Page 104 of Beautiful Thing

As I lie here with my cheek against his pounding chest, labels don’t even matter at this point.

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“Itold you I didn’t need to go to the emergency room,” I grumble, exiting through the hospital doors with my small entourage in tow.

“Well, Layla and I would have gone into cardiac arrest if you didn’t get checked out,” my mom says, gently squeezing my arm. “Besides, Felix and Mason agreed that you needed an x-ray.”

I shake my head, knowing there’s no use in arguing. I don’t think anyone is on my side. Except for Dad, who said I should just ice the injury and take a shot of whiskey. Nowthat’smy kind of doctor. I definitely would have preferred Dad’s plan of action over spending a few hours in an uncomfortable ER.

But Mom vetoed that decision real quick.

After I fell, my parents loaded me up in their sedan, even though I felt fine enough to drive myself to the emergency room. Karli and the girls kept Sky, so that Layla could come along with me, having one less thing to worry about.

To be frank, I’m a little embarrassed over the whole stupid ordeal. I invited a pretty girl to come watch me kick ass, but instead I ate ice. I was about to score, too, dammit. I had the puck and was flying across the rink. I was skating around Darius,but then my ankle twisted weird and I flew through the air before falling and skidding roughly on the ice.

It didn’t feel all that great, but my ego is more busted than the rest of me.

“So, nothing’s broken?” Layla confirms for the third time, as we climb into the back of my parents’ car.

“Only my pride,” I joke, flashing her a little grin. “Sprained ankle. Bruised hip. And a little road rash burn from the ice along my arm. Nothing I can’t handle. Heck, I dealt with far worse when I was in the military.”

Layla frowns, cuddling up against my side as her arms wind tightly around my middle. “Stop downplaying everything,” she hisses quietly. “You could have really hurt yourself.”

A warm emotion washes over me and it feels too good for words.

“I’m sorry that I worried you, Belle.” I press a kiss to the top of her head where it’s tucked into the curve of my neck.

I meet my mother’s eyes in the rearview mirror. Her face twinkles with delight and I get a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I’m reminded that all this is fake. It’s all pretend. It’s just a show for my family and friends. Isn’t it?

But I don’t want to believe that it is. I want to believe that Layla really cares about me. She’s not pretending. She’s genuinely concerned…Right?

Because last night was incredible. The way we connected. The way she held onto me when I was inside her. The way she said my name. Holding her and falling asleep on the couch in front of the fireplace. I want so desperately for it all to be real.

Even though we agreed that it wasn’t.

“Aren’t we going to go pick up Sky?” I ask when I realize Dad has turned onto my street already.

Layla shakes her head from where she’s curled against me. “Karli’s going to keep him overnight since it’s already so late.”

“Oh.” Then my cock perks up at the possibilities. “Oh…”A sly grin breaks out across my face, and when Layla spots it, she smacks at me. Then she gasps and apologizes, even though she only hit my uninjured arm.

My parents drop us off at my house. Mom tries to rattle off a dozen instructions as we climb out of the car, but Dad eventually manages to convince her that I’ll survive the night.

The house is quiet when we get inside. It’s strange without Sky being here. I miss the little guy already, even though I am intrigued by the idea of being alone with Layla.

She insists on helping me move down the hall and getting me into my bed. As I strip down to my boxers, I see the way her eyes trail all over my body. But then she turns away abruptly, getting me set up with water and painkillers.

She darts around the room, fussing over me. The next thing I know she’s fluffing extra pillows for me to prop up my leg.

“Thank you,” I say with a slight laugh. “Seriously. I think I’m in good shape now.”

Even though she looks like she doesn’t quite believe me, Layla eventually disappears to go take a quick shower, text Karli, and check in on Sky. I stay in my bed, lying there imagining her naked in the shower down the hall.

When she returns to my bedroom to check on me again, her long hair is dripping wet and she’s dressed in pajamas. They aren’t exactly the most revealing. But those thin pants and the tight top with no bra? It’s enough to get my imagination going.

“Are you sure there’s nothing else you need?” she asks after placing a second cup of water on my nightstand. Right next to the other one that's still full.

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