Stray

by Solveig Yrsa

  “I hope you don’t mind me ordering for you, but you will absolutely love this meal.”

  She simply smiled and took a sip of her water. She actually wasn’t a big steak person, but she didn’t want to make Landon feel bad, so she figured she’d eat it. The server came back with the bottle of wine and poured them a glass before running off again. Layla looked at the dark liquid and frowned.

  “Problem, love?” Landon asked, taking a sip of his wine.

  “Oh no! I just feel bad, I um, I don’t drink.” She gave him an apologetic look.

  This time he frowned. “Not even for a special occasion?”

  She shrugged. “Am I even supposed to drink? I’m not twenty-one yet.”

  Landon chuckled. “Darling, you’re fine, please drink.”

  She inwardly groaned but felt somewhat pressured to as she grabbed the glass and took a long drink. She tried not to make a face, but the wine was definitely not her favorite drink. It was bitter and made her mouth feel somewhat dry. “It’s good,” she lied as she took another drink. You’ve eaten rotten food before you can handle a glass of wine.

  Once dinner was over, and Layla had been pressured into several more glasses of wine, she held onto Landon’s arm as he led her out to the limo. John was standing there with the back door open and an eyebrow raised in suspicion. “Miss Layla, are you alright?”

  She gave him a smile. “Yeah, just a little bit unsteady.” Landon helped her into the limo before telling John to take them back to the house.

  “Wow, that wine is making me feel so dizzy and hot,” Layla said while using her clutch to fan herself. “Whoops,” she said as she watched her cellphone fall out by the door.

  “So…” Landon scooted closer to the flushed girl. “Did you miss me terribly while I was away?”

  She laughed and playfully shoved him. “I will admit, not having someone to watch football with has been kind of lonely.” Landon saw them pull up to the house, and he texted John.

  We are having a nice chat, just leave the limo running, text you when we are ready to get out of the back.

  Once he got the okay from John and saw him walk into the house, he turned back to Layla and smiled. “Well, you don’t have to be lonely anymore,” he breathed while tracing his thumb across her lips.

  Layla went to speak but was met with Landon’s lips against hers. She went to push him back after a moment, only to have his hand grip the back of her neck. She gasped as she felt his tongue make its way into her mouth. She pushed against his chest, but nothing stopped him, so she was left with no other option.

  “OW! Layla, what the fuck!” Landon covered his mouth as saw the small smear of blood from where she bit him.

  “I tried to tell you to stop! You wouldn’t listen! What the hell is wrong with you?” She wanted as far away from Landon as possible. Everything Spencer had said about him was true, she should’ve listened. She went to open the door, but it wouldn’t unlock.

  He chuckled. “Unlocks from the outside, love. Now, if you’re a good girl, maybe I’ll have John open it for you.”

  Landon pulled her down so she was lying on her back across the seats. She let out a sob and squirmed as he kissed her neck as his hand ran down her shoulder and ripped the strap to her dress. Layla wiggled one of her arms out and tried to hit him, but he grabbed her wrists and pinned her down. She winced as he squeezed them tightly.

  “You would enjoy this if you would just relax, trust me,” he growled as he nipped her neck.

  “I don’t want it, you asshole!” Layla yelled, wriggling her leg under her and shoved him off. She fell onto the floor of the limo and saw her cellphone. She opened the phone and saw a text from Spencer, she didn’t have time to read it, she got H-E and hit send before Landon grabbed her leg and dragged her back.

  ***

  Spencer scrolled through his social media while laying on the couch. He wanted to wait up for Layla but didn’t want to seem like he was. He raised a brow when his text alert showed she messaged him. ‘He?’ he went to reply, but something felt off.

  He walked towards the front door while trying to search Layla’s location on his phone. He saw John in the entryway talking to Catherine. “Why are you here? Where is Layla?” His heart sank.

  John looked up and pointed. “In the limo, Landon and her were talking.”

