Chapter 15
“Have a seat and ent. We have five minutes before we leave,” he said, heading towards what I think was his room. I sat down and noticed he had already set my plate for me. Aleck didn’t say anything; he put a coffee in front of me and sat next to me.
I sat and ate quietly; there were no remarks or comments made. Dean came back, sat down, and had breakfast. He put a car key in front of me. Then he took my hand and put a bracelet on my wrist.
“What is this?–
“Your new eat, and that’s yours. There’s no debating it, and stop putting the keys back,” he said as he drank his coffee. Aleck pushed a paper in front of me.
“All the codes to the house.” He moved, and I felt him behind me.
“What are you doing? I felt it; it was a necklace. He kissed thy shoulder.
“Im off. Have a good day, baby,” he said, walking out. Dean didn’t say anything. He stood up and kissed me on the forehead. “Be careful. Have a good day, and call if you need us,” he said, walking out. I was left sitting there, lost for words. After breakfast, I cleaned up. I opened my phone and opened the group
chat
Group Chat
NELLA: I’m bored. I don’t want to go to work today.
REA: Bitch, get your eas to work.
LAYZA: [‘s–abour to get started on my work too.
MALLORY: Oft, how lovely it feels to be on vacation.
NELLA: bitch, you’re on your honeymoon. Shouldn’t you be with your bushwedd?
REA: Mal, when are you coming back? 1 urod a drink.
LAYLA: Have a glass of wine after work.
REA: Wir does nothing for me.
MALLORY. Then Fll bring you something special, Ren
LAYLA. I’m going to get to work. Fil text you guys later.
NELLA: Wait, Layla, it almost shipped my mind. Iron into the witch yesterday, DEAN?
DEAN: Yes, Nella?
REA: So you guys are actually in lure but not saying anything.
NELLA: Anyway, Mary accosted me yesterday afternoon after I left for work. She knows where you live, and she knows Leyla is with you and Aleck, i didn’t answer her or say anything. I walked away with her shouting profanities at me, saying I knew, we all knew, and lied to her.
ALECK: Layla, go to the office and shut the elevator off. You’ll see the panel behind the door.
LAYLA: Olay.
MALLORY: Wait, since when have you been staying with them?
KEA: Where the hell would she stay if her apartment burned down?
NELLA: REAT
CHRIS: Rea?
REAL
STIL
MALLORY: WHAT? WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED? DONT LIE TO ME, YOU LITTLE SHITS.
ANDREW: Start talking now, all of you
LAYLA: Umm, there was a slight problem. The night before the wedding the apartment beside mine caught fire, and so did mine and a few others. Before you say anything. Mallory, I didn’t want anyone or anything ruining your wedding. For fine, seriously. I’ve got my own room here.
ANDREW: Dean, Aleck, Chris, you need to pay a
and come across the mashole manhandling her.
by a visit to her ex–fiance. A few nights before the wedding. Mal forgot her bag in Layla’s car. I went to get it
ALECK: We’ll deal with it.
LAYLA: Guys.
I saw the message pop up
Group Chat
from
the other group chat
ALECK: And why didn’t you tell ust
DEAN: Whor’s his best name?
LAYLA: Please..
DEAN. Layla, never mind, we’ll find out ourselves.
I went back to the other group chat
Group Chat
LAYLA: Why would you tell them that now? These two are going to go on a hint for that crazy g
CHRIS: I will too
REA: Okay, it’s too early to do this. I need to get to work. We can talk Inter
LAYLA: Bye, guys.
NELLA: Smell you later, lovebirds.
I put my phone down and started working. I checked my email, and I had another piece to illustrate. I spent the majority of the day in their office working. I had the coffee breaks and kept working. When I stopped, it was five. I went outside, but I was alone. I texted them.
Group Chat
LAYLA: Unim, Din
an I make dinner?
DEAN: Anything you want, princess
ALECK: You don’t need our permission, buy. We’ll be back aroned eight; we’re currently in a meeting. We’ll use the other elevator.
