Page 126 of Landon & Shay: Part One

“Stay here and let me know if Monica makes it out okay? I know her parents probably won’t stick around too long if they have other places to be. But if you could just let me know? Keep me posted.”

“But what about you?”

“Don’t worry about me, Chick.” He smirked a little. “I’m always okay.”

Liar.

“Landon—”

“Please, Shay.Please.”

The way his mouth pleaded for my help was nothing compared to the way his eyes begged me to stay.

“She won’t want me here,” I warned.

“Trust me, I’ve been as low as Monica before. You’ll want anyone there over the idea of being alone. You don’t have to, though. If you don’t want.”

“I will for you. I’ll do anything for you.”

He smiled, and I thought it was a real one.

I moved in without permission and wrapped my arms around Landon’s body. I held on tighter than ever, needing him to feel me. To feel close. To feel wanted.

“I love you,” I whispered against his neck as he pulled me in closer. I loved how we fit together. As if we were two puzzle pieces who finally found their way home.

“I love you,” he replied, his voice so low and drawn out.

He let me go and thanked me for watching after Monica. As he walked away, I wanted to follow after him, but I knew I couldn’t. I made him a promise, and I knew I couldn’t let him down.

As I walked back toward the waiting room, I thought back to Mima’s words from a few weeks ago.

Sé valiente, sé fuerte, sé amable, y quédate.

Be brave, be strong, be kind, and stay.

I did exactly that.

* * *

Monica’s parentsleft the moment they learned she was okay. They went back to their lives, leaving their daughter still in her hospital bed with no one around her.

When the nurses weren’t looking, I went ahead and snuck into her room, knocking lightly on the door.

“Come in,” she grumbled.

The moment I rounded the curtain, I felt the biggest knot in my stomach. She looked awful. Broken down in ways unknown to most people. She was pale, heavy bags sat under her eyes, and she looked as if her body had been drained of every ounce of energy she stored.

She sat up a little and combed her hair behind her ear, looking a bit embarrassed. “What are you doing here?” she asked, dodging clear eye contact with me.

“I came with Landon to make sure you were okay. Your parents sent him away the moment they saw him, and he asked me to stay to make sure you were okay.”

She snickered but then began coughing. “Why would he do that? It’s clear that he doesn’t give a damn about me.”

“I think we both know that’s not true, Monica. Just because Landon isn’t in love with you, doesn’t mean he doesn’t have love for you.”

She huffed and rolled her eyes. “This must make you happy, huh? Seeing me like this.”

I frowned. Did she really think that? That her pain was my glory?

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