Page 48 of The Life Experiment
Layla’s cheeks flamed. ‘I do not!’
‘Say that to Dad’s eyebags. The poor man looks more exhausted than ever.’
‘Maybe Dad should think about working less if he’s tired.’
A bellow of a laugh burst from Maya. ‘That’s rich, coming from you,’ she replied, throwing her arm over Layla’s shoulders before she could be offended. ‘I’m happy for you, Layls. We all need a bit of romance every now and then.’
‘Maya, stop! We’re just friends.’ Layla squirmed in her sister’s embrace, but Maya held tighter.
‘I’m telling you I’m happy for you! Take the well wishes like a normal person!’
‘You’re so happy you’re putting me in a headlock?’ Layla said, wriggling free then biting her lip. ‘Thanks, though. I guess I am happy. The happiest I’ve been in a while, at least.’
That truth struck Layla somewhere deep inside. Despite everything, even the aching sadness that clawed at her whenever she thought of her short life, in the bubble of her parents’ house, Layla was happy. She was happier still, now that Angus was on the other end of the phone. Waking up to him asking how she slept and ending her day with him wishing her sweet dreams were the greatest bookends to a day.
‘I’m glad,’ Maya said. ‘You had us worried, you know. When you rocked up out of the blue, Mum thought you’d had a breakdown.’
Both sisters paused as the words hung in the air.
‘Have you?’ Maya asked.
‘Have I what?’
‘Had a breakdown?’
Layla laughed, even though there was nothing funny about the question. Had she had a breakdown? On the one hand, it certainly felt like it. She’d cried for days after learning of her death date, and now she was sleeping in a room barely big enough for a four-year-old. The career she prided herself on was hanging in the balance and she’d left a full fridge in London, the contents of which would surely be rotten by now if Rhi hadn’t sorted it. That list screamed ‘breakdown’.
But on the other hand…
On the other hand, Layla now knew how magical it felt to hold Jayden’s hand while they snuggled on the sofa. She was eating home-cooked meals for the first time in forever. Her dad doted on her with tea and hugs and, thanks to Angus, Layla was daydreaming for the first time since being a teenager.
‘I don’t think so,’ Layla replied eventually. ‘A breakdown sounds like a bad thing. This feels positive.’
‘Staying in your nephew’s bedroom and borrowing my clothes is positive, is it?’
‘No, but gaining a fresh perspective on life is.’
‘Does this mean you’re going back to work soon?’
Layla met Maya’s gaze. ‘Is that what you want? Am I in the way here?’
‘Relax, no one’s saying that. Mum would have you home forever if she could, you know that. I’m just asking. No one goes from Miss Corporate to Miss Sweatpants overnight.’
‘What if that’s what I want to do?’
‘Well, you can’t.’
Layla blinked at Maya’s bluntness until her sister nudged her.
‘Come on, Layls. You know as well as I do that you have to go back at some point. If not for yourself, for the colleagues you’ve left high and dry.’
Anxiety churned in Layla’s stomach at the thought of the work she had abandoned. Mayweather & Halliwell, the big, suited elephant in the room.
‘Layls, whatever you’re running from, you have to face it at some point,’ Maya said.
The statement made Layla pull away. ‘Who says I’m running from anything?’
‘Why else are you here, crawling on the floor like a dinosaur?’
