Page 51 of The First Time

“I heard you surprised her with a trip to Venice for a night,” he says, sounding surprised.

“Yeah, well, she kept going on and on about how much she wanted to go,” I lie as I panic.

I don’t want him to find out like this and freak out at his granddaughter’s party. Thankfully, before we can continue, Layla’s mother calls him from the kitchen.

“Excuse me,” he says to the three of us. “Your mama is calling. Can’t leave her waiting.”

Liam and Eric are looking at me, brows quirked. “You surprised my sister with a trip to Venice?” Liam asks.

“Yeah,” I reply, shrugging my shoulders like it’s no big deal. “I mean, she had mentioned she wanted to go there, and I did a little research. It wasn’t that hard to set up.”

“Did something happen between you and Layla there?” Eric asks blatantly.

“What? Why would you think that? What would’ve happened?”

“That’s not an answer, asshole,” Liam quips.

Shit. I’m sweating now, and it has nothing to do with the Georgia heat. They can’t make a scene like this. Layla will never giveus a chance if this is how it goes down. I’m about to beg and plead for them to be discrete.

“Because if you two finally pulled your heads out of your asses and realized you were crazy about each other, I’d say it’s about fucking time,” Liam follows up.

Well, that’s unexpected.

“Sooo, if something happened, you wouldn’t be mad?”

“Why would we be mad?” Eric asks with confusion.

“Umm, because it’s your little sister. And I’m not good enough for her.”

Both guys start to crack up. “Please tell me that’s not what’s been holding you back all of these years.”

I fold my arms across my chest, not sure I like this reaction either.

“It’s part of it,” I say in defense.

That just makes them laugh harder. “You’re such an idiot. I can’t believe you thought we would be mad,” Eric says. Well, at least I got him to lighten the fuck up.

“Seriously, have you met any of the tools she’s dated? Like that William douchebag. If we like you enough to keep you around, why would we be against you being with our sister?” Liam questions.

My jaw tenses at the mention of William’s name. At least they agree he’s a tool.

“Yeah, we’re not some old-school protective brothers who will stop our sister from being happy. Plus, you’re a good guy,” Eric says.

How many years did I worry about what her family would think about me? I would lay around at night, picturing her brothers punching me if they found out, telling me I was trash and not good enough for their sister.

Did I project all my insecurities onto them and then use it as the reason why I couldn’t be with the woman that I love?

I want to punch myself in the face for being so stupid.

“There she is,” Liam says to somebody behind me. “I heard this man surprised you and took you to Venice.”

I smell her perfume first. My body relaxes for the first time since I’ve gotten here. That’s the effect she has on me now.

“Oh, yeah, he did. It was really sweet. Venice was amazing, too. It’s so beautiful at night.”

I don’t want these two idiots to call us out right now and ruin it for Layla. I give them a look that I pray they understand. Eric nods slightly at me in understanding. “Come help me get some beers,” Eric cuts in, gesturing to Liam.

Liam looks confused by the request. “That doesn’t sound like a two-person job.”

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