Broken (Broken 1)

I stood back up and started walking backward.

She’s dreaming about me. Shit. Shit. Shit.

I went to head into the bathroom, but then I stopped and turned back toward her. I slowly walked up to her, bent down, and lightly brushed my lips against hers.

Motherfucker…her lips are so soft. I want more.

“Hmm…Layton. ”

I smiled, knowing I was the one in her dreams.

When I stood back up, she opened her eyes. She instantly smiled and then looked me up and down.

“Am I dreaming that you’re standing next to my bed…wearing nothing but a towel?”

I let out a laugh. “Nope. I’m really standing here next to your bed in a towel. ”

She smiled slightly and then raised her eyebrow. “Why?” Then, she sat up quickly. “Oh my God! Did we—”

“No! Jesus, Whitley, I would never take advantage of you like that. We’re friends, for Christ’s sake. ”

She fell back down to her pillow and grabbed her head. “Oh…my…God…I feel like shit,” she whispered.

“Give me two seconds, honey. ” I turned and ran into her bathroom. I slipped on the jeans and the clean shirt Reed had brought me.

I heard my phone go off with a text message, but I ignored it as I walked out of the bathroom and up to her.

“Layton, why are you here? And why are you half-naked?” she asked.

I leaned down and brushed the hair away from her beautiful green eyes. “Honey, you were so drunk last night that I had to bring you home. You actually threw up…a lot,” I said with a wink.

“No…that’s impossible. I only had a few beers. ” She rubbed her temples.

“Whitley…can I ask you something?”

“Sure, of course. ”

“Who is Roger?”

Her eyes snapped open, and she looked at me with fear in her eyes. “Why?”

“Well, you told me someone had given you shots to drink, and when I was trying to find out who it was, you got angry with me and called me Roger. ”

The moment I saw the tears welling up in her eyes, I hated myself for asking. I already had a feeling who it was—the fucker who had beaten her.

I really want to kill that motherfucker for hurting her.

“He’s no one, and I’m so sorry. You’re nothing like him, Layton. Nothing. ”

I smiled, leaned over, and kissed her forehead. “I have to go. I have a meeting. What are you doing a week from today?”

The smile spreading across her face caused my stomach to drop. I wanted to make her smile like that always.

In a friendship kind of way.

“Um…I think I’m free,” she said with a wink.

I stood and laughed. “Good. You’re going to pay up on our bet. ”