Ever After Awaits (Layla) novel Chapter 54

Chapter 54: AJ POV

1 fucking hate this.

This is the second time in as many days that I have had to watch a piece of my heart drive away without me by her side to help protect her.

When Layla’s mom blatantly tried to manipulate the situation earlier, I was seething inside. How dare she say such things about someone she’s supposed to love unconditionally and protect fiercely.

And I get why Layla has packed a bag and lett, and why she’s unsure of her future at Saxonsea, but that does not mean I have to like it.

Layla’s mom and Xavier’s dad rushed off to god knows where after Layla went to her room. Judging by his harsh tone as Michael dragged her behind him like a stubborn dog on a leash, they aren’t chatting about the weather, wherever they are in this colossal house.

Frustrated that I can’t be with Layla and take all her worries and pain away, I turn my ire on Hunter. “What the fuck was that?” I get up in his face as my body vibrates with the need to punch something.

He places his hand on my shoulder and, in a calm voice, says, “I get it, man. But what did I tell you about our girl a few days ago? She’s stubborn and independent. She doesn’t want us to come to her rescue and fix all her problems for her. She wants and needs us to be there for her, no matter what she decides to do. And not make her feel like we’re critical about the choices she does make.”

I scoff at him, but the fight drains from my body as his words sink in. He’s always the voice of reason, and even though he gets it right most of the time, that doesn’t mean I still don’t want to chase her ass down, throw her over my shoulder, and keep her for myself. “Fine, but she gets 24 hours, nothing more. Then I’m going after her.”

Cade steps up to my side with a grin, “You and me both.”

Hunter rolls his eyes at us and our caveman antics, but doesn’t refute our statement. Yeah, he’ll be coming with us, even if he isn’t saying it out loud.

After a few beats, he does turn towards Xavier, who’s still staring off into the direction Layla’s car disappeared in. His hands are tucked into his pockets, but he’s not on edge about the situation. Not like me, at least.

“What happened upstairs?” he cryptically asks Xavier. Cade and I both turn towards the two and listen intently, I didn’t even know that something was up between them when they came down the stairs. But Hunter, the perceptive bastard he is, must have immediately picked up on it.

Xavier’s only response to him as he turns to walk inside is, “That’s between me and her.”

But Hunter’s not having any of it. His hand claps down on Xavier’s shoulder and spins him around to face the three of us. “That’s where you are wrong. Where Layla and her happiness is concerned, you can bet your ugly ass we three will make it our business.”

He takes one step closer to Xavier before continuing, “And don’t think I haven’t noticed how you’ve acted around her since last night, either. Something happened then, too, and you better start spilling the beans, because if you fuck this up for us because you are an emotionally stunted jackass, we will be coming for you.”

Come to think of it, Hunter’s right.

Firstly, Xavier called us this morning about Layla’s injury. It didn’t click in my head until now, but he was the one who came to her rescue last night. Yes, she phoned Hunter, but she was looking for one of us to help her. He could have easily woken Hunter up, or knocked on my or Cade’s door for assistance because we wese still awake.

He didn’t have to come. He didn’t have to stay and watch over her the whole night. And he didn’t have to insist on staying with her at the house during the week so she could feel safe.

Secondly, he flirted with her in the kitchen and then a few times at the pool. From what the other guys have told me, Xavier doesn’t hurt. He crooks a tinger, or says a couple of blunt words, and the girls come running like they re participating in a marathon.

Thirdly, he was up there a long ass time after everyone else went upstairs sporadically to try and coas her from her room. And when they eventually did come down, she looked flushed and a bit nervous And don’t get me started on that tender moment next to the car door. Xavier doesn’t have a tender bone in his body. He’s moody, brusque, demanding, and domineering

When Xavier drops his head and rubs the back of his neck in bashful uncertainty, I stand at attention like a meerkat in the desert.

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Chapter 54: AJ POV

“Uhm, we had a moment in her bathroom last night. And then another one just before we came down the stairs.”

Cade is the one to step closer and ask skeptically. “What kind of moment?”

“That’s for her to divulge if she wants to. All I’m willing to say is that we were somewhat intimate.”

Cade’s stance turns to that of a brick wall, his fists clench, and then he grits through his teeth, “Did you fucking take advantage of her?”

Xavier’s eyes widen in shock at Cade’s harsh words. “Of course not, man.”

“Fine,” is Cade’s only reply, but his body hasn’t fully relaxed. I suspect that’s got more to do with Layla leaving than with Xavier’s admission.

I’m right there with him. I don’t think I’ll have another good night’s rest until I know she’s safe and taken care of – wherever that might be.

“So what is it then? Why the sudden change of heart?” Hunter asks, narrowing his eyes at Xavier.

“Because I pulled my head out of my ass, and realized she’s not the villain I made her out to be.”

“And? Are you going to be an obstacle, throwing your weight around, intent on claiming her as yours alone? Or are you willing to share? Because I can promise you, we will not go down without a fight. And because of your assholery until date, you’re at a major disadvantage.” The last statement is said with a smirk on Hunter’s face, as if he’s relishing in the fact that Xavier’s is going to have to work his ass off to get into Layla’s good graces.

The realization that for once, Xavier Reed isn’t going to get the girl because he snapped his fingers, thrills me to no end.

“I won’t be a problem. As long as you guys give me a decent chance to try and win her over,” Xavier replies, looking at each of us, silently asking us to help him prove to Layla that he can be worthy of her.

The three of us look at each other, and in unison we nod our assent to Xavier. We won’t stand in his way, but I’m not going to allow him to monopolize her time. I suspect for the first time in his life, he will have to share something he holds dear.

You can bank on me enjoying watching him grovel to Layla to give him the time of day.

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