LAYLA: Okay, sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you,
DEAN: You can never disturbs, princess
LAYLA: Ok
Okay, I’ll make dinner. Bye.
DEAN: Bye, princess,
ALECK: Byr, baby.
| had just put my phone down and walked into the kitchen when I heard the door. Did they lie, saying they re at work? I walked back out and stopped short, Pamela and Matthew Cavanaugh were standing line.
“Layla, sweetie, oh my god,” she exclaimed, walking towards me and hugging me.
“Hi, Aunt Pam, hi, Uncle Matt.”
2/4
Chapter 15
“Lord, you look beautiful. Where are the boys?” Matthew asked.
“They’re at work. I ran into some trouble with my apartment, and the guys told me to stay here for a while until it’s all sorted out,” I said, hoping they didn’t take anything the wrong way, because I would die of monification if they knew, and I’m sure Pamela would hate me…
“That’s good; at least they understand to make sure you’re safe. I’ll grab a drink and let you ladies talk,” Matthew said, walking towards the other end of the
apartment.
Pamela just hugged me. We headed back to the kitchen, and she took a seat. I gave her a glass of wine, and she just smiled. I grabbed my phone.
Group Chat
LAVLA: Your parents are here.
DEAN: Okay
ALECK: Don’t be scored; it’s fine. We’ll be home spon
LAYLA: Won’t they ask question? I mean…
DEAN: Princess, it’s our parents, they’ve known you forever.
ALECK. It’s okay, baby, Just relax
LAYLA: Okay
I put my phone down and began making dinner. Pamela wanted to know what I had been up to. When I told her about my ex–flance, she called for Matthew
“What is it?” He asked, looking at us.
“She war about to get married to someone. Unfortunately, he cheated, and she caught hi
Pamela said, looking at her husband.
“Well then, that’s good; at least she avoided trouble. Do those two idiots of ours know?” he asked.
“Yes, it came up when we all had the get–together.”
“Okay, then don’t think about it anymore,” Pamela said, patting my hand.
I had just finished making dinner and setting the table when they both walked in. Dean came over to me and kissed me
“Im going to grab a shower, then we’ll have dinner. His parents were here.
He walked away, leaving me frozen to the spot. Aleck came to me. “Stop worrying. I’ll be back in a few,” he said, kissing me, then walking away. I looked at their parents, but they didn’t say anything or even look at me. During dinner, I was a nervous wreck. I kept dropping my fork and spilling water.
“She’s a nervous wreck. Can you two just put her out of her misery?” Dean said, looking at his parents. I just looked at him. But Pamela and Matthew didn’t say anything
After dinner, Dean and Aleck came to me. I was doing the dishes. “We’ll do this. Mom and Dad want to talk to you,” Dean said.
“They’re out on the balcony; it’s okay, go ahead,” Aleck said.
I looked at them, but they weren’t giving away any hints. I let out a sigh and headed out to the balcony. I readied myself for their disapproval and for them to tell me to leave. I opened the door and stepped out. Mattheir and Pamela were sitting on the couch.
“Come have a sout,” she said, pulling me down to sit between her and her husband.
“When Dean and Aleck came home for their eighteenth birthday, when we threw that party for them, I noticed it. I didn’t say anything to them or Pamela, but I began watching them. Halfway through the school semester, they came home one weekend at random. I figured something happened; that’s why they
… I didn’t push them or anything. I waited,” Mattlum said.
was in my office when they came in and sat down. They were nervous as hell, and I was praying that they didn’t say they got someone pregnant. They just blunted it out: “Were in love with the same person‘.”
He shook his head and looked at
“I just told them I knew. They asked how, and I told them what I saw. They said they didn’t know what to do, you were seventeen, and they couldn’t stop feeling that way about you, and every second they spent with you, it got worse, I’ve known my sons to be headstrong and confident, but that was the first time I ever saw them like that. I told them to give it a year, wait until you’re eighteen, and just act normal. They agreed. One year precisely after your
Chapter 15
eighteenth birthday, they came home for the weekend, and I knew something happened. I found them in the backyard drinking; they looked miserable.”
Chapter Comments
