Page 129 of Beautiful Thing

I’m a sucker.

My heart aches with want. I want nothing more than to make Layla my own wife.We’d be so damn good together. I can feel it in my bones.

I’m tossing my latest beer bottle into the trash when Layla approaches.“Has anybody asked you to dance tonight, big boy?” she asks, her eyes glittering under the twinkling lights.

I gaze back, mesmerized. “I think the prettiest girl in the room just did.”

She blushes as I take her hand. We stroll over to the dance floor together, and it reminds me of the night of my birthday party. This time, I don’t hesitate to wrap her in my arms and sway to the music with her.

Even though I’ve had her in my arms a dozen times over the past few weeks, this still feels like the first time. My skin buzzes alive in every spot her body touches mine. I get this weird feeling in my gut, and my chest gets tighter.

Did someone turn up those space heaters? It’s the dead of winter out here, but I’m burning from the inside out.

Despite whateverisn’thappening between us, Layla would be crazy to deny that there’s red hot chemistry here.

We’re in the middle of a song when my mother comes up and taps me on the shoulder. She’s got Sky all curled up in her arms and Stella clinging to her leg.

“I’m going to go put him to sleep in Stella’s toddler bed upstairs. The poor little guy’s all tuckered out.”

“Oh, thank you, Mrs. Brighton,” Layla says, smiling. She places a kiss on the top of her son’s head.

Mom looks between Layla and me, her eyes beaming. “Carry on, lovebirds.” Then she disappears with the kids, grinning to herself.

I return my attention to the beautiful girl in my arms. Another song. Another dance. Another round of drinks.

When Layla doesn’t run off after the first few songs, I start to loosen up. She loosens up, too.

“This dress…” I exhale. “It looks fucking gorgeous on you.” My hands slip over her lower back, loving the feel of her body through the silky smooth fabric.

Layla shyly drops her stare to my chest, shaking her head. “You’re just saying that. But…thank you.”

“Am not. Every man here has had their eyes on you tonight.”

She scoffs and glances around. “Nice try. The only men looking at me right now are old enough to be my grandpa.”

“Because they’ve been around long enough to recognize real beauty,” I say with a wink.

Giggling, she smacks me on the shoulder. “You’re ridiculous…” Her eyes soften. “But thank you for the compliment.”

The night goes on, and the longer we dance, the more touchy-feely we get.Daring to lean closer, I bury my nose in her hair and fill my lungs with her mango-scented shampoo. Instead of pulling away, she presses her body closer to mine.

I don’t know how I’m supposed to get over her, over us, overthis.I’m grieving in real time.

“I already miss you so much,” I hear myself murmur. I know it’s a stupid thing to say when she’s right here in my arms but it’s the truth.

“I miss you, too,” Layla responds. “And I’m going to miss you even more when…”When things are over between us. Officially.

We haven’t been intimate ever since she told me she’s moving out early. And not because I haven’t wanted her. I always want Layla. But with her on her way out of my life faster than expected, I guess it sort of made our expiration date more obvious. It’s made things tense.

Though, the way her hands are rubbing my shoulder blades and stroking the back of my neck right now, it’s like we haven’t missed a beat.

She looks up into my eyes, like she’s searching for something.

“What is it, Belle?”

On a heavy exhale, she speaks to me. “I want to thank you. For the past two years, I put aside a huge part of myself. I focused all my energy on being a mom. My only objective was survival. But you…you reminded me that I exist in this world.”

“God, Layla. Don’t talk like that. You’re breaking my fucking heart.” I brush her bangs from her eyes before cradling her cheek. “Of course you exist. You’re important. You’re worthy. How could you ever forget that?”

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