Page 11 of Loving Leila
Can’t blame her. I fucked up and hurt her. Badly. Now I’ve realized I was stupid to walk away, I have to figure out how to get her back. I want – no —needher back in my life. I just have no idea how the hell I’m going to convince her to give me a second chance.
Ace pulls me out of my morbid thoughts, striding into the room with a big-ass stuffed donkey and a bunch of flowers.
“Hey, dude. How’s it going with Sleeping Beauty here? The guys are all waiting down the hall for an update.”
“You guys been here all night?”
“Well yeah. Didn’t think we were going to bail, did ya? Gotta know if our girl’s going to be okay first.”
His words hit like a blow to the gut. I guess I’m not the only one who missed her, but ever loyal, they respected my wishes and stayed away too. I ease my arm out from under Leila and swing my legs over the edge of the bed.
Stalking over to the window, I scrub my hands tiredly over my face. Give me a mission, and I can plan it down to the finest detail, but when it comes to relationships, I can fuck it up with the best of them.
Right, pity party over. Time to pull my shit together and win my girl back.
“Hey, pretty lady,” I hear Ace say behind me and turn to find Leila awake and staring at me.
She gifts Ace with a smile. “Hey, Kevin.”
“The guys and me got ya something.” He lifts the giant donkey and grins. “We tried to find a bigger one, but they didn’t have any.”
Leila’s laughter fills the room, and she reaches out to take the stuffed animal from Ace.
“He’s gorgeous, thank you. Besides, any bigger and there wouldn’t be any space left in the bed for me.”
I watch enviously as the two of them slip effortlessly back into the easy relationship they always had. Ace has a massive soft spot for Leila, but I know he’d never make a move. It’s not like that. Still, in that moment, I can’t help but feel the bite of the green-eyed monster. It sucks, but I’m jealous of my friend.
The doctor saves me from making an ass of myself. He kicks us out to examine Leila, but we don’t go any farther than the hallway outside her door.
“You hanging in there, brother?”
“Yeah. She’s alive, and that’s what counts, right?”
“Yep. So how you planning on getting our girl back?” He laughs, a deep belly laugh as I stare at him in shock, speechless. “I’m neither blind nor stupid, dude. So? What’s the plan?”
Sighing, I shake my head. “I haven’t got a clue, man. Not the first fucking clue.”
He claps me on the back, grinning that shit-eating grin of his, and says, “Then I guess it’s just as well you’ve got us to help you out, yeah?”
With a laugh, I shake my head at him. “Yeah.”
I’m not sure if I should be thankful or plain scared at the idea.
Chapter 10
Leila
The urge to cry is strong as I look around my apartment. I hadn’t thought I’d get to see it again as the hijacker swung his weapon at me. I’d been convinced he’d kill me. All I can do is stand in the middle of my living room and soak it in.
“Where do you want this, little one?”
I turn to find Guy, better known as Kansas to his teammates, looking ridiculous with the stuffed donkey they bought me. George, or Cougar, is standing just behind him with the huge vase of flowers.
My apartment had always felt spacious and airy, two of the things that had drawn me to it. But packed with seven hulking Navy SEALs, the living room feels like it’s bursting at the seams. Almost like old times. Although I’m trying my best not to think too much about one in particular.
“The flowers can go over there, on the coffee table, and Donkey can go on the chair for now. I’ll take him through to my bedroom later.”
Before Guy can place the toy on the chair I point to, Kyle takes it from him, and with the plastic bag of meagre belongings, he strides off down the hall. Before I can say a word in protest, Ace sidles up to me and hauls me into his arms for a hug.
