Page 89 of Beautiful Thing

Truth be told, I like it that way. I like this newfound spontaneity. The excitement. Living with Layla is exciting in ways I hadn’t expected when I invited her into my home. It’s clear now that insisting that she temporarily move in with me is the best damn decision I’ve ever made.

It’s having someone in the kitchen every morning when I get in from chopping wood.

Hearing the splash of water and the chime of toddler giggles traveling down the hallway at bath time.

Fluffy, pink sweaters crumpled up at the bottom of the laundry basket.

Sneaky footsteps creaking outside my library in the middle of the night.

Two extra pairs of shoes kicked off next to my boots on the front mat.

Mango-scented shampoo lingering in the hallway.

Loud, high-pitched cartoons blasting from the living room.

I could go on and on and on.

God. All of it. I love all of it.

But things gotwayout of hand last night. Layla and I took things further than either of us had ever bargained for. Now, she’s drawn a line in the sand with me and there’s nothing I can do about it.

“I’m just surprised you guys are actually hooking up,” Mason comments as he pulls his college sweatshirt over his T-shirt.

Darius frowns. “Why are you surprised? The two of them are obviously crazy about each other.”

Mason just shrugs. “Well, Karli said the whole relationship thing was fake. But I’m not buying it.”

Nolan nods. “Yeah, well, it’ssupposedto be fake. But we all knew that shit didn’t stand a chance.”

“I know, right?” Felix shoots me a knowing look. “As if he’d be able to resist Layla, living under his roof.”

Darius throws up a palm, his head swinging from left to right to make eye contact with all the guys in turn. “Wait, wait, wait. What’s going on?”

“Archer and Layla are fake-dating,” Nolan explains impatiently. “Keep up, D.”

“They’re faking it?” Darius spits out, his eyeballs bulging. “They looked damn convincing at the hockey game.”

Everyone just sort of half-nods, half-shrugs.

“That kiss at the hockey game flipped the script for sure.” Mason chuckles. “Karli was skipping around the house all night, rambling about how Layla’s going to be her sister-in-law soon.” He gives me a pointed look. “And we all know—what Karli wants, Karli gets. So prepare yourself.”

Darius won’t let the issue go. His eyes come to me, squinting with betrayal. “You were faking your relationship this whole time? And you toldthem?”—he points to the rest of the guys—“And you didn’t tellme? I thought we were the closest…” He flings his wet towel at me. I duck just in time and it ends up hitting Mason in the face.

“What the fuck?!” He shrieks like a little girl. Serves him right for gossiping about me with Karli.

Felix chuckles at it all. “Sorry Archer betrayed you, D. Looks like you’re gonna have to find someone else to paint your nails and braid your hair with.”

Nolan throws an arm around Darius’s shoulder, giving him a squeeze. “I’m available on Mondays or Tuesdays. The rest of the week is a bit tricky.”

Darius shoves our idiot brother aside and heads back to the bench to finish putting on his shoes. He mutters to himself. “Gonna get Ziggy to put a hex on all of you fuckers.”

I rein in the conversation. “Look—Layla and I are just trying to keep this sham going until the wedding.” I motion toward Felix with my chin. “So you guys had better not let Mom or Grandma find out. After that, we’ll go back to…”

“You’ll go back towhat?” Mason asks, a concerned crinkle on his brow.

The rest of the guys share the same look. And I don’t have an answer to Mason’s question. I have no fucking clue what life will look like beyond Layla’s departure.

Nolan folds his arms across his chest, wagging his head in judgment. “I told you, bro, there’s no going back to normal when this is over. It’s heartbreak or it’s happily-ever-after. One or the other. You’ve got to step up and be a man if you want to have a say in how this ends.”

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