Page 22 of The Secrets We Keep

Holy shit! What the fuck kind of bomb did my sister just drop at my feet? My mouth drops open as Landon cringes and closes his eyes. What in the hell is happening? What is she talking about?

“Wait… what did you just say Sarah?” I’m shaking my head slowly, trying to process her words.

This can’t be happening.

“Mr. Miller was hired to find you. Please don’t be upset that I hired a private investigator.”

Sarah looks nervous as I look from her back to Landon whose green eyes are staring back. His eyes are silently pleading with me. Suddenly it hits me, we’ve been dating, sleeping together and all! He’s been researching and investigating me!

“Oh my God! Fuck!”

Sarah jumps but Landon never takes his eyes off me. Those beautiful green eyes have deceived me. He used me so he could report to her. My fury grows as I process all of this.

“Evie” Landon says cautiously. The tic in his jaw doesn’t go unnoticed.

“No! Don’t you Evie me!” I jab a finger at his chest and he flinches.

All the times I’ve spent with Landon rush through my mind. The way his hands have touched me. The way his lips taste. I gave myself to him. Suddenly, I’m overcome with emotion.

“I think I’m going to be sick.” I say grabbing my mouth. I turn and start walking away as fast as I can. I have to get out of here.

“Eleanor, wait!” My sister calls. I hear footsteps but don’t look back.

“Evie!” Landon half yells as he grabs my hands to stop me. I turn and yank them free. Who does he think he is touching me? That right there causes the shock to turn to anger.

“No, don’t you dare touch me!” I shout. Surely, I’m making a scene now. I don’t even care. My blood is boiling and all I see is red.

“Fuck! Give me a damn minute.”

Landon runs a hand through his dark hair. My hands have been through his hair. This is why he has been avoiding me. He did his job and was now done with me. I feel the first tear fall, my emotions are starting to get the best of me. Landon reaches out for me again, but I step back.

“No Landon, you used me.” I barely get the words out before a sob escapes me.

“Evie that’s not what…”

“What? Evie, who’s Evie?”

He’s cut off by Sarah. She must have come up behind him at some point because she’s here now and she just heard what I said. Confusion is evident on her face, of course he left out that part. He most likely didn’t tell her that he was sleeping with me either. Something snaps in me right then.

“Let me fill you in Sarah. Landon and I had been dating or so I thought. Sex and all.”

The words feel bitter on my tongue. I glance at him and it pains me. It takes strength to continue explaining to Sarah just what is going on.

“He suddenly stopped talking to me. Now I know why. He used me to get information for you.” I barely get the last bit out because I’m now full on crying. Damn him. How could I have been so stupid to get close to him?

“Evie No! That’s not what we, I was doing. I didn’t use you!” Landon interrupts loudly. I can’t even look at him. I feel so betrayed by him.

“Oh my gosh Eleanor!” Sarah sounds appalled.

“Evie… you have to believe me, I didn’t use you.”

Landon is hard to look at, so I shake my head and look at Sarah.

“I’m going home. If you would like to come by, that’s fine.”

She pulls me in for a hug and for some reason it’s comforting. I feel some anger deflate but I really need to get away from Landon. I just can’t be around him any longer.

“I’ll grab lunch to go and will meet you back there. I’ll grab chocolate too.” She winks and kisses my forehead. God how I have missed her. She turns her attention to Landon. I notice her demeanor change.

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