Ever After Awaits (Layla) novel Chapter 48

Chapter 48: Layla POV

I knew throwing Xavier in the pool could evolve into a disaster, but the prospect of getting one up on him was just too great a temptation.

The look on his face as he fell backward was priceless. I don’t regret my impulsive decision one iota.

When his head crests above the water, the rest of us burst out in raucous laughter, making us forget how the morning started.

Xavier whips his head side to side like a wet puppy to get the water out of his eyes, causing his ivory locks to flop around his face. When he finally comes to a halt, it settles around his features in disarray, giving him a boyish appeal.

When his eyes lock onto mine as he looks up from inside the pool, a sly glint creeps in before he says, “Oh Princess, you shouldn’t have done that.”

His gaze suddenly shifts to over my shoulder, and if I weren’t watching him in fascination, I would have missed his imperceptive nod. Before I can fathom what’s happening, Cade has his arms locked around my body from behind, pinning my arms to my sides. He lifts me somewhat so my toes are barely touching the ground.

My heart rate spikes, and a feeling of dread washes over me. Shit.

“If you don’t want Cade to drop you in the pool alongside me, you need to beg me for my forgiveness, Princess,” Xavier says as he smirks at me.

“Never,” I say. Getting into the pool somewhere during the day was inevitable; I might as well have a bit more fun with him in the process. “Least of all to you.”

An unexpected naughtiness glints in his emerald orbs before he asks, “You sure about that, babe? Begging will ensure a few perks that you would enjoy immensely.” The innuendo in his statement leaves nothing to the imagination, especially after last night’s encounter.

I decide to use his own game against him, tipping my mouth into a sultry smile before I say, “I don’t know. I suspect if I ask Cade very nicely, he’ll let me down and even assist with some of those perks without your help.” On the word very, I intentionally grind my ass against Cade, causing him to inhale sharply from behind me.

Xavier catches my movement, and a look of raw need holds my gaze captive, making my breath stutter in my chest and my heart rate spike to an unnatural height.

“Cade,” Xavier speaks directly to the wall of muscle holding me in his arms while still gazing into my soul from across the aquamarine water. “Are you still interested in those season tickets you’ve been begging me to borrow from my dad?”

Chapter 48: Layla POV

“Yes,” Cade answers. The skepticism in his voice is predominant, but there is also a hint of curiosity about wanting to find out where this is going.

“Well, if you drop the Princess within the next twenty seconds, I’ll get you your own set of season’s tickets,” comes Xavier’s answer, and I instinctively know Cade will have a hard time deciding which option he wants to go with.

I turn my head toward Cade, lower my voice so only he can hear me, and then whisper, “If you promise to take me to at least three of those games, you can drop me into the pool without me seeking revenge on

you.”

Xavier thinks bribing Cade will cause discord between me and him, but I’ll happily turn the tables on his devious plan, ultimately coming out the victor, either way.

Cade peers into my eyes, looking for deception in their depths, but he won’t find it. I would have gotten wet somewhere during the day, so it’s no skin off my teeth. And if I can help Cade get something out of Xavier’s bet, why not play along?

A beautiful smile lights up his face as he whispers, “Deal.”

I’m flung into the air the next moment, screaming in delight. When I hit the icy water, my breath catches, but when my head surfaces, I’m already accustomed to the cold, relishing in the coolness after being in the

hot sun.

A sudden movement at my back catches me off guard, but then a hand slips around my stomach to pull my back toward their front. “Hey, Cupcake,” AJ says in a sultry voice close to my ear, and my insides heat instantly. He must have stepped into the pool in the few seconds I was underwater.

“Hey, yourself,” I answer as I see Xavier wading closer. AJ runs his nose against my neck, inhaling deeply as he goes. A shiver runs down my spine that has nothing to do with the temperature difference between the cold pool water and the searing air.

Xavier stops mere inches from me, his gaze sliding over my face. When his eyes lock onto my hairline, a frown makes his brows bunch up, and I instinctively ask, “What’s wrong?”

His hand slowly lifts towards my face, pushing some of my wet hair behind my ear, as he says, “You opened your wound. Must have happened when you got thrown into the pool.” The concern in his eyes surprises me, as it was his idea in the first place to have me dropped in.

AJ hears his reply because he’s so close, spins me around in his arms, and searches frantically for the wound on my forehead. He doesn’t look happy when he finds what he’s looking for. “Maybe we should get out and get that cleaned and bandaged. You can then spend the rest of the day lounging by the pool, because I don’t want it to get worse.”

Hunter speaks up from his perch on the pool’s ledge, legs swinging in the water, causing small waves to ripple across the surface, “Beautiful, is that what you want to do?”

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Peering up at him, I’m once again astounded at his innate way of knowing what I want without saying a

word.

“Not really,” I answer him, before directing my next question at Xavier and AJ, “How bad is it?”

AJ looks to be on the verge of trying to persuade me not to be stubborn and get out of the pool, but Hunter answers me from the side, “Honestly, it’s a small trickle of blood, nothing life threatening. How about we get Cade to go inside and fetch the first aid kit? We will close it up with a waterproof bandage for now, and then you can enjoy the rest of the day without these worry-warts cramping your style.”

I could kiss him right now.

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