Page 54 of Landon & Shay: Part One

“So I can annoy him the way he annoys me.”

“Wait, don’t you want him to fall in love with you to win the bet?”

“Yes.”

“And you want to do that by torturing him?”

“Uh-huh.”

Raine raised an eyebrow and shook her head. “I don’t think you understand how love works.”

Maybe she was right. Maybe I didn’t know how love worked, but I did know Landon had entered my world, my space, and was making himself far too comfortable in it. The theater was supposed to be my safe haven, and he was currently leaving his fingerprints all over it with that annoyingly handsome grin of his, so screw love.

I wanted to annoy him the same way he annoyed me.

“Please, Raine?” I asked.

She released a weighted sigh and groaned. “Fine. He’s terrified of reptiles.”

“Reptiles?”

“Yes, reptiles. All kinds. Snakes, lizards, turtles—oh! And bugs! He hates bugs. Once I saw him physically run into a building trying to get away from a fly. Like,bam! Straight into a brick wall. And don’t even get me started on spiders.”

I smirked.

This was perfect.

“Thanks,” I said, patting her on the back. “You’ve done your country good.”

“From here on out, I’m moving to Switzerland. Oh, and just for future warning, if your grandmother asks you for help buying a vibrator from a 1-800 number, don’t do it. It makes holiday dinner conversation very uncomfortable.”

Duly noted.

“Also, what’s the deal with you and Tracey? Are you guys fighting?” Raine asked.

“Not that I know of…but I’m guessing she’s mad I mentioned how Reggie doesn’t seem like a good guy.”

“Well, I’m glad someone did. He’s a total jerk. Have you noticed whenever he’s with Tracey, he’s checking out other girls behind her back? He’s a total creep.”

“Yeah, but Tracey is head over heels for the guy.”

Raine puffed out a breath. “More like shit over ankles. What a messy situation. If Hank ever treated me the way Reggie has been treating Tracey, I’d cut off his balls and make French onion soup.”

I laughed. “Why French onion?”

“Because balls smell like onions, and Hank is seventy percent French. If I’m going to castrate my boyfriend, I’m going to at least respect his heritage.”

I laughed at my crazy friend and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “You’re such a good girlfriend.”

She smirked. “I know, right? The lucky bastard doesn’t deserve me.”

No one does, Raine.

“So, since you and Tracey are in a rut, how about an old-school sleepover at my house sooner than later? We can do facials and gossip, and I can be Dr. Phil and help you two fix the dramatic state of your friendship.”

I narrowed my eyes. “I thought you were out of the business of meddling in other people’s stuff?”

“What can I say?” She shrugged her shoulders and gave me an angelic grin. “Old habits die hard.”

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