Landon & Shay: Part Two (L&S Duet #2)(97)

After the seventh dress, and Raine had found herself a nice champagne buzz, I’d returned to the original dress that I’d instantly fell in love with.

Sometimes in life, the first option was always the best one.

That went for the dress, and for the man I would be marrying in a few months.

Over the past two years, Landon and I put in the work to make our love story grow. We’d learned more about each other’s highs and lows. Even though I didn’t personally suffer from depression like Landon, I did have days, weeks, and months where I’d feel completely off. I’d go through waves of self-doubt and whenever those days came, Landon stood by my side. It took a long time to build up my trust in our relationship. I suffered from so many old beliefs that polluted my mind, and fear sometimes leaked into my heart making me believe that things were too good to true. That someday, Landon would realize that he was better off without me. That I wasn’t enough.

On those days, weeks, and months, Landon moved in closer to me. His love became a weapon toward my self-doubts, and he slayed them by reminding me of our truths. That our love was strong. That our love was real. That no matter the storms, the sun would always shine on our story.

When he asked me to marry him, it was the easiest yes of my life.

“I think this is it.” I turned to my mother with tears in my eyes. “This is the dress I want to marry Landon in.”

Her eyes beamed. “It’s perfect. Simply perfect.”

Over the past years, I’d never seen my mother happier. David did as he promised and went above and beyond to show the amount of love he had for Mom. They’d been happily married for over a year now, and never in my life did I know love could be so whole.

It turned out not all men were evil—some wanted nothing but happiness for the loves of their lives. That was one of the best truths I’d ever learned.

Mima popped her head into the fitting room and her eyes swelled up with tears as she looked my way. “My gosh, that’s it, isn’t it? I knew it the first time I saw you in it.”

“Yes. This is the one.” I nodded as I ran my fingers against the beautiful cream fabric. It was a princess gown, covered in lace and crystals throughout the dress.

Mima walked toward me with a large envelope in her hands and held it out to me. “I was instructed to give this to you once you’ve made your final choice. Come on, Camila. Let’s give her some time alone with the package.”

The two left the fitting room, and I ripped the package open.

Inside was a notebook with a few pieces of candy in the bottom of the package.

Banana Laffy Taffys.

My lips curved into a grin as I opened the notebook and began reading the words against the page.

Chick,



Today is the day the woman of my dreams has found the dress of hers dreams. You’ve discovered the dress you’ll wear when you walk down the aisle to give me my happily ever after. I never believed in love stories before you entered my life. I didn’t believe in romance or happy endings, or anything with an ounce of life.

You changed all of that for me. You brought me into a new realm of beliefs. You’ve made me a believer in true love, and I cannot thank you enough for that.

I wanted to share a few words with you about how you’ve changed my life for the better, how without you, there is no home.

You’re the definition of strength and love. Not only love for others, but for yourself. It’s been an honor to watch how you’ve grown into the strong woman that you are today. You fight for your happiness in all aspects of your life, and you inspire me to be better. You push me to chase my dreams without concerns of the opinions of others. You calm the storm inside my head. When I am in the depths of a warzone, you still my mind.

You are my soulmate, my heartbeats, my fairy tale love, and I cannot say enough how much you’ve shaped me into a better person.

When you walk down the aisle toward me in that beautiful gown, know that I am promising you my forever. I am promising you my ups and downs. I am promising you I’ll put in the work to make you happy. To make myself happy. To make us happy.

There was a point in my life where I never thought I’d make it to my thirties. I’d lived with a cloud of darkness hovering over me that I thought would never clear, then you came into my life and shone your life on me. You brought me to a place where I’d learned to make peace with my demons, not by enabling me, but by pushing me to want more for myself. To give myself the best chance at life.

You’ve saved me.

Day in and day out, you save my life.

I love you times two. From now until forever. I cannot wait for you to be my wife.

Here’s to our story. Our struggles, our light.

Thank you for the beautiful words you’ve given me throughout the years.

I am the man I am today, because of your love.



-Satan



P.S. You look so beautiful today. Don’t worry, I’m not around the corner sneaking a peek. I just know that no matter what’s on your body, you always glow. I hope you can feel my love today from a distance. I’m sending it in waves.





My lips curved up into the biggest smile as my heart pounded against my chest. Once upon a time, I fell in love with a boy. A beautiful, broken boy who had his own world of struggles. He fought his demons. He went to battle each day and came back stronger than before, and he was mine.