Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 45361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
After saying goodbye to Tess, I drive the rest of the way, parking and quickly climbing from the car. I’m moving fast, determined to get this over with and end it. No, not end it. Make it so we can finally begin.
Miles, Noah, and Mom are sitting around the table in the garden. I pause in the kitchen, looking through the window as Miles says something, and Noah laughs, grinning at his little brother. I’m tempted to stay in here and let this continue. I don’t have to go out there and shatter everything, obliterate any good feelings, wreck the scene, and wreck my family. If I don’t do it now when I feel halfway ready, I never will.
“Hey, sweetness,” Mom says, turning in her chair as I approach.
Miles offers me a quick look but doesn’t let his gaze linger. I know why. It’s the same reason I can’t look at him for too long. I can’t study his thick arms, broad chest, taut muscles, and sexy silver hair. Every single part of him is a reason I have to do this.
“Are you okay?” Mom asks.
“Yes,” I say, “but I have to tell you something.”
“Whatever it is, I’m sure it’s fine.”
I take a breath. This could be the last moment Mom ever looks at me with that kindness in her eyes.
“Miles and I are in a relationship.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Miles
I didn’t expect her to say that.
When she walked out wearing her kitchen-assistant uniform, my thoughts took their usual carnal path as I drank in her wild hair and curvaceous body. Then I saw her furrowed eyebrows, and I knew something was wrong.
Now the truth is out there. Noah turns and looks at me. I nod.
“It’s true?” he says.
“It’s true,” I reply.
“I d-don’t…” Elena trails off, shaking her head. “This doesn’t make any sense.”
“Can I sit down?” Layla asks.
Elena scowls. “You don’t have to ask that in your own home.”
“I wasn’t sure.”
Elena says nothing to this. I sense Layla wants her to. Layla wants a few words that show her mom still loves her and always will. Instead, Elena folds her arms and stares at the garden at nothing as though collapsing into her thoughts.
Layla sits across from me. I keep my hands under the table, curled into fists, to stop them from reaching across to my woman and offering her some comfort. She said we’re in a relationship, but it’s so much more than that.
“Elena’s right,” Noah says after a pause, the darkness in my baby brother’s tone hurting me. “Where did this come from? How? And for how long?”
“I kissed her at your wedding,” I say.
“Look at me, bro.”
He deserves this. I turn from the table, taking in my little brother’s wide eyes and half-open mouth. It’s the same stunned expression he’d often get after my old man exercised his fists on my face. Noah would wrap his arms around me, and we’d stay like that, safe from the bastard for now.
“At the wedding?” Noah says.
“I didn’t mean to—”
Elena cuts in. “You didn’t mean to kiss her? How does that work? Did you trip, and your lips just happened to land on hers, or were you hypnotized?”
“Were you drunk?” Noah asks.
“No,” I say fiercely, remembering when Layla thought the same. “I was stone-cold sober. What I mean is I tried to resist, but after a while, it felt impossible. It felt like kissing her was the only option.”
“How romantic,” Elena mutters.
Noah glances at her.
“What?” Elena says, sitting up. “Are you saying you’re on his side?”
“No, but we should let them talk, at least.”
“She’s your niece, Miles.”
“Step-niece,” Layla says.
Elena looks at her sharply. “And that makes all the difference, does it?”
“Yes, it does,” Layla replies. “I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t want to lie to you. I feel terrible, but I won’t pretend there’s no difference between a blood uncle and a step-uncle. We all know there’s a major difference. Miles didn’t even raise me and—”
“So, we’re going to begin with the excuses right away?”
Layla sighs. “No, I didn’t mean that.”
“Elena,” Noah says, “let’s at least hear exactly what’s happened.”
I feel paralyzed, not sure how I can fix this. At least Noah isn’t looking at me with hate, but Elena is looking at Layla with disgust apparent in her features.
“Fine.” Elena unfolds her arms. “Explain.”
“After that first kiss,” Layla says, “we didn’t talk for a year until Miles came to stay with us.”
“A week ago,” Elena mutters.
“Yeah.”
“But you said you’re in a relationship.”
“We are.”
“After a week?”
“It’s more than that, Mom.” Layla looks at me. “Isn’t it?”
I nod slowly, knowing this could end everything, but there’s no other choice. There’s no reality where I can let go of Layla and forget her and this feeling between us.
“Your daughter is everything to me,” I say. “I know this is the last thing you expected. I know it could change how you feel about me forever, both of you.”