil herself, Sarah, for their upcoming film. Raine and Hank invited me over for some morning cocktails—and I think secretly so I could hold Jameson and allow them to get a break.

I hadn’t minded at all—Jameson was a little saint.

The television was turned on to Good Morning America, and we all excitedly sat planted around the screen, waiting to watch Landon’s interview.

When he appeared on the screen, my heart began racing faster just from the sight of him. I was beating myself up for missing so many of his appearances throughout the years. Now, I couldn’t imagine missing one of his interviews.

He looked so handsome sitting on the stage and right around his neck was my heart necklace. I’d finally began wearing my heart necklace again, too. It felt about time to bring it out from collecting dusk.

“Yes, filming this movie has been a thrill for me,” Landon expressed. “Working with Sarah was a dream come true,” he exclaimed, and I laughed at the comment. He made me well aware of the bullshit lies he had to say on camera thanks to the production company.

I could see how he turned up his acting persona when he was on camera. He stood a little taller, and smiled wider, but those eyes? They were still his, and I could see the real Landon whenever I looked into them.

“Yes,” Sarah agreed, placing her hand against his knee.

“That bitch,” Raine blurted out.

I couldn’t agree more.

Landon patted her hand playfully and removed it from his leg and went on with the conversation as if Sarah wasn’t a factor at all.

That’s my boy.

“So, it seems you two enjoy working together,” the interviewer asked. “This is the second time you’ve worked together after all, right?”

“Yes—” Landon started to answer, but Sarah cut him off.

“It’s been beyond amazing, and I’m excited to share with you that we are going to be working together on another film this year called, Easton. It’s a beautiful film, written by Shay Gable, about two lovers who’d went through the biggest of storms with one another,” Sarah said, making my mouth drop open.

She went on and on about the screenplay, spoiling the whole plot without a care in the world. The whole plot to my script.

What in the world? How did she know about my story? She’d spoiled the whole thing with a smile on her face on national television, and I saw the shock that sat in Landon’s eyes.

“What just happened? It looks like Landon’s about to have a panic attack. He normally has a better poker face,” Raine remarked. She turned to see me and raised an eyebrow after seeing my expression. “Seriously. What’s going on?”

“That’s my story,” I choked out.

“Wait, what? That’s your plot?” Hank asked, stunned.

“Yes. I’ve been working on that for the longest time. It was the story my agent has been shopping around. It’s my best piece yet. And Sarah fucking Sims just spoiled it to the world.”

“Holy fucking shit,” Raine breathed out. “What a bitch!”

I couldn’t breathe. I handed Jameson over to his mother, because I couldn’t freaking breathe.

The only way Sarah could’ve known anything about my script was if Landon told her, and I couldn’t figure out why he’d do that. Why would he take something so important to me and ruin it? That script was my baby, my star, and he handed it over to another woman. A woman who fired me.

I left Raine’s house and hurried home. I tore my place apart, searching for my words. Searching for my manuscript that should’ve been sitting in the stack with the others. But it was gone.

He took it away from me without my permission, and every single part of my heart that was beginning to open up once more for Landon and his love shut instantly.





“I can explain,” Landon said as he stood at my apartment door a day later. I hadn’t even known why I opened the door for him. I figured he’d find his way to me after the interview took place, but I couldn’t for the life of me imagine what kind of excuse he was going to try to feed me.

My eyes were swollen from spending the previous night crying into my pillow. I knew there was no way he could come back from what he’d done, from the way he’d betrayed me and my words. Still, I wanted to see what he was going to say.

“Go ahead. Try.”

He stuffed his hands into his pockets and rounded his shoulders forward. “Sarah must’ve stolen the script from my trailer while I was doing a scene. It was the only way she could’ve gotten it. After I told her to piss off the other day, she must’ve felt as if she needed to get revenge on me or something. So, she took something from me in order to hurt you.”

“I knew that already,” I said.

He looked up to me with hope in his eyes. “You did?”

“Yes. After working with Sarah for a while, I learned what kind of person she was. I’m not surprised by that at all. What I am surprised at is the fact that you had my script in the first place.”

His mouth parted to speak, but no words came out.

I nodded. “Exactly. You betrayed me.”

“No, Shay. It’s not like that. I wanted to try to help you after you got fired, but—”