  Spencer took off out the door. He flew down the steps, ignoring John and Catherine yelling behind him. He saw red as he could hear muffled screams in the limo. He ripped open the door, grabbed Landon, and yanked him off of Layla and out of the limo. He held Landon by his shirt and lifted him up before cocking his fist and punching him. “You son of a bitch! I told you! I will kill you!” Spencer grabbed him and punched him across the face again and again. He wasn’t going to stop until there wasn’t a recognizable feature left.

  “Spencer!” Layla cried out, stopping him from landing another punch. He looked back at her, her makeup was running from the tears rolling down her face, her dress was ripped and she was holding it up with her shaky hands. Spencer looked back down at his cousin. He was barely able to hold his head up.

  Spencer pulled him to his face. “You ever come near her again and I will not stop.” He shoved Landon to the ground and looked at John. “Get him the fuck out of here.”

  Spencer walked over to Layla who was sobbing on Catherine’s shoulder while she hugged her and repeatedly apologized. Spencer kneeled down in front of her while she sat on the steps. What could he say? He was in just as much shock as anyone. He hated his cousin and he knew he was the type to screw them and leave them, but never would he have thought that Landon would attack Layla.

  Spencer didn’t have to come up with anything to say, Layla fell against him and wrapped her arms around his neck as she sobbed into his chest. “You were right,” she sobbed. “I didn’t listen, it’s all my fault.”

  Spencer placed a hand on the back of her head and another rubbed her back. He looked at his mother and she shook her head. She knew what he wanted. The rage hadn’t left his eyes yet.

  “Take her inside,” she said softly. Spencer nodded as he picked the girl up and walked up the steps.

  Once they reached her bedroom, Spencer sat Layla on her bed and went to the closet to get her some clothes. He resurfaced and handed her a pair of red plaid pajama pants and a black t-shirt. “Why don’t you take a shower and get changed.”

  Layla looked at him, tears still rolling down her cheeks. “Will you… stay here?”

  His heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t wanted to be near him in months. He gave her a small smile. “Of course, Lay, I won’t move.”

  She nodded before taking her clothes and headed to the shower. Once the water was turned on and at the proper temperature, she removed her dress and underwear and stepped into the hot shower. She felt so gross; she turned the water hotter and crouched down on the tiled floor. The water burned, but she didn’t care. She could still feel Landon touching her, biting her. She let out another sob as she grabbed her loofa and scrubbed harder and harder. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She wasn’t on the streets anymore. She was supposed to be safe.

  Spencer looked up as the door opened and Layla walked in, head hung low. Her porcelain skin was beat red. He sighed, he would give anything to make her smile again. Her defeated demeanor is something he just couldn’t stand. He watched as she sat down on the bed. He looked at her wrists and he could see slight bruises forming from where Landon pinned her.

  “That son of a bitch,” he growled.

  She looked at him and placed her small hand inside his large one. “Thank you for saving me, again.”

  He snapped out of his rage and looked back at her, giving her a small smile. “I will always do everything in my power to keep you safe, Layla.”

  She felt her heart skip a beat. “Really? Even though we haven’t been close recently?”

  Spencer nodded. “There is nothing you could do that would cause me to stop caring about you. It doesn’t matter what
is going on between us, who is mad at who, who is dating who, I will always care for you.”

  Layla choked back a sob and quickly wiped away a tear that spilled. She leaned closer to him, she wanted to kiss him, his lips were the only ones she wanted to feel. She got within a couple inches and stopped as thoughts of Landon entered her mind. She winced as she backed away and looked back down.

  Spencer raised a dark brow. I thought for sure she was going to kiss me. Deciding that she’d had a horrible night, and it was probably for the best, he changed the subject. “You looked really pretty tonight. I mean, it’s not my favorite look on you, but you were still beautiful.”

  Layla looked at him and cocked her head to the side. “Not your favorite look? What does that mean?”

  He shrugged as he rested against her pillows and winced as he moved his hand.

  Layla gasped. “Oh my god, your hand!” She ran to her dresser and pulled out a first aid kit and brought it over to the bed, she looked through it until she found the instant ice packs, she grabbed that, some hydrogen peroxide, and some bandages. “Give me,” she said, referring to his swollen hand.

  “Lay, it’s fine really… OW! Son of a bitch!” He winced and squirmed as she started cleaning the wounds.

