Page 114 of Landon & Shay: Part Two

I still wasn’t certain. I’d spent the past months pushing myself into Shay’s life. The least I could do was give her the space she wanted.

“For the love of all good things, can you stop overthinking everything for five minutes and just take a leap?” Camila barked out, tossing her hands in the air. “I know I wasn’t your biggest fan when you were younger, Landon, but I was wrong for holding so much against you. I overlooked your love for my daughter because of my past hurts, and I fear I’ve made her heart hard based on how I spoke about love around her. She’s afraid of love, Landon. She doesn’t know how to let it back in after being hurt so many times, but if there is one person who can find a way to break through to her, it’s you. Your love and your words can heal my daughter’s broken heart. It might take some time, but I already know that you’re willing to put in the work. So, do it.”

I sighed, feeling a small wave of hope rush into me as the people who loved both Shay and I sat around the table, pushing for our love story to finally get our happily ever after.

“Do you know what Shay told me once?” Karla asked. “She said, if you’re ever given the chance to choose between being afraid or being brave, be brave. So, this is your chance, Uncle Landon. This is your chance to be brave. It’s what Shay would’ve wanted you to do.”

Be brave.

“Yes,” Maria agreed. “Sé valiente. Sé fuerte. Sé amable. Y quédate.”

I raised an eyebrow at her. “You’ll have to dumb that one down for me, Maria.”

Camila laughed, and took my hand into hers. “Be brave. Be strong. Be kind. And stay. Now’s the time to fight for your love, Landon. So, go ahead. Be brave.”

“Okay.” I nodded. “So, where do we begin?”

Raine smiled wide and clasped her hands together. “Okay. So, the plan starts with you kind of, sort of being an asshole to Shay on Christmas. Like you were in the good ol’ days. Before you two ever made a silly bet.”

Well, then.

I didn’t see that coming.

“We need you to shake her up a little. Push her in a way she doesn’t see coming,” Raine explained. “Shay is working hard to keep you at a distance, and if you came to her with nice words, she’d push them away without thought. So, you have to get under her skin. If you treat her as if you’re a jerk, she’ll be so confused that she’ll have to react. Her blood will begin to boil, and she’ll be forced to interact with you. There’s no way she won’t stand up for herself if you treat her like a monster, and then that’s when you sweep in with part two of this plan.”

“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, Ineedyou 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 spentthe 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?

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