Ever After Awaits (Layla) novel Chapter 53

Looking into Xavier’s eyes, taking a breath from the frenzied emotions swirling around and consuming us, clarity and reality start seeping back into my desire–fogged brain.

If I give him the consent be and I both crave in this moment, I’ll be sullying a moment that’s supposed to have significance at least to me.

This isn’t the time or place to share an intimate moment.

For one, because my emotions are all over the board right now. The fight with my mom has opened old wounds that were only recently beginning to scab over. I’m not in the right headspace, and giving into Xavier was wrong, and I take full responsibility. But, it’ll be a shitty move on my part to go ahead with this all because I want to escape what’s happening around me.

Also, I honestly don’t know where I stand with Xavier. Yes, he has done a complete one–eighty regarding his attitude towards me in the last 24–hours, but what about all the months before now when he was a complete asshole to me without justification.

I get that people change, and I firmly believe in giving someone a second chance, but that doesn’t mean I need to give him my body on a silver platter, and for the second time, mind you. Yes, last night happened, and I probably wasn’t in the right headspace for that either. But, having more issues piled onto the dung heap that is my life earlier today, and then again getting entangled with him would not be a wise decision, at least not right now.

He gets my answer when I drop my hands from his body and dip my head, unable to look into his eyes to see the disappointment, hurt, and probably fury there. I even expect him to lash out and start calling me names again, because I highly doubt that a guy like him ever gets turned down by a girl, especially while in the middle of getting hot and heavy.

He throws me for a loop, though, when he hooks his forefinger underneath my chin and tilts my head back so we can make eye contact. The look on his face is one of understanding. “Hey, I get it,” he says softly, “the time’s not right, and I have been an ass to you up until last night.” His soft, tender smile relaxes my shoulders and the breath I didn’t even know I was holding, to woosh from my lungs.

“I’m sorry,” I say softly, because I am. Not because of what happened, but because I let it go on longer than it should have. Hell, it shouldn’t even have started in the first place.

“No apology is needed,” comes his answer as he leans down and kisses my forehead softly. “Now, let’s get you down to the others so we can figure things

out.”

He laces his hand through mine, bends down to pick my bag up with his other, and then leads us down the hall towards the stairs. Luckily, I remember my pants are still unbuttoned, so I pull my hand from his and hurriedly fasten them, before we can descend the stairs. The cheeky smirk he gives me when he sees what I’m doing heats my cheeks. He’s a real cocky bastard.

As we start our way down the stairs, my head lifts when I hear voices coming towards us from the kitchen’s direction. About three steps from the bottom, they notice us and rush over to stand at the bottom, all three looking up at me with concern, relief, and empathy.

“Beautiful,” Hunter starts, but when he notices the bag in Xavier’s hand, his brows pull together, and then he asks confusedly, “whose bag is that?”

“It’s mine,” I say, steeling myself for the imminent fight. “I can’t be here right now and need to figure out where to go from here, and what my future will look like.”

“And where will you go in the meantime, Sunshine?” Cade asks me, uncertainty evident in his tone.

“I’m not sure. Maybe I can stay at an Airbnb for a couple of days until I can find something affordable but more permanent,” I say with a shrug.

“And college?” Al pipes up, a look of suspicion on his face, likely already suspecting what I will say next.

“I’ll need to put that on hold for now.”

“What? No! Why?” Al splutters, and I can see he’s gearing up to try and convince me otherwise.

“Because, no matter what happens between Xavier’s dad and my mom, I can’t let him keep paying for my college,” I say, infusing my voice with resolve so they can understand I will allow no further argument about the subject.

AJ’s whole demeanor deflates, and his face turns sad. He doesn’t like the idea any more than I do, but I have to do this for myself. I’ve never been a freeloader, and I won’t start now just because I feel slighted by my mother.

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Chapter 53: Layla POV

Yes, it would make my life much easier to go about my day as it was 24 hours ago, with a stable roof over my head and a college education to further my career someday. But how would I one day teach my children to stand on their own two feet and work hard for what they want out of life when I couldn’t even follow my own advice?

“Can’t you apply for a scholarship?” Al tries, his mind reeling to find a way for me not to have to leave my studies behind.

“They were already all allocated by the end of the last school year,” I say as I smile sadly at him. I appreciate what he’s trying to do, but I won’t beat a dead horse, at least not right now. However, I will stay optimistic about what might happen in the future.

Hunter, my ever–realistic one, looks at me with an understanding in his eyes that belies his young age, before he says, “We get it.”

“What?” Cade protests as he glares at Hunter.

“Yes, we do,” Hunter says, looking pointedly at the other guys as if to relay some secret message via telepathic ability.

“Go, do what you have to. But you’re not getting rid of us that easily.”

“Fine,” AJ grumbles, but steps closer to me so we’re eye level, thanks to the couple of steps I’m still above them. “But don’t think for one second I’m letting your pretty ass get far.” He then gives me a soft but sweet kiss that melts my heart.

Cade is next as AJ steps out of the way. “Let me know wherever you end up for the night. I need to know you’re safe.” As I nod my assent, he pulls me in for a brief, emotion–filled hug.

When Hunter stands before me, I can’t help but give him a grateful smile. “Thank you for understanding why I need to do this.”

His responding smile, filled with tender, loving care, fills my heart with hope for our combined future. “Always,” is his only response before kissing the tip of

my nose.

Xavier places his hand on the small of my back as he leads me to the front door. Moira suddenly appears, and I run to her, throwing my arms around her. As I hug her, my words are muffled but still audible: “Thank you for everything so far. I’ll be back soon to get the rest of my things.”

When I pull back, tears are brimming in her eyes, causing my own to fall silently. Without another word, I kiss her cheek and head out the door.

Xavier has placed my bag on my passenger seat but waits for me by the open driver’s side door. “We’ll talk soon,” is his only words to me before he brushes the back of his knuckles softly against my cheek.

Driving away and glancing at them in the rearview mirror hurts, but it is a necessary evil. I am confident, though, that this is not the end of the road for us.

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