Page 36 of August and the Night

There's a pause on the other end of the line, and I hold my breath, waiting for his answer. I know how complicated things are, how his loyalty is divided.

After a few moments, he speaks, his voice firm. "I promise I will."

Relief washes over me, and I let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, John. You have no idea how much this means to me."

"But promise me in return that this won't put you in danger," he says, his concern evident.

I nod, even though he couldn't see me. "I promise."

He sighs audibly, and I could almost picture his expression, god I have missed him. "Fine. What do you need me to do?"

"I need you to meet me tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock," I say.

"Tell August you want to take me to the university as a guise."

There's a pause, and I could practically hear his internal struggle. Finally, he relents. "Okay, I'll do it. But you owe me." He says jokingly, but joke or not, there is nothing that I wouldn’t do for him.

I chuckle softly. "I know, I know. You're a lifesaver, John."

His voice takes on a playful tone. "You're going to be the death of me, Layla."

My laughter bubbles out of me. "I'll make it up to you, I promise."

"Alright, take care of yourself," he says sincerely.

"Thanks again, John. Really," I say.

"Just be careful, Layla," he reminds me.

My voice softens, and a hint of vulnerability creeps in as I hurriedly tell him what I'm feeling before he could hang up. "John, I need you to know something… You've been the only parental figure I've had in my life, and I appreciate you more than words can say."

There's a heavy pause on the other end for a while before his voice comes out as a sigh, like he's trying to keep his emotions in check. "Layla, you have no idea how much that means to me."

Tears prick at my eyes again as I continue, "I've always looked up to you and felt safe with you. You've been better of a father to me than my biological one."

His voice wavers slightly as he replies, "Layla, you're not just some assignment or responsibility to me. I care about you deeply. You're like a daughter to me."

A lump forms in my throat, and I have to swallow hard to steady my voice. "I love you, John. I want you to know that."

There's a long pause, and I can tell that he's struggling to keep his composure. "I love you too, Layla. More than you know."

"Thank you." I say, taking a deep breath to calm myself.

"Take care, Layla," he says softly, his voice full of genuine concern.

With a trembling smile, I whisper, "You too, John."

30

Layla

I wake up in a daze, my surroundings unfamiliar for a moment. Slowly, the realization dawns on me that I'm not in the guest bedroom where I fell asleep. Instead, I find myself nestled in August's arms, his warmth enveloping me.

Confusion clouds my mind as I try to piece together how I ended up here. The notion that he carried me here to sleep next to me warms my chest and sends a blush to my face.

Carefully extricating myself from his arms, I tiptoe to the bathroom to freshen up. I glance back at him as I leave the room, noticing that he hasn't stirred. It's unusual; usually, his reflexes are sharp, and he wakes the second I move away from his arms.

After washing up, I head to the kitchen with a small smile tugging at my lips. He must have been really exhausted to be sleeping this deeply. I decide to take the opportunity to prepare breakfast for us.

---