Wide eyes stared up at me, and I thought for sure she would say no, but she surprised me when she said yes.
“How’s your day been?” I asked, trying to break the ice.
“Good. I helped Layla for a few hours in the bar this afternoon, so I think she’s happy with me.”
Fuck.
“Annie, Layla loves you and is always happy with you. Helping her in the bar doesn’t make her happier with you. She just wants you to be happy.”
“I’m happy when she’s happy.”
Jesus, we’ve got a lot of work to do here.
“So, tell me, what kinds of things do you like to do in your spare time?”
She thought about it, and after a couple of moments of silence, I thought she had nothing, but then she said, “I used to like ice skating, and Layla and I used to do it all the time until Julian hurt her.”
Annie had my full attention now. “Who is Julian?”
“He was Layla’s boyfriend. The one she met while we still lived on the streets. He was the one who saved us.”
“When did you live on the streets?”
Her face became a mask and she shut down. “I shouldn’t be telling you this stuff,” she said, and turned away from me. The way she huddled into herself told me I’d really hit a nerve with this conversation.
“I’m sorry, Annie. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
She didn’t respond and we sat in silence for a while. Eventually, I got up and made my way into Layla’s bedroom. I lay down on the bed and closed my eyes for a minute. A quick rest before Layla came up wouldn’t hurt.
***
“Donovan.”
A hand touched my shoulder and gently rocked me, waking me up. I cracked an eye open to find Layla staring down at me.
I opened both eyes. “Shit, sorry,” I muttered as I got my bearings. “How long have I been asleep?”
“A couple of hours. I came up and you wouldn’t stir so I left you to sleep, but your phone’s been ringing nonstop so I thought I should wake you in case it’s important.”
Fuck, Ben and Merrick were waiting for me.
I sat up and took my phone off her. “Thanks, I’ve gotta check this.”
“No worries.” She smiled at me as I left the bed and exited the room.
I headed downstairs and outside to make the call to Merrick.
“Where the fuck have you been, Blade?”
“I fucking fell asleep.”
“Ben’s got Phil. They’re at his house.”
“Okay, I’m heading over now.”
I hung up and jogged upstairs to say goodbye to Layla. She was waiting for me on her bed. Naked.
“Jesus,” I muttered as my eyes feasted on her beauty.