Ever After Awaits (Layla) novel Chapter 62

Chapter 62: Layla POV

After our intense but sweet make out session, Hunter helps me down from the rocks and leads me over to the opposite side of the heath.

When I saucily ask him why I would want to see another set of boulders, he swats my behind and tells me to just follow him.

And boy, am I glad I followed him.

Standing in this mini cave as the ocean laps at the tock ledge we’re standing on, I’m having trouble deciding where to look first.

Hunter is at my back with his arms wrapped around my middle. We’re both looking towards the cave roof to admire the majestic stalactites glowing in the dim light. The mouth of the cave doesn’t allow much natural light inside, making for the perfect shade of darkness to showcase the formations‘ onnsual bue,

“They’re beautiful,” I say as my eyes bounce from one corner of the small chamber to the next, noticing the different formations, and even some hats off in the farthest corner catch my eye. “How did you find this place?”

“One weekend while we were out here, my one flipflop landed in the water. As I was watching the tide drag it further out to sea, it suddenly started drifting in this direction. Curious little monster I was, I thought I could scale the rocks till I found a spot where I could maybe reach for the shoe. After slipping a few times and almost getting my leg caught in a crevice, I unexpectedly stumbled upon the cave’s mouth. The next few times after we visited, I made it my life’s mission to find an easier way to get inside the cave. After about the fourth try, I found today’s route.”

The self–satisfied tone in his voice makes me smile. “And, what happened to your flipflop?”

“Once I found this place, it was completely forgotten. It probably has made its way to Mexico by now,” he answers, making me laugh at his antics.

We saunter around a bit more before we return to our picnic blanket. Hunter doesn’t let go of my hand once, making my heart flutter and butterflies take flight in my stomach. The smile on my face also seems to be a new permanent fixture.

We dig into the desserts that his mom packed while making small talk, laughing at the silliest of things, and flirting openly with each other.

Checking the time, Hunter begrudgingly admits that he needs to start getting back so he’s on time for their first football game of the season. I help him pack up, and after a few trips, everything’s loaded in his truck, ready to be hauled back home.

Ever the gentleman, he leads me to the passenger door but doesn’t open it immediately. Holding up his pointer finger, he says, “Wait right there,” before disappearing to the backseat door on his side of the truck. As he comes bounding around the back towards me, I can tell he’s holding something in his hand that’s behind his back.

“What’s that?” I ask as I try to peer around him to try and catch a glimpse of whatever he’s hiding.

“Nuh uh, patience, Beautiful,” he tries to scold me, but fails miserably when a smile lifts the corners of his mouth.

“Fine,” I say as I cross my arms, feigning irritation at him.

A sudden and uncommon vulnerability tightens his features, and I’m immediately worried as I ask, “What’s wrong?”

“Uhm, so as you know, later today’s our first game. And, well, I was wondering if, by any chance, you’re not too busy, you might consider coming to watch us play?”

By the end of his long–winded sentence, he’s scratching the back of his neck as if nervous, scuffing his toe in the gravel underfoot, and having trouble is absolutely making eye contact with me. Seeing this hulk of a guy, unsure of himself about something so simple as asking a girl to come to his game,

adorable.

I decide to mess with him a little, but I already know I’ll be there, screaming my throat raw for him and the other of my guys. “Why, Hunter Brooks, are you trying to ask little old me to cheer you on during your game?”

Because he hasn’t looked at me yet, he doesn’t catch on to the fact that I’m intentionally making it more complicated than it already is for him, he answers without any of his usual conviction, “Yeah, but only if you want, and only if you’re not busy. I’ll completely understand if it’s not your thing. Or if…”

Before he can continue, I step into him, cup his jaw, and kiss his worries away.

“I’d love to be there,” I say with conviction when I break the kiss a few breaths later.

1/2

Chapter 62: Layla POV

Yeali?” he asks, his building excitement lighting up his big emotive eyes, making me nnd vigorously In sent.

Again, a subchred look enters his eyes, before he tentatively asks, “Would you consider wearing my jersey when you come is watch the game When a brings his arm from behind his back, and I see Saxonsen’s school colors come into view, my heart does this weird mippity–flappity action.

As he shakes the jersey out, his number is big and bold on the back, and I suddenly feel honored that he’d ask me to wear this.

But then self–doubt starts creeping in about how many other girls he’s asked to do this. I also wonder if I’m just another one in a string of girls he inled to sleep with by dangling this in front of them like a carrot?

But, true to his perceptive nature, he reads my facial expressions like a book and assures me, “I’ve never asked arry other girl to do this. You’ll be my first And if I have my way, you’ll be the last and only one to do it.”

My relief is immediate, making me throw my arms around his neck, excitedly saying, “Yes, yes, a thousand times yes.”

His smile is blinding in its intensity, secretly making me feel proud that I was the one to put it there.

“You, Beautiful, have just made me the luckiest guy on the football team. No, the whole of campus. Scrap that, the whole planet.”

Then, he kisses me like he wants to devour me, wrapping his arms around my middle and lifting me off my feet, turning us in a slow circle.

When I’m gasping for air, he gently places me back on the ground.

Opening my door, he helps me up into the cab of the truck, leans over me to fasten my seatbelt, and as he leans back to step away, he kisses me again, deeply and languidly, as if he wants to imprint this moment in his mind for the future.

When I’m eventually panting, on the verge of begging him to take me in the backseat, he pulls away with a devilish grin. “Stop looking at me like that, milady, or I’ll turn into an unscrupulous scoundrel and claim your virtue in the seat of this carriage without remorse.” His attempt at a posh British accent has me in stitches, effectively dousing the roaring blaze in my core that he stoked with his kiss.

As I try to regain my composure, he shuts my door, jogs around to his side with a satisfied smile, and then drives us home while his fingers are entwined with mine in my lap.

1-

Chapter Comments

37

錄

POST COMMENT NOW

SHARE

2/2