Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 45361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
I wait, and she says, “This is all getting so messy. We’re already sneaking around behind…”
She trails off when the floor creaks upstairs, then lowers her voice. It’s a reminder of how necessary it is to sneak around constantly.
“Maybe Graham will tell me more.”
“I don’t like the idea of you going back there,” I say.
She pulls her hand away, narrowing her eyes. “Why not? It’s my job—a path to my dream.”
“I know, but you told me your dad was involved with junkies and crime. Now Graham—a man who’s already shown he’s a complete douche—seems to have known your dad. I don’t like the connection. What if he’s dangerous?”
Passion flares into her eyes, which draws my mind to the future when she’ll aim that protective fire at anybody who dares to hurt our children.
“This is my choice,” she says. “He won’t hurt me at a busy restaurant. He’s a successful man with a reputation to uphold. Sure, he’s an ass, but that doesn’t mean he’s violent.”
I grind my teeth, feeling awkward, kneeling next to the chair, but it fits with me kneeling in front of her. It reminds me of last night, pressing my face between her legs. There’s also affection as I think about kneeling in an entirely different context with a ring in my hand.
“Anyway, I’m not quitting.”
I smirk. “You’re too stubborn for your own good.”
“Not that stubborn if last night is any indication.”
I take a moment to realize what she’s talking about.
The sex. The near sex.
“That wasn’t your fault. I shouldn’t have rushed you, and you’re changing the subject.”
“Maybe I am, but I’ve made my decision. I will not let that man force me from my job, and about last night…”
She bites her lip, then releases it. That small moment alone is enough to have me thinking of kissing her and doing more, even with Elena upstairs—all when I know Noah could come home any second.
“Yes?” I ask.
“There’s a reason I couldn’t… you know.”
“Sure. Elena and Noah—”
“No, not them. Not just them.”
My suspicion flares again, thoughts of what she could be implying. If I’m right, it’s the best and worst thing. It also means she is mine, only mine forever. My obsession will never stop. My hunger will never wane, but was it ever going to?
“Tell me,” I say.
She closes her eyes, takes a breath, then looks at me, and, of course, that’s when Noah’s car pulls into the driveway.
“A life of interruptions, eh?” I tease, standing and walking to the couch.
“I wish we could talk properly,” she whispers.
“We can. Let me meet you after work tomorrow and take you on a date somewhere we don’t have to look over our shoulders all the time. You can tell me whatever you want to say.”
She swallows, then nods quickly when we hear Noah’s car door open. I should be experiencing way more guilt than I am. I’ve always looked out for and protected my little brother, and here I am doing the exact opposite. That’s just a testament to how much Layla means to me.
“Okay,” she says, “and the other thing with Graham… Yes, please do that.”
The front door opens, cutting off any further real conversation. Noah pokes his head into the living room with a big grin on his face. He has no idea. What would he say if we told him? Now the guilt comes slamming into me.
“Howdy, folks,” he says. “Where’s Elena?”
“Upstairs,” Layla mutters. “We had a fight.”
Noah walks into the room and sits next to me. The urge to apologize suddenly rises in me, so forcefully it’s almost on my lips.
“About what?”
Layla explains about Graham and her dad, and Noah sighs, rubbing his hands together.
“You know something,” Layla says.
Noah sighs. “It’s not my place to say. I’m really sorry, Layla. I want to be a good stepdad, but you can’t ask me to betray Elena. You can’t.”
“I won’t,” Layla says quickly, wincing at the word stepdad.
I winced, too, when he said it, only it was more like somebody was stabbing me in the chest with the word.
“Your mom loves you,” Noah goes on. “We both do. I know we’re not a normal family.”
He pauses, giving me and Layla a chance to exchange a glance. We’re both aware that this family is anything but normal.
“But we do our best, don’t we? Give your mom a break.”
Layla nods, agreeing enthusiastically. I know why. I feel why. The guilt that springs up suddenly convinces us both we’re the lowest of the low, hardly better than dirt, for what we’re doing. Yet we can’t stop. Or won’t.
“I’m going to speak to her,” Noah says, “but you know Elena. My bet is she won’t want to talk about this.”
“That’s not fair, bro.” I lean forward. “You know it’s not.”
Noah nods. “As I said, it’s not my place.”
“Fair,” Layla mutters once he’s left the room. “That word doesn’t have as much meaning as it once did.”