AllFreeNovel
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I’m wearing a black bikini top and jean shorts, and my hair falls all over my shoulders. I don’t think I look particularly beautiful. Heck, I feel bloated. That’s why I’m seated on the mat instead of running around on the beach. So, his words, right now….
I look away, my eyes suddenly moistening. My emotions are all over the place, and my body feels weird, and I don’t know why.
Tristan sits up when he notices my discomfort. His legs stretch out on the patterned mat as he reaches out, carves my hair away from my face, and turns my face to him. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No, you didn’t, Tristan—” I meet his eyes, “—I’m just overwhelmed, I guess. I don’t know.”
“Family stuff?” He asks, his lashes batting slowly.
“That’s a part of it,” I admit. “Speaking of family, how did the pretrial go this morning?” I say, partly to change the topic but mostly because I’m curious.
Tristan’s face hardens, but his hand doesn’t leave my hair. “It went just about the way I expected.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, loving the feel of his finger on my skin. “What did you expect?”
He removes his hand from my face but shifts closer to me. I can smell his oaky cologne mixed with a beachy scent, and I scoot closer, too, without thinking. Our shoulders touch as we sit side-by-side in silence. His arm feels hard against mine, and I gently rest my frame against him.
“They claimed to have new evidence proving me an unsuitable guardian and ensuring they get Ruby.” He stares ahead at his daughter. I watch her, too. In the light of the setting sun, she looks more like Deanna than ever. “I revoked their visitation rights until further notice.”
Shit.
“You revoked their visitation rights?” I murmur. “Like they won’t get to see Ruby again?”
He glances at me, his forehead furrowing. “Why do you sound scared?”
Because now, my parents will be breathing down my neck, and they won’t give me a moment’s peace until I give them what they want.
“Scared?” I laugh, and a sound that seems alien comes from my mouth. “I think you’re hearing things.”
Tristan shifts his head closer to mine. “Layla, you know you can… you can talk to me, right?”
“What do you mean?” I frown.
“Not about this whole Ruby thing,” he waves his hand. “I know this isn’t your cup of tea. I’m talking about whatever it is you may be going through. I want you to know you can talk to me about whatever it is, and I’ll be here for you, okay?”
The tears that threatened to fall earlier start to fall as I nod. Tristan reaches for a hand out and wipes it away. His finger caresses my cheek as I lean into him. He tilts his head, and our lips meet in silent passion. I don’t care that I’m in public; I kiss him through my tears, tasting his tongue and giving him mine.
His hand holds my face as he sucks on my lower lip, his tongue runs lightly across it, and I suck in a breath as my toes wiggle from pleasure. Suddenly, Tristan pulls back, but my eyes remain closed as I long for his missing mouth.
When I open my eyes, the first thing I see is his moist lips; then I raise my gaze to his eyes. What strikes me immediately is that his face is loosened in a way I haven’t seen, and he looks… happy.
“What happened to no intimacy and no feelings?” I murmur.
“Well—”
My phone buzzes, cutting off his words. My screen lights up, and the name on the screen makes my heart skip a beat.
Mom.
“I have to take this, sorry.” I grab the phone and jump to my feet.
I make sure I’m quite a distance away from Tristan before I pick up the phone. Mom breathes heavily into the phone, and I wait for her to speak.
“Did he tell you he revoked visitation?” She seethes. “Like Ruby can’t come over, and we can’t go to see her. Did he tell you that?”
“Uh, yes, he did.” I nod even though she can’t see me. “He just told me.”
Some of the women squeal on the beach, and I turn to look at them quickly.
