Page 30 of Second Draft

“Did you want something?” Layla’s gaze is narrowed on me, her arms crossed over her chest.

Yeah, for you to trust me, sweetheart. But the way she’s looking at me now, like I’m her enemy, I know that’s not going to happen anytime soon.

“I know it’s none of my business, but have you told them?” I nod at the novel in her hands, the one that holds the old photograph of her family.

“My parents?” She chuckles darkly, but I can see the pain she’s trying to hide behind her anger. “No.”

Something protective billows in my chest, rising up in the middle of it, and I have to clamp my mouth shut on my next question, because I can see she doesn’t want to talk about them.

Her eyes dart around the room, and I get the feeling that she’d do about anything to avoid the conversation.

I want to wrap her in my arms, tell her everything will be okay. Instead, I change the subject. “The new washing machine should be here tomorrow. And I also fixed the leak in the shower.”

There’s a small break in her armor, before it goes back up again.

“Thank you. It’ll make it easier once…” She glances away and shifts nervously.

“Once the baby comes,” I add, allowing her to put voice to the thing Travis wanted her to hide.

“Yeah.”

“You can talk about it with me.Nottalking about it isn’t going to make it go away.”

“I know that.” She frowns at me. “It’s just awkward with you.”

I take a step towards her and her eyes widen slightly.

“It doesn’t have to be.” Another step closer, and I see her swallow hard, her gaze dropping to my mouth.

“Everything about this”–she gestures around the room with her free hand, the other one still clutching the damn book against her chest like a shield–“is awkward.”

“Because I kissed you?” I’m standing in front of her now, so close I can practically feel the warmth of her body radiating off her.

She sucks a breath. “Twice.”

“Yeah, twice. And I wanted to do it a hell of a lot more times.” I reach out and stroke my knuckles across her cheek. “I still do.”

“Carter–”

I brush the pad of my thumb across her lips, silencing her protest. “I know you’re not ready.”

“I tried calling,” she says softly, a slight tremble in her voice. “But the number you gave me…”

“I’d just switched numbers. When I realized my mistake, I tried to track you down, but you were already gone.”

“Oh.” Her frown deepens.

“But I didn’t stop thinking about you. Hoping one day we’d meet again.”

She laughs humorlessly. “I’m sure you never thought it’d be under these circumstances.”

“No.” I match her frown and cup her cheek, the gesture far more intimate than I’d intended, but I can’t seem to pull away. “But I’ll work with what I’ve got.”

She licks her lips, and I see a small flare of hope in her eyes, but just as quickly it’s gone, replaced by uncertainty and fear.

“I can’t do this.”

I lean down and press my lips on her forehead, feeling her shiver.

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