by Ali Parker
Layla
I rushed through my shower after working out with the softball girls in the gym. I was supposed to meet Aubrey at the apartment to do a little bit of wedding shopping that night.
Although I really didn’t have time to hang out and shop, there was no way I was denying her. I could tell by the sound of her voice earlier that week that she was starting to stress out over her decisions. She needed me as much as I needed her.
The quick conversation with Jayce as I made my way back to the apartment left me questioning everything again. I’d convinced myself that maybe I was wrong about him wanting me in the hallway. He’d been avoiding me for the last two weeks to the point of not even studying for his Chemistry test with me.
I wanted to be happy that he flunked it, but I couldn’t. Regardless of what happened between us, I cared about him so much. I jogged across campus, almost busting my butt three times on patches of ice. We only had a few more weeks of winter, and I, for one, was ecstatic. Playing softball in the cold just seemed wrong.
“Hey,” I called to Aubrey as I jogged toward her. “You don’t have a key?”
“No. I gave mine to Jayce to give to you.” She walked toward me and pulled me into a tight hug. “How about you just quit school and come live with me and Lucas? I miss you too much to let you stay here.”
I laughed and hugged her back, letting myself rest against her as I had so many times in the past. “I’ve missed you too. It’s not the same without you.”
“Same.” She moved back and pressed her fingers to her eyes. “I promised myself I wouldn’t get sappy.”
“Good. Don’t.” I snorted and opened the door to the house. The smell of Jayce’s cologne rushed up to greet me, leaving my heart aching more. “Where is Lucas?”
“He’s in Washington. He’s getting ready for another game tomorrow night. I told him we’d watch it on TV.” She walked in the house behind me. “It looks good in here. I see Jayce let you put up some pictures and stuff.”
“Yeah. He’s been really cool. Well, mostly.” I walked toward my room. “Let me change into something cute and we can go.”
“Sure. Take your time.” She followed me down the hall and flopped down on my bed as I quickly changed into a pair of tight jeans, a sweater, and winter boots. I pulled my hair down and brushed it before putting on a little bit of makeup.
“How you look perfect after two minutes of work is a mystery to me. It’s honestly just not fair at all.” She rolled onto her stomach and smiled. Her dark hair framed her face and left her looking like the angel she wasn’t.
“You’re one to talk.” I wagged my eyebrows at her.
“Whatever.” She rolled onto her back. “Where is my brother?”
“No clue. We’re barely talking.” I grabbed a light jacket from my closet. “We had a hot moment in the hallway about two weeks ago, decided whatever was happening between us was cool, but needed to happen slowly, and then nothing.” I shrugged. “Guess slow meant not at all. Had I known that, I’d just have slept with him that night.”
“Oh. Shit.” She sat up. “Did he stop talking to you after you told him you wanted to go slow?”
“No, not really. He just started avoiding me. I guess he was looking for a quick lay and I upset him by not giving in? I’m not really sure.” I walked to the door, knowing my tone was shit and yet not being at all able to stop myself. “You ready?”
“Lay. Come on, boo. You’re my best friend.” She got up and ran her hands up my arms.
“I know. I can’t talk about this, okay? It hurts so bad, I wanna curl into a ball in my closet and stay there. I’ve been teasing about liking Jayce my whole life, but dude, you know the truth, right? I’ve been in love with him since we wore diapers. His rejection stings so much worse than any other I’ve gotten.”
“I get it.” She pulled me into a hug. “I just know my brother, and he wouldn’t reject you. He’s had the hots for you since you were in diapers too.” She laughed. “Maybe he thought you were rejecting him that night in the hall?”
“I don’t know. Come on. Let’s talk about fun stuff. Wedding stuff. Just not my stuff. Please?”
“All right. We’ll switch topics for a little while, but we’re not leaving this here. It’s not like him to ignore anyone.” She slipped her arm into mine as we walked into the living room. “You look good by the way.”
