by AJ Alexander
“What the hell are you talking about? Who? The twins aren’t pregnant.”
Just as the statement leaves his lips, the whore herself comes out the door followed by Katie and her shadow.
“Actually, yes, we are,” Avery says. “Thanks for ruining the surprise asshole.”
“My pleasure, cunt,” I snarl.
Suddenly, I’m tackled from behind by Charlie again. Pinning me to the ground, he thinks he has the upper hand, but I have a thing or two up my sleeve.
“Is this how it’s going to be? Always sneaking up on me, getting me from behind? Or are you going to treat me like a man?
. “You know what your problem is? You don’t respect yourself so how can you respect anyone else?”
“Fuck you, Charlie, what do you know about respect? You’re nothing but a man whore!”
Getting my feet under him, I’m able to flip him off my chest and onto the grass where I pin him.
“I may be a man whore, but I’m in a committed relationship you little fuck!”
“What do you know about commitment? You’re fucking two girls! Who are you to fucking judge anyone?” Lifting him up a bit and slamming him back down.
Katie screams, “Logan, DO SOMETHING!”
“Fuck it’s sexy when he defends our honor,” Avery says to Amber.
“Alright, kids, break it up!” Logan comes toward us and pulls us apart, all of us breathing hard.
“You’re such a kid! You get a little taste of pussy, and you’re fucking whipped!” Charlie yells over Logan’s shoulder.
“Me? At least I know how to wrap my shit, so I don’t knock up not one, but two girls at the SAME TIME!” I yell back.
“Mother fucker,” Amber and Avery say at the same time.
Charlie quickly spins and pins them with a look. Katie gasps and slaps Avery’s arm. “Are you kidding me?!”
“What the hell Avery, you couldn’t keep your damn mouth shut long enough for us to have our surprise?” Amber yells.
“Shit that whore tried to choke me out with her crutch, I had to keep our baby safe.”
Amber slaps Avery across the face, Charlie and I immediately stop fighting to watch. “What the fuck was that for? You can’t hit me! I’m pregnant!”
“Well so am I, I can do whatever the fuck I want, and right now, I want to smack the shit out of you.” Amber gives her one harder smack across the face before grabbing Katie by the hand and heading back into the house, slamming the door behind her.
Just as the door shuts, we hear a car pull up to the curb. “Sorry I’m late guys, I was skyping with Emma.” LT comes walking up with a case of beer. Taking in the scene, he asks, “Umm, did I miss something?
Pushing free of Logan’s grasp, I head for my car. I don’t have time for this, I have to find Mama before it’s too late.
LAYLA
I hobbled as quickly as I can up to Danny’s house, pulling the spare key from under the welcome mat. I hope that I can get what I need before he catches up to me. Opening the door, I head right for the kitchen. I grab my medicine and drop the note I wrote for him on the counter. Luckily, the Uber driver was willing to wait for me. I don’t know how much cash Logan and Katie gave him, but I’m going to have to find some way to repay them.
As I climb into the Uber, Danny pulls into the driveway. “Go!” I shout as I slam the door, I know if I see him I’ll never leave. My carefully constructed walls are slowly crumbling.
“Mama!” I look out the window and see him running toward the car.
“Go, please!” I ask the driver, as he gently pulls away from the curb.
“Layla! Please don’t go!”
Silent tears flow down my cheeks as he continues to scream my name. I refuse to turn around, his plea follows me down the road.
20
DANNY
FUCK! I was so close to catching her. I look back at my car, but I know I’ll be faster on my bike, so I head into the house. Reaching for my keys hanging in the kitchen, I see a note on the counter. I reach for the note.
Danny,
You deserve better. I’m broken beyond repair.
Be happy
Layla
Crumpling the note in my hand, I grab my keys. She used my first name, I know she is serious this time. If I don’t catch up to her soon she will be gone forever, I can’t let that happen. Heading into the garage, I don’t even bother to change. I just hop on my Suzuki GSXR 1000, grab my helmet off the handlebars and hit the garage door opener. As I wait for the door to open, I pray that I am not too late. Knowing Mama, she will head toward the airport. She probably has a jet on standby or something equally ridiculous. The closest private airfield to here is Montgomery Gibbs, if I gun it, I can catch her before she gets there.
As the door opens, I dump the clutch and burn out of the garage as if my life depends on it. It does, Layla has slowly begun to mean everything to me. Now I just have to make sure she knows that too.
I head down Balboa, weaving in and out of traffic checking every car as I go by hoping to catch a glimpse of her through the windows. Not particularly paying attention to the speed limit as my sole focus is getting to Layal as quickly as possible. I fly over Morena and then get stuck at the light by Clairemont. I spot what looks like the car carrying Mama a few car lengths ahead making its way toward the next intersection. Thank the Lord for lane splitting laws, I gun it as soon as the light turns green. I’m gaining momentum on the car, I am just close enough that I can bang on the trunk when I notice a car changing lanes from the right into my lane, there is no way for me to stop or get out of the way. I was so close, I just close my eyes and brace for the impact.
