Page 46 of Landon & Shay: Part Two

My heartbeats came to a crashing halt as I stared into the eyes of the first and only man I’d ever loved. Landon sat on the steps of my apartment building, soaked from head to toe, sending my mind into a tailspin of emotions.

What is he doing here? Why is he here? How does he even know where here is?

Every inch of me began to shake—not from the harsh rainfall, but from the fact of his presence. My lips parted and no words fell from my tongue.

Why did I feel sick? Why did I want to run? Why couldn’t I stop my heart from losing its mind? After all the years that had passed, after all the work I’d done to break free of that man existing in my mind, he still somehow controlled my heartbeats.

What’s happening right now?

He stood to his feet and stuffed his hands into his obviously tailored pants, which were sticking to his thighs like stockings.

His lips parted and his voice shook as only two words fell from between his lips. “Hey, Chick.”

Hey, Chick.

That was me—at least the me I used to be whenever he was near. I was his Chick, he was my Satan, and we used to be so hopelessly in love with one another. Just like that, I was sent back in time. I was seventeen again and completely confused about every facet of my life. I’d remembered the first time we kissed. I’d remembered the first time we’d made love. I’d remembered the way our bodies entwined. I’d remembered it all, and it came rushing back to me, knocking the air from my lungs.

I spoke the only word I could muster as I wiped the raindrops from my face. “No.”

* * *

No.

No, no, no, no.

That was the only word I’d managed to say to Landon as he sat there on the outside steps of the entryway to my apartment.

My heart sat in my chest after the very short-lived interaction. My mind was still spinning from the idea that he’d been sitting on those steps in the pouring rain. How long had he sat there waiting before I had arrived, and why did I feel like my sweet, sweet friend Raine had something to do with him learning where I lived?

Shay:You are officially on my shit list.

Raine:I was waiting for this text message to come through, but you can’t blame it on me. I’m hormonal and eight months pregnant. When Landon asked about you, I couldn’t control my tongue.

Not shocking. Raine had never been able to control her tongue. Ever since we were kids, she’d been sticking her nose in other people’s business. One of her most used phrases was, “I don’t want to get involved, but—”

I knew her and her husband, Hank, had kept in touch with Landon throughout the years. It wasn’t an unknown secret that he kept just about all of his friendships except me. But, Raine hardly ever brought him up because she knew how hard it was for me to hear about Landon.

I supposed she didn’t think it would be a big deal to, oh I don’t know, give him my address so he could stalk me a little bit on a rainy Sunday.

Raine:Forgive me, please.

Raine:If it makes it any better, you should know that I peed myself in line at Target today after I bent over to pick up a Snickers bar. That’s right. I pissed myself in the checkout line of Target, and then I broke down into tears, causing even more of a scene. Have pity on your awful friend.

I smiled at the text message. Oddly enough that did make me feel a little better.

Raine:Let me make it up to you—Brunch this Sunday, on me. Endless mimosas for you, and I’ll just have to sit and watch you drink my favorite drink in the world. I’ll allow you to get shitfaced as I try not to wet myself in another public place.

Shay:Deal.

I hurried into my bedroom and began running a bath, one I was planning on staying in until the water ran cold and my fingers turned into prunes.

My phone dinged once more.

Raine:But he looked good, right? I thought he looked so good. Healthy. Happy. Sexy as all get out.

Shay:I’m deleting your number until Sunday, and I fully expect you to name your child after me after this incident.

Raine:But I’m having a boy.

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