Page 23 of Small Town Secrets

He worked hard not to make his return smile look too idiotic and then set about turning for the kitchen where the stack of dishes left from dinner waited for him. Meanwhile, Whitney’s chatter sailed over from what sounded like an echoey bathroom, her words distorted, like perhaps she was brushing her teeth.

Things got quiet after that, and with the dishes done, he picked up Whitney’s toys distributed across multiple spots in the living area and dropped everything back into a large, fabric-covered box already containing other toys.

The soft click of a door preceded Laila’s re-entry into the room. Her silence and lack of steps once she entered caused him to turn and face her.

Her mouth hung slightly open, and her stare flicked from some random point in the room to meet his. “You tidied?”

Not wanting to make a big deal of his efforts, he dropped another toy into the box and shrugged. “If you’re almost done with your assignment, I’ll stick around a while so we can chat afterward.”

“I have maybe another hour or so to go.” Her brows lowered and a small frown pulled her lips into a straight line. “Are you sure you want to stay?”

“I’ve seen you through this long, might as well see how this all ends.”

She laughed and headed to her laptop. “Hopefully, not in tears.”

He strolled over to the couch. “Well, then, please tell me you’ve been hitting SAVE occasionally.”

She laughed again, louder this time. “This isn’t my first rodeo, kid.”

She took a seat, her smile lingering on him a moment longer before she focused on her work again. Meanwhile, he settled on her couch and pulled out his phone, accepting a break from his own work to read the rest of the science-fiction novel he’d started yesterday.

A comfortable and calming quiet took over with the two of them centered on their own tasks, with the knowledge that Whitney slept peacefully down the hall. The hour passed quickly, before Laila’s excited voice cut through the quiet. “I’m about to hit SEND. Are you ready?”

Her attention snapped from the computer, over to him, her eyes sparkling an exuberant blue. Her mood rubbed off on him and he sat a little taller, offering her a resolute nod. “Go for it.”

At that, she raised a hand high in the air and made a slow show of descending a pointed finger upon her laptop’s trackpad, before a soft clicking sound hinted she’d sent her assignment.

She took her hand back and slumped back in her chair with a deep sigh. “Want some tea?” Her gaze rejoined his, a little more serious now. “I’m so worked up, I need tea.”

He rose to his feet and strode closer, following her to the kitchen, holding back from offering to make the tea because his help outside of emergencies seemed to only add extra weight to her discomfort. “Tea sounds good.”

“Thanks for staying.” She clicked her kettle on and turned to him, her back leaned into the counter and her arms crossed. “I’m sure you had better things to do with your evening.”

“No.” He stood just across from her and shook his head, that one word seeming to hold about all the explanation needed—which was none at all.

Laila’s smile dropped and her gaze fell still on him, her shoulders drawing up and in, the firm line of her lips soon crumpling into a decidedly wobblier shape and motion.

“I’m sorry.” A tear rolled down her cheek and she quickly used the heel of her hand to swipe it away. “This is so embarrassing.”

Her focus fell, as if she couldn’t bear to look his way anymore, her next words sounding choked and tinny. “I’m so used to dealing with this stuff alone and then there you were tonight, and I hate—” She thrust out a hand in his direction but seemed unable to finish her sentence.

Though a part of him said to give her space, he nevertheless sprung forward and took her hand, tugging her into his arms. “And I said it was fine.”

“I know. I know you did.” She choked on more sobs and her shoulders shook beneath his hands, thicker tears pouring heavy over the light dusting of freckles on her cheekbones, her sudden shift from excitement over getting her work done, to this… This uncontrolled outpouring. With the sense that all she’d held on to broke loose now the worst was over, and she had room to process.

“We went on one date and I don’t want you to have to deal with the mess that is my everyday life.” She leaned back a little and finally lifted her gaze to him. “You shouldn’t have to deal with this. All of this. You’re probably only looking for fun times and flirty chats, and here I am, already lumping you with babysitting and chores. Everything about this situation is pathetic.”

Though her gaze veered away again, he raised his voice a little, vying for her full attention. “Hey. Look at me.”

He waited until she did just that. “There’s nothing pathetic about you trying to make things better for yourself and Whitney. And if you really think what I walked into tonight was a ‘mess,’ you need to stop a second and think about who you’re talking to.”

“You mean, because you’re Dean’s old war buddy?” Her eyes narrowed on him, especially as he shrugged. “You’re really comparing my house to a war zone?”

He stayed silent, but yeah, that was what he meant.

“Oh, Jesus.” Her shoulders shook with laughter beneath his hands, even as new tears rolled down her cheek. “Now I really do feel pathetic.”

But the new light in her eyes contradicted that claim, and she dipped her head forward and rested her forehead to his chest, relaxing a little.

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