LAYLA
It’s been a week since I last saw or heard from Danny, to be honest, I didn’t think it would be this easy. I thought he would fight for me, for us but maybe this was just sex to him. No matter it is done and over with, time to get back to the way things were before any of this happened.
“Here are the documents you requested. The figures for the Hard Rock project are on top,” Penny interrupts my thoughts.
“Thanks, Penny, I don’t know what I would do without you,” I say with a smile.
“Yes, you do, but lucky for both of us, you don’t have to find out,” she says. “How are you?”
“Don’t want to know the answer to that.” I turn my chair, hoping to hide my pain from my friend.
“Yes, I do, but you aren’t going to answer the question.”
I sigh, “I’m fine, or at least I will be.”
I see the reflection of her shy smile in the window before she heads back out the door leaving me alone again with my thoughts. I sigh before turning back around and picking up the papers she left, time to get to work.
“Sister of mine, why so glum?” the intercom buzzes with my brother’s voice.
“Are you spying on me? Some of us have work to do,” I respond before muting his annoying voice. I swear Penny and my brother must be up to something. He always seems to know when there is something off with me. I wonder if they are sleeping together? Nope, not happening. Penny has the good sense to know that my brother is an idiot and not relationship material, she can do better than him.
“You know the mute button doesn’t work on me. I can just come in here and bother you until you answer me,” Jonathan says as he plops down in front of my desk. “Is it Mr. Vegas? I can do the big brother thing and kill him.”
I can’t help but laugh at the serious look on his face, my big brother is willing to defend my honor, I guess I should be honest with him and myself for once. “Yes, it’s Mr. Vegas. His name is Danny, by the way, but I don’t think you could do much damage. Although you work out, he could probably kill you with his pinkie finger. He’s a Navy Seal.”
“Well damn, I know you love to live dangerously and all squirt but that’s a whole different level,” he says with a smile.
“You know how I detest that nickname.”
“I know, but I got you to smile, didn’t I
?”
I shake my head in response. “I’ll be fine. Now, we both have work to do, go away!”
“Your wish is my command, Boss lady,” he says with a salute before heading back out of my office.
21
DANNY
I’m floating in the dark, it’s peaceful, quiet. Almost like a dream, I don’t feel my body, but I don’t care.
Am I high?
Asleep?
Dead?
I don’t know where I am, it seems like that should bother me, but it doesn’t, so I just drift in the calm darkness…
…Something is happening, there’s noise, voices, but I can’t quite understand what they’re saying. I try to open my eyes, but they’re just so heavy, and I’m so tired. The voices get louder, this must be important, I must try harder to hear.
There’s a beeping, it's loud, drowning out the voices. I can’t think past it. Someone is here, holding my hand, I think. A woman is speaking to me, her voice is too quiet to understand, but her tone says she’s sad. Why is she sad? I want to comfort her, whoever she is, but I’m so sleepy, and the peaceful dark is sucking me under again…
…Am I alone? No, something called me from the drifting dark. A man’s’ voice? Who would come to see me?
Charlie?
Why is he here? He hates me. I saved his life, but he hates me, and I don’t know why. I have only ever wanted to be his friend, his teammate, his equal. What did I do to make him hate me? He called my girl horrible names, let Avery call her horrible names, then punched me when I stood up for her. I don’t understand.
“I’m so sorry, man. I never wanted this, ever. Even when I was pissed, I never wanted this. You’re a good man, a good SEAL.” His breathing is wheezy like he’s trying not to cry. What happened, Charlie?
“I know I’m hard on you, I wanted you to be better than me. I always wanted a little brother that I could teach shit too, and when you joined the team, I felt like I got my chance. I wanted you to earn your place on the team, earn your call sign. You saved my fucking life, brother. I wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t been assigned to our team. I wouldn’t have Avery and Amber. I wouldn’t be getting ready to be a Dad. That’s all because of you.
“I need you to wake up Danny. I need you to tell me to fuck off and to stop being a pussy. I need you, man. The team needs you, the next new guy needs you. You have to help train the next guy, help him acclimate to this crazy life, help him get through his first mission, first deployment. LT and Logan need you in the field. Layla needs you. She’s a wreck man, she probably needs you more than anyone else. Avery was even civil to her, I’m pretty sure the world is going to end.” He sniffles and chuckles at his own joke. I want to chuckle too, but I can’t.
He thinks of me as a little brother? Like family?
Charlie pats my leg and ruffles my hair, the chair legs squeaking on the tile. I’m tired again, I need to think about what he said. He said I’m a good SEAL. That makes me happy…
LAYLA
Finally, home for the evening I am settled in with a glass of wine and some trashy television shows, I hear my cell phone ring. Hoping that it’s Danny I pick it up without checking the caller ID.
“Hello”
“Is this Layla. Layla Torrez?” A male voice I have never heard before questions over the line.
I sit up and mute the television as I respond, “Yes, this is her. How can I help you?”
“This is Charlie. I am friends with Danny, Danny Webb. Is there someplace we can meet and talk? I am in LA, but when I went to your office, they said you were gone for the day. I found your cell phone number on a business card in his wallet.”