“Thanks.” I cringed at the compliment as I thought about Jayce’s meaning of good. Why was he running from me? What had I done that was so wrong? I’d basically confessed my feelings for him. Was it too much? If so, he wasn’t at all the guy I thought he was.
“So I sent you a picture of the bridesmaid dress that you and Em will be wearing. What did you think?”
“It’s pretty. I love the light blue colors. Very classy.” I opened the door and moved back as she stepped out. “How are you liking Washington?”
“It’s good. Rainy all the time where we are, but it’s beautiful.” She slipped her arm into mine again. “It’s weird not being in school. I checked into a few places to wrap up my degree, and there is a dance studio down the street from us, so things are coming together. It’s just weird not being here with you guys.” She chuckled. “I even miss my mom.”
“I bet. You’ve lived here your whole life. Moving is a big deal. I can’t imagine picking up and leaving like you did. It has to be jolting to your system.”
“It is.” She glanced down and took a shaky breath. “So Lucas has Jayce as his best man and Jacob as the other groomsman. It’s going to be a small wedding.”
“It’s here, right?”
“Oh yeah. Lucas’s parents and mine are here, so there’s no reason to have it any other place. We’re going to get married at St. Mary’s where my parents were married.”
“Nice.” I walked to my Jeep and unlocked the doors. “Where are we headed?”
“To the mall in town if that’s okay. They have the bridesmaid dress for ninety-nine dollars right now. I figured I would get it for you.”
“I can pay for it.” I buckled up and started the Jeep.
“No. It’s my wedding. I want to pay for everything.” She reached up and turned the radio on. “We’re going to have the rehearsal dinner five weeks from Friday and then Lucas and I figured it would be fun to go to the Jolly Fox with all of you guys. We don’t need bachelor parties and such. We just want to see you guys and then get married the next day.”
“I love it.” I pulled out of the parking lot and let out a soft sigh. “I hope Jayce and I aren’t still being weird by then. I guess I just need to talk to him. It’s not like he won’t listen.”
“Or I could talk to him?” She reached over and squeezed my shoulder. “I’m here if you need me. You know that, right?”
“I’m thinking you’re the one that got me into this mess.” I laughed.
“No way. I just pushed you to do something you already wanted to do.” She shrugged. “You and Jayce will be together. I have no doubt.”
I rolled my eyes and turned down the main street in town. “If you say so.”
“I do.”
I only wished I had her conviction on the matter.
We finished up shopping and trying on dresses thirty minutes before Aubrey had promised that we’d be at Merskys.
“I really don’t want to go out tonight. How about I drop you off, and Jayce can bring you home when you’re done hanging out?” I pulled up to the pub and glanced over at her, hoping that she would let me off the hook.
“No way, Layla. I’m not going without you. I’ll just come back to the apartment and help you study. I’m here to hang out with you.” She crossed her arms over her chest and I knew there was no budging her. That was her way of saying her decision was set in stone.
“Fine. One beer and we’re splitting a burger. I’ll stay an hour and then I gotta go study. Deal?”
She bounced in her seat. “Deal.”
There hadn’t been a time in our twenty-plus-year friendship
that I hadn’t caved for her. She was too good to me and meant too much to let anything small come between us. Where she was stubborn as hell, I wasn’t.
I got out of the truck and grabbed my jacket from the backseat. Where I wasn’t looking forward to running into Jayce, it was inevitable. We had the same friend group.
“I love this place so much.” Aubrey glanced back at me with excitement in her eyes. She pushed the door open and walked in as our group stood up and chanted her name.
I laughed a little, unable to help myself. She rushed around, hugging everyone like she’d been gone for ten years.
Jacob walked over to me and pulled me into a tight hug, kissing the side of my head. “How’s my favorite girl?”
“Tired, cold, and I wanna go to bed.” I glanced up at him, wishing I could be Emily for a night. I didn’t have a desire for Jacob’s affection at all, but I knew how he felt about Em. He was madly in love with the girl. I wanted that more than I had before.
