But what was he running from?
Every now and then, we’d lock eyes, and I’d feel as if he had that same look as the boy I once loved.
Sad, beautiful eyes.
Was he still sad?
Weeks passed with our arrangement. Landon would find himself in the neighborhood much more than he should’ve, but I didn’t argue it. If he was going to fly into town for a random fling, then I was all about it.
Each kiss felt like comfort, each orgasm rocked my world, and each day I kept reminding myself that it was strictly physical. I wouldn’t become attached to him again like I used to be.
It was purely sex.
It was really great, mind-blowing, make-you-curl-your-toes kind of sex. But still, just sex.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Even if that small corner of my naive heart wanted it to be something more.
* * *
As those weeks passed by, my job search continued. I tried my best not to get disappointed, but to be honest, I was starting to feel disheartened. A person could only be told no so many times before it started affecting their spirits. I couldn’t spend the rest of my life working in a coffee shop. I just couldn’t.
Luckily, after yet another rejection, Landon was in town, and he showed up uninvited to my apartment. To my surprise, I let him stay. I needed to get my mind off my disappointing life situation.
“Bad timing?” he questioned, looking down at me wrapped in a towel. I’d just hopped out of the shower, and the last thing I was expecting was him standing in front of me.
“Would a little notification hurt you?” I yipped. “What do you want?”
“To hang out.” He smiled. “Can I come in?”
I wanted to say no, but more so, I craved a yes. It bothered me slightly how much I liked when he was around. I wished that feeling would’ve gone away.
“Give me a few minutes. I’m gonna get dressed,” I told him, stepping to the side of the door so he could walk in. Unfortunately, Landon wasn’t one to respect someone’s personal space. When I came out of the bathroom, I found him holding my manuscript in his hand.
“What are you doing?” I exclaimed, snatching the paper from his grip. “That’s private.”
“That’s fucking amazing,” he breathed out. “I knew youwere good when we were younger, but Shay, those words are masterpieces.”
I felt my cheeks begin to heat up from his comment, and I tried my best to push my emotions to the side. He had no clue that I’d found those words when I rediscovered him. He’d been my muse this whole time, and he hadn’t even known it.
“They’re OK,” I replied.
He laughed. “I think you’re being humble. You need to get your work made into movies.”
“Easier said than done. Not everyone magically has a career fall into their lap.”
“If you give me a chance, I can get your script in the right hands.”
I shook my head. “That’s OK. Strictly sex, remember? No personal favors.”
“But—”
“Landon,” I scolded. “We stick to the rules of engagement.”
“OK, but if you ever change your mind, the offer stands.” He continued to rummage through the scripts on my desk. “It’s just ironic.”
“What’s ironic?”