Landon & Shay: Part Two (L&S Duet #2)(93)

“She’s right,” Camila agreed. “Be rude to her.”

I cocked an eyebrow. “Wait. So, you want me to be a jerk to your daughter?”

“Not only do I want you to do it, I need you to do it. Go ahead, Landon—use those acting skills. Treat my daughter like shit.”

“Can I say shit, too, Dad?” Karla asked Greyson.

“No, you cannot say shit,” Greyson replied.

I smiled a little and clasped my hands together. “Okay, so what’s part two of this plan?”

“Ohh.” Raine swooned, clapping her hands together. “You’re going to love this part, guaranteed.”





38





Shay





I’d spent the past few months focusing on the teaching job I’d landed. Each day that passed, I tried my best not to think about Landon. I’d tried not to recall how much I’d missed him, but I couldn’t stop him from crossing my mind.

He showed up each day unwelcomed in my thoughts, and like the foolish woman I was, I let the thoughts linger.

I missed him so much that I still cried every-so-often over him being gone.

I thought I’d be able to turn off my feelings for him like I had when I was younger, but it wasn’t that easy this time around.

I was having the hardest time truly letting him go. Maybe because falling for him as an adult felt different. It felt easier in a way. Right up until the point I saw a flash of concern and pushed him away.

I was doing just fine until I began receiving the oddest text messages from Landon before the holiday.

Landon: I’m daydreaming about you sitting on my face. Thinking of me, too?

What?

What in the hell was that?

Did he accidentally text the wrong girl?

That made my stomach flip in the worst possible way.

I ignored it.

The next day, another message came through from Landon.

Landon: DTF?

Landon: I’ve been dreaming about swimming between your thighs.

A few more days passed.

Landon: Shay, if we can’t be in love, we might as well be fuck acquaintances again. No strings attached—unless you want me to tie you up.

Clearly, Landon had lost his freaking mind.

I did my best to ignore his messages, but every time one came through, I wanted to throw my phone across the room.

When Christmas morning came around, I tried my best to put my best foot forward. I knew I’d be crossing paths with Landon, and I definitely wasn’t looking forward to it after his crazy messages.

I pulled myself up that morning and headed over to Eleanor’s and Greyson’s for brunch.

It was so odd to say that—Eleanor’s and Greyson’s, as if they were one unit. Eleanor moved in with him and his two girls not that long ago.

Within the past few months, Greyson and Eleanor had finally made their love story official, and I was invited to their place Christmas morning to celebrate the holiday with them. I showed up early to help Eleanor cook and clean for the brunch she was preparing.

Everything was fine and dandy up until I heard the front door open, and Greyson’s youngest daughter, Lorelai, who was about seven years old, squealed in delight. “Uncle Landon!”

I glanced over my shoulder toward the living room where Landon had just entered the space with gifts galore in his hands. Every single part of me froze as I looked on to him standing only a room distance apart from me.

Part of me wanted to crash into him and fall back together.

I wanted to wrap him into my embrace, and pretend our breakup never even happened.

Instead, I stood still.

“Happy Holidays!” He juggled the gifts in one hand, and hugged Lorelai with the other. She was an adorable little girl, bubbly and full of life. If you ever wanted to hear the most epic stories ever, you had Lorelai tell them to you—she’d never skip a detail. I swore a story about a simple trip to the supermarket could last for over an hour, and the way Lorelai told it, there were probably aliens and unicorns dancing down aisle nine next to the peanut butter and jams. Greyson had a household of creative minds on his hands.

I scrubbed a dish as I studied Landon’s interaction with his niece-by-love-not-genetics.

Lorelai quickly began digging at the pockets of Landon’s slacks, looking for something quite intently.

Landon laughed, and the sound sent chills up and down my spine. He looked so good, and healthy, too. Almost as if he wasn’t as heartbroken as I’d been. Maybe he wasn’t. Perhaps I felt more for him than he’d felt for me. I wanted to be petty and hate on his happiness, but truthfully, all I ever wanted was for that man to find himself a happily ever after.

“Okay, okay, okay, let me put these down,” he insisted, moving toward the Christmas tree as he set down the stack of gifts in his hands. He stood back up straight, reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of candy to hand to his niece.

A banana Laffy Taffy.

I tried to ignore the storm of butterflies that attacked my stomach as I witnessed the exchange.

He was carrying candy around in his pockets. He carried Laffy Taffys in his pockets—banana Laffy Taffys. Still a complete and utter favorite of mine. Memories came rushing back at me as I thought about when we were in high school, and he filled my locker with all the banana flavored candy along with peonies. The memory sent a wave of warmth through me. It was one of my favorite memories of us. I considered that the beginning stage of the Landon and Shay story. Back then, I had no clue where it was going to take us. I never imagined we’d end up the way that we had.