“How about a blanket, a beer, and a booth? That, I can help with.”
I smiled and pulled back from him before slipping into my jacket. “I’ll take a beer and a booth for sure.”
“There you go. Hold tight and I’ll get one for you.”
“Where’s Em?” I called after him.
“With her little sister and her aunt tonight. Why? You wanna take her spot?”
“Fuck you too.” I turned back to the crowd to find Jayce sitting beside William. His eyes were locked on me. I nodded and smiled in a friendly manner before turning to Micah and Tasha. “Hey, guys. I haven’t seen either of you in a few weeks.”
I gave quick hugs.
“We’ve been busy trying to get ready for March Madness. It’s coming up faster than I can keep up with.” Tasha shook her head. “How’s softball season going? You guys wrapped up your fall practice and should be playing your first game soon, right?”
“Yep. I’m looking forward to the spring season starting up. We’ve been trying to practice as much as possible, but it’s been a little challenging with the weather.” I gave her a look. “How’s your mom?”
“She’s doing all right. Hanging in there.” Tasha leaned into Micah a little and glanced up at him. “This guy has been my rock.”
“That’s awesome.” I turned as Jacob handed me a beer.
“To the prettiest girl in the room.” He wagged his eyebrows at me.
“Em know you say that every time you see Layla?” The sound of Jayce’s voice beside me left my heart aching all over again.
“Yep. She’s well aware that if anything happens to her, it’ll be Layla’s shapely shoulder that I’m crying on every night.” Jacob turned his wicked grin back toward me. “Of course, that wouldn’t happen if she were taken.”
“Well, she’s not, and at this rate, I’m not sure she ever will be.” I lifted my beer in the air, quite content with talking about myself in the third person.
Jacob chuckled, but Jayce didn’t. Surprise, surprise.
Chapter 19
Jayce
She couldn’t have looked better standing there beside me. Her long blonde hair was thick and looked like silk. It took everything inside of me not to reach out, sink my fingers into it, and jerk her around to show her how much I wanted her.
“Did you get to go shopping with Aubrey?” I turned toward her, effectively cutting Jacob out of the conversation. I liked the guy, but he was getting on my nerves with his affection for Layla.
“Yeah. We got my dress, shoes, and jewelry. She’s going all out.” She smiled, but I could tell it was forced.
“Lucas called last night with our list of stuff to go get.” I smiled and glanced over my shoulder to see where my sister was. I turned back to Layla, trying hard not to let on how badly it hurt to know she wasn’t as interested as I was. “Let’s just say that I’ll be shopping for a long-ass time this weekend.”
“That sucks.” She lifted her beer to her lips and took a quick sip. “I’m going to order a burger. Your sister wants to split something.”
“Typical Aubrey.” I moved out of the way and chided myself for responding like a dip shit. I ran my fingers through my hair, finished my beer, and walked toward the pool table.
There was no point in standing on the sidelines of our group, feeling like a heel. I’d play a game of pool with Will or someone else and then find a reason to get out of there. Layla didn’t want me around her by the looks of things, which was cool. I could respect that, even if I didn’t understand it.
“Hey, man. You’re fucking things up royally.” Jacob set the black ball on the table and gave me an angry glare.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” I moved toward him, more than happy to take out some of my aggression on Layla’s favorite boy toy. They had to have been together before Jacob settled down with Emily. Jacob had a hard-on for Layla a mile long.
Friends, my ass.
“I’m talking about you hurting my girl.” He poked me in the chest hard.
“Your girl.” I swatted his hand away. “I’m pretty sure you’re dating a sweet cheerleader who ignores the fact that you’re the biggest whore this school has ever seen.”
“Hey, man, throwing punches at my past isn’t going to solve your problem. If Lucas was here, he’d slap you in the back of the head, so consider this conversation me doing it for him. Layla has brought up one guy in our conversations over the last three and a half years, and she’s brought him up a fucking lot. You know who he is?”
“Seth Mills?”
“No, dip shit,” he growled. “You.”
