Landon & Shay - Part Two: (The L&S Duet Book 2)
Page 30
From there, she worked hard with her new agent, Maggie Estate, to reach her goals. The first time we’d watched her film in the movie theater, I cried like a fucking baby because I was so proud of her. She was the definition of perseverance. Throughout the years, Shay had been told ‘no’ dozens of times, but she never gave up on her dreams because her belief in herself was bigger than any other person’s ‘no’.
“Someday, someone will have to say ‘yes’,” she’d always say. “So, now’s not the time to quit.”
I loved that about her—her willingness to never give up on anything. Thankfully she never gave up on me. Even through our darkest days, she still kept a part of her heart open for our love.
I was never as good as she was at not drowning in self-doubts, but she taught me how to breathe through the hard times. She taught me that every second was a chance to begin again. Whenever I fell, I’d remember that I could stand up and begin again. When I fell, Shay was there reaching out toward me with her love, helping me back to my feet.
I’d wished I could’ve said I cured myself of my depression, but that wasn’t the case. I did, however, learn to honor my darkness. To not push it to the side, and to have truthful conversations with my despair. I’d allowed myself to feel what I had to feel sometimes to work through my issues. Day in and day out, I’d unpacked my boxes, and the beautiful thing about unpacking was that I was able to make room for the beautiful things coming into my world.
Three things to be exact.
Three good things.
Shannon Sofia Harrison
Ava Maria Harrison
Lance James Harrison
The three loves of my life.
When Shay and I learned that we were having twins, we were overjoyed. Ava and Lance both turned five last weekend, and they were the happiest children known to mankind. They were just like their mother—the lighthouse that led me home each night.
After the award show, Shay and I decided to skip out on Vanity Fair’s Oscars Party. There was our own celebration waiting for us back at home.
When we arrived at our Los Angeles home, a smile creeped on my face as Shay’s eyes widened with joy.
“You didn’t,” she breathed out, stunned.
“I did.”
Standing on the front porch were all of our loved ones, holding up a sign that said, “You’re our winning lady.” Everyone flew out for the big event. All of our friends and families showed up to cheer on our leading lady.
Tears formed in Shay’s eyes as our little ones held handmade Oscars in their hands.
When we stepped out of the car, they rushed to their mother and wrapped their arms around her. “Here’s your real Oscars, Mama,” Ava said, handing the crafts over to her. “The ones on TV looked really fake.”
“Yeah, Mama. You get two here, unlike on that stupid show,” Lance said, handing his over, too.
Tears rolled down her face and she kissed the cheeks of our children. “These are the best awards I’ve ever won.”
We hugged everyone who’d showed up that night and popped bottles of champagne in honor of Shay’s huge accomplishment. The night went on and on with laughter, joy, and love. As I looked around my home, I realized that everything I’d ever dreamed of had come true. It wasn’t about fame, money, or success. It was about family, love, and happiness. I had all three of those things overflowing into my life. I was the luckiest man alive—scars and all.
As the night faded to a close, everyone agreed to meet up the next day for a big brunch celebration.
Shay headed off to our room to take a shower and get ready for bed as I took on the task of putting the little ones to bed.
“Can you read another?” Lance yawned as he lay in bed.
“Yeah, Daddy, another,” Ava said, echoing Lance’s yawn. Even though they could’ve easily had their own bedrooms, the twins were convinced they wanted to share a room until they were one hundred and four. We’d see how they felt about that when the teenage years came swinging by.
I walked over to them and kissed each of their foreheads. “Not tonight. We’ve already read four books, and it’s way past your bedtime.”
They both pouted, but I wasn’t going to give in. The night before, I ended up reading them six books. Shay called me a pushover. I agreed times a million. It wasn’t a surprised that the kids loved stories so much, seeing how their mother was one of the most amazing storytellers of all time.
Almost, good enough for an Oscar.
Again, if you asked me, she was robbed.
I turned off the kids’ bedroom light and headed to my room to fall into bed with a very exhausted wife.
She was already half asleep as I crawled into bed beside her. I kissed her forehead as I pulled her body against mine. She melted into me as if her heartbeats were made to solely fit against mine.
“I’m so happy,” she whispered, brushing her lips against mine.
“Me too.” So damn happy.
She yawned and snuggled in closer. Her eyes were closed as sleepiness began to pull her in for the remainder of the night, but her lips parted as she softly asked me the most important question of my life. “How’s your heart?”
“Completely full,” I replied.
That heart of mine? That damaged, battered, and bruised heart that sat inside of my chest? It would forever and always be beating for her.
The End.
Eleanor & Grey
If you enjoyed the Landon & Shay duet, check out Eleanor & Grey’s story here:
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The Elements Series by Brittainy C. Cherry
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The Air He Breathes
The Fire Between High & Lo
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Also by Brittainy C. Cherry
Art & Soul
Our Totally, Ridiculous, Made-Up Christmas Relationship
The Space in Between
Loving Mr. Daniels
Behind the Bars
Disgrace
Acknowledgments
First and foremost, I want to thank Virginia Tesi Carey for going above and beyond to help me with the creation of this novel. She stood by me through the ups and downs, and I quite honestly couldn’t have done it without her help and support.
This book is for my family, who always has my back no matter what. They are everything good in this world, and I know I wouldn’t be able to do what I love without their support. Throughout my own anxiety, they have stood by my side and lifted my spirits. I love you all so much.
To the man I love more than words: Thank you for holding me up whenever I’m close to drowning. I love you times two.
Thank you to Hang Le for yet another amazing set of covers. I am blown away by you.
This book is for the editors and proofreaders who always show up when I need them Caitlin, Ellie, Jenny, and Virginia: you have no clue how often you save my life. Thank you.
Thank you to every reader and blogger who help me day in and day out with sharing my stories with the world. Writing Landon and Shay was such a tough thing to do, because it made me look deep into the world of depression, and it almost swallowed me whole. I wanted to give up because the book felt too heavy, too real, too much, but I believed someone out there needed these words. Even if that person was myself.
Thank you for reading. I hope your hearts are full. I hope they are still beating. And I hope you know that this world is better because you are here.
Until next time.
-BCherry
About the Author
Brittainy C.
Cherry is an Amazon #1 Bestselling Author who has always been in love with words. She graduated from Carroll University with a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts and a minor in Creative Writing. Brittainy lives in Brookfield, Wisconsin. When she’s not running a million errands and crafting stories, she’s probably playing with her adorable pets or traveling to new places.
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