Page 152 of Eleanor & Grey
It had been almost a year since Greyson and I decided to let our love story grow, and it was a beautiful story to partake in. Our words intermixed as if they were made for one another.
On Monday nights we ate spaghetti, on Tuesdays we watchedMister Rogers’ Neighborhood, and then we formed new traditions for our future.
Life became easier. Even though my father went back to Florida, he checked in more often. We talked more, and when he said he would visit, he actually came. He was putting forth the effort, and I was more than thankful for that.
When months passed and he showed up for Christmas, I was amazed.
“Can we open gifts?!” Lorelai shouted, darting into the living room on Christmas Day.
Claire, Shay, and I had just finished preparing brunch together while the guys all sat in front of the television, watching sports. Landon even stopped by for Christmas brunch, stating that he was simply in the neighborhood again. I knew how much it meant to Greyson for his best friend to be there, and if there was anything Landon was excellent at, it was showing up. He always showed up whenever Greyson needed him.
Even though he wasn’t great for my cousin, he was the best kind of best friend.
“After we eat and make our wish ornaments,” Claire toldLorelai, who groaned about not being able to rip open her presents yet.
Shay walked past me in the kitchen after peeking her head into the living room to look at the guys for the fifteen hundredth time. Or mainly to look at Landon.
“You know what I hate most in this world?” she asked me.
“What’s that?”
“Landon Harrison. I mean, can you believe that? When I showed up today, he had the nerve to say ‘Merry Christmas’ to me. Can you believe that asshole?”
I snickered. “How rude.”
“Exactly! It’s like he’s trying to play some crazy mind games.” She huffed as her cheeks reddened. She was so flustered around him. It was actually pretty cute.
“Or maybe he simply meant Merry Christmas,” I offered.
She lowered her eyebrows, going deep into thought. “Yeah, maybe. Maybe that’s it. OK, yeah. It was just a Merry Christmas. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Just then Landon popped his head into the kitchen and gave a big smirk. “Need any help in here, ladies?” he asked.
“You cook?” Shay asked sassily with her hands against her hips.
“Yeah, sometimes.”
“Why do I find that so hard to believe?” she mocked.
“I don’t know, but if you give me a few minutes, I’m sure I can bring some nice sausage into your life.” He winked her way, making me chuckle.
Shay groaned. “You’re disgusting.”
“I’m just saying, it will probably be the best meat you’ve had in a while. And if memory serves me right, which it does, you kind of already told me how much you loved my sausage.”
“Shut up, Landon,” Shay hissed, turning redder than ever. “You’re so cocky.”
He smirked, pleased with how he was getting under her skin. “I know, right?”
“Oh, piss off, Landon,” she breathed out, hitting him with a dish rag, making him hurry away.
She stayed flustered as she combed her hair behind her ears. “What a dick,” she muttered. “I can’t wait until he goes back to California.”
“I can’t wait for season one, episode one of the Landon and Shay show,” I joked. “I love a solid second-chance romance storyline.”
She pointed a stern finger at me. “That will never in the history of ever happen.Never.”
A part of me knew she was lying, though. Shay and Landon had this intense game of cat and mouse they played together, and for some reason I felt as if the story between the two of them was just beginning.