“I don’t need this from you, Jacob. I fucked things up with her, all right? I’m not sure how or where it went wrong, but I’m pretty sure if she was interested in me at all, she would have welcomed me into her bed.”
“Layla?” He snorted. “She’s not sleeping with someone on the first date.”
“I’m not having this conversation with you.” I grabbed a pool stick.
He grabbed one too. “Yeah, you kinda are. I care about her a lot and you a little.”
I couldn’t help but smile at the cocky grin on his face. He was far more Lucas’s friend than mine, but he was trying. God help him, he was trying to help me.
“All right. Then tell me what to do, asshole. I love her and wasn’t trying to get her into my bed the one night we met up in the hallway.”
“Tell me what happened.”
“Seriously?” I glanced around. “What are we, fifteen?”
“Pretty much. Spill like you would to Lucas, or do yourself a favor and call his ass. Someone needs to set you straight. Layla is walking around like a zombie and you look like someone shoved a baseball bat up your ass. It’s getting old quick.” He racked the balls for our pool game and stood back up. “Spill, dude.”
“She was upset about Seth coming by. I was in a towel because I just got out of the shower. We made out in the hall, but she put a halt on it and said she wanted to wait. She mentioned something about love versus lust and said she needed to take things slow.” I glanced up at the ceiling and took a shallow breath. “I tried and she wasn’t interested.”
“You tried after she said to slow down?” His voice deepened a little.
“No, motherfucker.” I grabbed my pool stick and bent over. “I love her, Jacob. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt her. I backed off and went to my room.”
“And then?”
“And then I gave her some space like she asked me to.” I hit the white ball and exploded the triangle of balls in the middle of the table. “Solids.”
“You gave her some space how? Did you hug and kiss on her the next morning?”
“Seriously right now?” I put my hand on my hip and gave him an incredulous look. “No. I left her alone. She wanted space, so I gave it to her.”
“Did she push at your chest and tell you she wanted space the night before or did she tell you that, because it was you this stuff was happening with, she needed to take it slow?”
&n
bsp; “I don’t know. Shit. It’s foggy at this point, okay? She wanted space, and I gave it to her.” Anger burned through me. Who was this guy thinking he could drill me on the details of my intimate life with Layla? It was none of his fucking business. And yet here I was, spilling it like it was.
“She didn’t want space, brother. She wanted you to treat her like a lady, not a whore.”
“I would never treat her like a whore.” I set the pool stick down and shook my head. “I’m out of here. Thanks for nothing.”
“She’s in love with you, Jayce. Treat that like gold, man. Save it and cherish it.”
I flipped him off and walked to the door, ignoring everyone as I pushed it open and barged out into the cold night.
“Jayce, wait. Are you headed out?” Layla. Of course, it was Layla.
“Yeah.” I glanced back, trying hard to let my anger dissipate. She had enough shit in her life. I wasn’t going to add anything to it. “Why? You need something?”
“Aubrey was going to go over to see your parents before coming back to the apartment. I don’t really want to go over there. I have a test I need to study for. Can we just take my Jeep back to the apartment and she can take your Mustang?” The pleading look on her beautiful face left me without a choice. I’d do anything she wanted me to.
“Yeah. Of course.” I ran my fingers through my hair and glanced back out to the street. “We don’t have to leave now. I just needed some air.”
“No, I’m good leaving now. Give me your keys and I’ll tell Aubrey.” She walked toward me and stopped in front of me, extending her hand. “You all right?”
“I will be.” I pulled the keys out of my pocket and handed them over to her. “Just a little worked up after having a long fucking day.”
“I’ll be right back and we can talk about it.” She turned and jogged back toward the pub as I turned to watch her go.
“I’d rather not,” I mumbled under my breath and put my back to the restaurant. I let my head drop back and closed my eyes. I wasn’t strong enough to hold up both hockey and baseball, nor was I smart enough to pass my Chemistry class. On top of all of that, I wasn’t enough for the one woman I wanted in my life.