  She rolled her eyes. “Okay, let’s not be a baby,” she teased as she wrapped his hand before breaking the ice pack for him. “I hope you didn’t break your hand.”

  He shrugged. “If I did, it was worth it.” Layla blushed as she continued to hold the ice pack.

  “You didn’t look like you,” Spencer said, breaking the silence. “My favorite look is you in jeans and a t-shirt. Or you right now, you look comfortable and content. When you dress like that, I feel like it takes away from you.”

  She smiled awkwardly. “I don’t like wearing that stuff. I feel like it’s for someone prettier than me.”

  Spencer put his hand on top of hers. “That’s not what I’m saying, Layla, you’ve always been beautiful, and you’re beautiful no matter what you wear, it’s just, you look happier in other things which makes your beauty shine through. But trust me, no sane man would say you were unattractive in that dress.” He instantly closed his mouth and blushed. He may’ve said too much.

  She didn’t seem phased by his comments, she actually looked lost in thought. “Hey, you okay?” He sat up to look at her.

  She blinked and stared up at him. “He…he bit me,” she whispered as her eyes filled up with tears again. Spencer scooted closer to her and rubbed her back as she laid against his chest.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t get to you faster, Layla.”

  She looked over at her nightstand as something shiny caught her eye. She reached over and grabbed the small necklace, smiling softly. “I felt naked without this tonight,” she whispered, as she reached behind her and clasped the necklace back on. Spencer smiled and looked at the small star. Nothing made him as happy as when he saw her wearing that necklace.

  “I guess my first ever date was a bust,” she said as she rolled her eyes. “Figures that would be my luck.”

  Spencer sighed and was quiet for a minute before he smirked. “That wasn’t your first ever date, I was. Or was our date so unmemorable that you decided not to count it?”

  Layla raised a brow. “You never asked me on a date.” She knew that for sure because she would’ve said yes in a heartbeat.

  Spencer held up his pointer finger. “Actually that is correct, you asked me out. Remember, the coffee shop when Mom was in the hospital?”

  She thought back and then rolled her eyes. “Spence, I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but I wouldn’t really count that as a… why are you laughing?” She furrowed her brows as she looked at the chuckling man.

  “Sorry, you’ve never called me ‘Spence’ before.”

  She blushed. “Oh, sorry… do you not like it?”

  He shook his head. “Actually, I like it very much.” He smirked. “And, for what you were saying, you asked me out, we had food and drinks, I paid, because I’m a gentleman, and we had a lovely conversation, then I drove you home where you dragged me to your room and we shared a kiss under the stars. Sounds like a date to me.”

  Layla turned bright red. They hadn’t mentioned the kiss since it happened. She figured he wanted to forget it happened and never talk about it again.

  “Honestly,” Spencer continued while stroking the stubble on his chin. “I’d say it’s one of the best first dates I’ve ever had.”

  She laughed. “You’re trying too hard,” she chuckled.

  He shrugged. “You can see it any way you want, I’m calling it a date.”

  Layla thought for a minute and then smiled. “Yeah, me too.”

  Spencer nodded. “There ya go, so you had a really… really shitty second date, your next one will be much better, I’m sure.”

  She shook her head. “No, I’m done with dating. That was horrible from the moment I left the house. He took me somewhere where I couldn’t read the menu, then ordered me some kind of steak that was like… raw still, then he kept giving me wine that made my mouth dry.”

  He chuckled at her wrinkled face. “Well, maybe the next guy will take you out for that nasty spicy chicken pizza you like.”

  Layla laughed and pushed him. “That pizza is delicious, you just have poor taste.”

  “I have poor taste? Pepperoni and marinara is the only thing that belongs on a pizza, maybe sausage, but that’s it. You get ranch as a sauce, onion and chicken, and then you smother it in hot sauce, like a psycho.” Spencer smiled as he watched her laugh, he loved making her smile. She looked at him and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

  “It’s getting late,” she whispered.

  He looked at the clock, it read 12:48am. “Jesus, I didn’t realize we had been talking for so long.”

  “Well, I guess that’s what happens when you avoid each other for months.”