Tears immediately spring to my eyes at the mention of my Baby Boy. “Of course, there is a Starbucks near my apartment. I can meet you there in about 15 minutes?”
“Of course,” he responds. I rattle off the address of the Starbucks and immediately head to the door.
I order a White Chocolate Mocha and a black coffee while I wait for Charlie to arrive. A man, a little over 6-foot-tall with dark brown hair and a muscular build walks in and head directly for my table. “Layla?”
“Yes? Charlie?”
A gorgeous smile spreads immediately across his face. “Yup guilty as charged.” He holds his hand out for me to shake. “Avery was right, you are gorgeous.”
I immediately pull my hand back, what the hell does Avery have to do with anything. “Excuse me, we are supposed to be discussing Danny. Last time I checked Avery was not my biggest fan.”
“Things change quickly when it comes to that girl, especially in an emergency. Let’s just say that you two will probably never be friends, but if you could learn to tolerate each other, it would be beneficial for everyone.”
“An emergency? What emergency?” He now has my full attention.
He pulls the other chair out and has a seat, motioning toward the extra coffee I give him a nod indicating it is his. He takes a sip. “Danny was in an accident.”
I can’t stop the gasp that escapes. “He was speeding down Balboa on his motorcycle shortly after the incident at the BBQ. A car was changing lanes and didn’t see him on his bike. He hit the driver side at full force causing him to be catapulted over the car. He landed a few feet away on his back.”
I cover my mouth with both my hands to keep the sobs from escaping, all this week I have been sitting her mopping. Wondering why he hasn’t called me and that he didn’t care, but in reality, he was lying in the hospital somewhere fighting for his life.
Charlie takes a deep breath before he continues, it is obvious that this is affecting him just as much as it is me. “Although he was wearing a helmet, he bounced his head off the pavement cracking it and causing brain swelling. He has been in a coma for the last week.”
Silent tears begin to trail down my cheeks, I could lose him completely this time. Not just letting him go, but death could separate us forever.
“I know I am the last person to probably be asking you this, but my brother needs you. I fought him tooth and nail about being with you. Avery, she’s my girl, was one of the main reasons that you ran from him in the first place. But Danny loves you, we all can see that. If he is going to pull through this, he needs all the people that love him to be there when he wakes up.”
22
LAYLA
After my conversation with Charlie, I immediately started making plans to head back to San Diego. Although Charlie offered to drive me back, the quickest way would be by air, so I call and make arrangements to leave in the next few hours. He declined my offer to fly with me, he said he likes the drive.
I speed toward Los Angeles International Airport with no idea if Danny is going to live or die. I have no idea what time it is, but the sun hasn’t risen yet, so it is still night. Honestly, I’m not sure if it will rise for me again if he doesn’t make it. I stop my car on the private airstrip, being the CEO of a multibillion-dollar company has its perks and rush up the steps.
“Are we ready to depart?” I ask in a clipped tone as I enter the plane.
“We have a few more pre-checks…”
“I don’t give a shit what you have to do, but we’ll be in the air in the next 10 minutes, do you understand?” I choke on the tears that are threatening to fall. I thought I was all cried out, but apparently, there are still more.
The pilot knows better than to defy me. “Yes, ma’am.”
I continue my trek into the plane, taking a seat. I didn’t even take time to pack. I just ran out of the coffee shop after talking with Charlie. I should call someone to let them know what was going on. I grab my cell to make the call when it starts ringing in my hand, I quickly answer.
“I don’t like you, but we stick together. Tell us what you need, and we will make it happen.” I pull the phone away from my ear, checking to make sure they have the right number.
“I don’t like you either, but Charlie is right, we have to tolerate each other if Danny is going to have all his family together. If you
could call my brother at Tore Technologies headquarters in a few hours and let him know what happened, he can handle everything from there.”
“I can handle that.” Avery sighs on the other end of the line. “Look, I’ve been you. I know you are scared out of your mind right now. You have no idea what’s going on or what you can do to help.”
I nod my head in response and then remember she can’t see.
“Get your shit together on the plane ride. Cry it out, yell, whatever your robot ass does when you’re upset. Then when you get here, put on that bad bitch attitude. Get the job done, take care of your man, and take no prisoners. Got it?”
“What if he never wakes up?” I let the tears fall as I ask this question. This is the main reason I never let him in, why I never let myself really love Danny the way he needed. The way we both needed. However, it wasn’t a question of letting myself love Danny, I think I loved him from the first moment we set eyes on each other, and now it may be too late for me to tell him. I need him, but I may never be able to tell him.
“He’s a Navy SEAL. They are the strongest motherfuckers in the world. He isn’t dead, so he’ll wake up.”
Before I ever have a chance to respond, I’m met with dead silence. We’ll probably never get along, but there wasn’t a better person for me to hear from right now than her. She is a no-nonsense person, just like me. I have no worry that she is feeding me a line of bullshit, if she thinks my Baby Boy is going to pull through this, then I have no reason to believe otherwise. Besides, I know she’ll make sure what I asked her to get done, is taken care of so I can focus on taking care of my Baby Boy. Make no mistake about it, he is mine, let us hope that it’s not too late for me to let him know that.