Page 14 of Beautiful Thing

Archer nods with a sense of finality. Then he hops up, and picks my bags up off the floor. “Fine. It’s agreed. Let’s go get you set up and unpacked.”

I rise from the couch on wobbly feet, letting him lead the way down the hall.

6

ARCHER

After getting Layla settled in my spare bedroom, I give her the day off and leave for work.

She tried to argue. She begged to come in to the hardware store and just pretend it was a normal day. I think she was feeling the need to work for the small raise I just gave her, so she doesn’t feel indebted to anyone.

But I wouldn’t budge.

I could see how exhausted she was. She and Sky both need the rest today.

And I need to put a little space between us.

Because the protectiveness I’m feeling right now is too fierce. It’s too strong.

I’m afraid I might do something stupid if I don’t get a moment to myself. I’ve already been making some pretty rash decisions in the past couple hours. Who knows what I would have done if we’d had to work together all day? Or worse, if I had decided to stay home and spend the day alone with Layla?

I’m so worked up over this whole situation. I tell myself it’s just because I want to help her out. I want to keep her safe.

But man, it’s getting harder and harder to draw a firm line there.

I take my time, driving to the hardware store. The whole way, I’m trying to figure out how the hell I fell in love with a woman eleven freaking years younger than me.

Eleven!

I’m not even sure when it happened. It took me completely by surprise.

Layla and I go way back. We’ve been neighbors for years, but our history goes back even further than that.

Growing up, she was best friends with my little sister. When Karli was eighteen and leaving for college, I had just been released from the military. I moved back home and took up a logging job, working alongside Jimmy and some of the other guys here in town. Meanwhile, Layla was staying in Starlight Falls instead of going off to college like her friends, and she had just started dating Razor.

My sister was worried about her, because obviously, even back then, the dude was straight trash. Before Karli left town,she made me promise that I’d keep an eye out for her best friend. So I did.

For years, I kept my promise without overstepping any boundaries.

But over time, I started slipping.

I found myself falling in love with my sister’s best friend. While she was in love with another man.

Fast forward to a few years later and my frustration turned into a complete nightmare. Not only were they still together and shacked up, but Layla also got pregnant by the bastard.

For a minute, they seemed like a happy little family, and I did my best to keep my distance. To observe and protect from afar.

But as soon as Layla gave birth to the baby, Razor started treating her like shit. It’s like once she had his kid, he justassumed she was his, so he could treat her however he pleased. It was complete bullshit.

They’d break up. They’d get back together. Repeat. And repeat again.

One night, after a rather public fight and subsequent breakup, I stopped by Layla’s house to check on her. I was worried after seeing her flee the restaurant parking lot where she and jackass had just broken up after she caught him sending inappropriate texts to that Janet girl.

Layla was a chaotic mess when I found her crying in her living room. I thought maybe she’d had it for good. That she’d stay away from Razor for real this time.To be honest, I was fucking relieved.

But when Layla leaned into me all teary-eyed and tried to kiss me, I didn’t know what to think.

There was no way she was in the right frame of mind to know what she was doing. It took every ounce of self-control I could muster to turn my head away.

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