Ever After Awaits (Layla) novel Chapter 68

Chapter 68: Layla POV

My admission has made me nervous. But also not. If that makes sense.

Nervous, because I was afraid Hunter would reject my request, even though he’s never given me any inkling that he would ever do that.

Not nervous, because I know I’m safe with him. If I decide to only sleep next to him for the night, he’ll accept my choice without judgment. If I want to take it further, in any way, shape, or form, he’ll guide me through every moment, again without judgment.

And that’s the beauty of Hunter Brooks ever since the day we met.

Supportive, dependable, perceptive, and always putting my needs first.

Driving towards their house, in the front seat of his truck with my hand laced with his, as it lies on his lap, a calm, assuredness settles deep in my val.

Whatever might happen between me and Hunter tonight, I know there will be no regrets by tomorrow morning.

Cade and AJ are in the backseat, babbling on about an NFL football game scheduled for tomorrow afternoon while I glance over at Hunter occasionally, with a soft smile on my lips.

There is a slight moment of panic when we pull onto the driveway and I see Xavier’s silhouette moving past one of the front windows. After earlier’s shitshow, I’m not sure I’m ready yet to speak to him so soon. Confronting him has the potential to ruin the rest of my night after the fantastic time I’ve had with the boys. He tried fucking my mood once tonight, I don’t want to give him the chance to try it again.

Shutting off the truck, Hunter must sense the shift in my mood, but then turns towards me and clasps my hand between his. “I won’t let him near you,” he says earnestly, and I instinctively believe him.

With a nod and a grateful smile from me to him, he slips from his seat and comes around to open my door. Then, we follow AJ and Cade into the house as our hands are linked in a lover’s grip.

“Is Layla…” Xavier starts, obviously not having thought I would be coming over tonight. But when he sees me come into view, his words dry up immediately. and a look of sorrow, regret, and pain flits across his face.

All three guys ignore him as Hunter turns to me and asks, “Do you need anything from the kitchen before we go upstairs?”

“Maybe just some water?” I ask, and he nods, disappearing into the kitchen moments later.

Cade approaches me, slings his arm over my shoulders, and asks teasingly, “Can AJ and I join you guys for a bit? Maybe we can read you a bedtime story and tuck you in before we head to our cold, empty rooms?”

I giggle at his silliness and decide to play along as I say, “As long as it’s Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” This has him and Al laughing as they guide me up the stairs and to Hunter’s room.

I’m vaguely aware of Xavier silently following us, probably unsure how to navigate his next step when it comes to me and his shitty attitude towards me earlier.

Cade, Al, and I settle around Hunter’s massive bed, my legs crossed underneath me as I lean back against the headboard.

Xavier hovers in the doorway, hands tucked into his athletic shorts‘ pockets with his head hung, like a naughty child waiting for his parents to scold him.

Ignoring him, I chat with the other two about our time at the arcade, their plans for tomorrow, and how their classes had been this past week. Mundane things, but it helps strengthen our ever–growing bonds, because it doesn’t bore us to hear about the others‘ day or week.

When Hunter comes back, he skirts past Xavier, who’s now standing just inside the doorway with his back leaning against the doorframe. “Want to come in and join us for a while?” Hunter asks.

I know why Hunter’s doing this. He wants to show Xavier that we are the better people who can still be civil during a tense moment that Xavier was the cause of. Again, Hunter shows me the type of man he is, and my heart grows another size as I look at him as he approaches me where I’m sitting on his bed.

He places the water bottle on the bedside table next to me, then leans down and gives me a lingering kiss, before he stands back up. He points to his dest chair and says to Xavier when he notices he’s only taken two steps into the room since Hunter’s first offer, “You’re welcome to take the chair.”

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Chapter 68 Layla POV

At lying wine the fast of the bed like a lazy house cat, winks at me without avier being able to see fiting on the wat

he track leaning against the wall, Cade starts fiddling with his phone while waiting to see Xavier’s next move

Xavier looks vet at me and ask, “Is that OK?*

i shrug and answer emotionless, “Sure.”

flumer surprises me when he climbs over me to sit beside me against his headboard, kissing me quickly as his face passes by mine on his way get there. shake my head and smile at him as he settles himself next to me with his hand casually draped over my thigh that’s closest to him.

For the next hour or so, we chat and laugh, and the guys regale Xavier with my arcade trickery while he smiles at me like he’s proud of me for one upping his friends.

Hunter shoos the others from the room after about my third yawn, which I try to hide behind my hand every time.

From his position at the end of the bed, AJ crawls over to me and kisses me good night, slowly and sensually, leaving me breathless by the time he pulls away with a cocky smile on his face, Cade is next as he gets up from the floor, bends over, tucks a wayward curl behind my ear, and then kisses my firhead for a few lingering seconds.

Xavier stands and leaves, but he turns to look at me as he gets to the door. He opens his mouth as if to say something, then closes it with a click of his teeth. After several seconds, the only word he speaks before leaving the room and shutting the door behind him is “Goodnight.”

Wordlessly, Hunter goes over to his dresser and pulls out one of his t–shirts before bringing it to me. He points at the only other door in the room with finger and says, “The bathroom’s over there if you want to get comfortable for bed.”

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