  Spencer looked at her. “I’m sorry? Was that directed at me? Because I believe it was you who avoided me.”

  “That’s because you stood me up so that you could go back out with Rachel.”

  “That’s because I walked in here and saw you kissing Landon.”

  Layla’s face darkened at the mention of his name. Spencer inwardly hit himself. “Lay, I’m sorry, it just slipped out.”

  She gave him a small smile and shook her head. “No, it’s alright. He actually kissed me, and as soon as he did I shoved him off. A smart person would’ve realized then that I shouldn’t go out with him, but I’m an idiot so…”

  “Stop.” Spencer sat up and grabbed the side of her face to make her look at him. “Absolutely nothing that happened tonight was your fault. Do not blame yourself and do not question your intelligence. This was all on him and believe me, I am not done with him. That beating was just the beginning. I should not have gone back to Rachel, and I understand why you stopped talking to me because of it, and I hate that I ruined our friendship over it. I hate that I changed the way you feel about me because of it.”

  “You didn’t ruin our friendship, and you didn’t change how I feel about you. I mean, sure I was mad at you, I’m not going to lie. But I got over it, I just, I didn’t know how to start talking to you again after it. I love you Spencer, I told you that. That won’t change just because you’re dating someone I don’t like.” Spencer’s heart fluttered. He would never tire of hearing her say that. If only he had the courage to say it back to her.

  “Well, I’m glad that we’re talking now,” he said softly as he stood up. “I’ll let you get some sleep.” He went to leave but stopped when he felt both her hands grab his good one.

  “Please… can you… can you stay?” She hung her head down, ashamed that she had to ask. It had been months since she needed to sleep with anyone. Now she felt as though she was back at square one.

  Spencer kneeled down in front of her and placed a thumb on her chin to tilt her head up. “Of course I will. All you have to do is ask.” He reached behind her to grab
a pillow but she stopped him.

  “Sleep in the bed,” she breathed, she felt her heartbeat quicken.

  Spencer rolled his eyes. “Layla, I’m not doing this with you again. I am the man, I’ll sleep on the floor, you sleep in the bed.”

  Layla looked down. “No, sleep in the bed… with me.”

  Spencer’s eyes widened. “Umm… w…what?”

  Layla rang her hands together. This was so awkward, but she just needed him as close as possible, she was so scared that Landon would be back. He had a key, he had the alarm code, it would be nothing for him to sneak in. “Please, you take one side, I’ll take the other. I Just… I need to know you’re here.” She looked at him, her bright blue eyes pleaded with him.

  Spencer rubbed the back of his neck, it wasn’t that he didn’t want to sleep with her, it’s just, this isn’t the way he thought it would happen. He sighed, “Alright, if it will make you sleep better.” He climbed back into the bed and laid at one side while Layla turned off the light and laid at the other.

  “Goodnight, Spencer.”

  Spencer smiled into the dark, he hadn’t realized how much he had missed hearing those words. “Goodnight, Layla.”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  “You would enjoy this if you would just relax.”

  Layla gasped as she opened her eyes. She nearly screamed until she realized the slumbering man next to her was Spencer. She looked at her hand and noticed her fingers were laced between his as they slept facing each other. As her eyes adjusted to the dark, she noticed how relaxed his face looked. His stress, his clenched jaw, his furrowed brow. They were all gone. He looked so peaceful.

  She rolled over and saw her clock read 5:05am, she sighed and removed her hand from his and got up. It had become part of her routine to wake up at five every morning to go outside and run before starting the day. She grabbed her clothes and went to the bathroom. After freshening up and changing into her running pants and gray long-sleeved running shirt, she walked back down the hall to her bedroom. When she walked back in, she saw Spencer was still sound asleep. She bent over to grab her shoes and winced. She put her hand on her back and flinched when it landed on a tender spot. Grabbing her cellphone, she walked over to her mirror and shined a light on her back; a bruise had formed on her lower left side. A flashback of Landon slamming her onto the seats and her hitting the seatbelt buckle filled her mind. She suddenly couldn’t breathe, her chest felt heavy. She couldn’t go outside running. What if he was waiting? She bit her lip nervously as she tried to muffle a sob.