Amelia tilts her head. “You can tell us anything, babe.”
My fingers knot in the sleeve of Reed’s yellow flannel, the same one I’ve been living in since I arrived. My pulse pounds so loudly I can barely hear myself.
“I wasn’t just staying here because I was scared,” I whisper. “I was here because... because I wanted to.”
Catalina blinks, her eyes flicking between us. “What do you mean?”
I force myself to look at her, at Amelia, at the sisters I’ve come to love like family. “We’ve been seeing each other,” I reply, my voice trembling. “For months, before everything happened.”
Catalina’s eyes widen, and her hand flies to her mouth in feigned surprise. Amelia’s eyebrows shoot up, but she doesn’t look surprised either.
Reed remains by the counter, jaw clenched, but his eyes soften as he looks at mine.
Catalina finally exhales, a quiet sound. “Finally, fuck, you act like we didn’t notice.”
I huff out a laugh. “Wait, what?”
Amelia’s lips twitch into the faintest smirk. “Babe, we literally figured it out, and our husbands told us.”
Catalina swats her arm lightly, still blinking through tears. “Amelia.”
“What?” Amelia says, smiling gently at me. “They did.”
Glancing at Reed, he furrows his brows at his brothersas Maverick snickers in response, and Carter pinches his brows between his fingers.
I laugh, a watery, nervous sound, and shake my head. “Oh, well, what a relief.”
Catalina’s expression softens immediately as she squeezes my hand. “You don’t ever have to explain to us for finding someone who makes you feel safe; we won’t judge you for how it happened.”
My throat burns. “It wasn’t just about safety,” I whisper. “It’s him.”
Reed then moves, crossing the room slowly until he’s standing directly in front of me as he slides his hands into his pockets.
“You don’t have to—” he starts, but I cut him off.
“I do.”
He stops, his eyes searching mine.
The tears come before I can stop them. “You’ve done everything for me, Reed. You’ve held me together when I couldn’t even breathe. You’ve protected me, loved me, and seen me when I didn’t want anyone to look.” My voice cracks, and I press a hand to my chest, trying to hold it in. “I can’t hide it anymore. I love you.”
Reed’s jaw tightens, his eyes growing glassy before he finally moves. He doesn’t say anything at first, cupping my face in both hands, his touch trembling.
His forehead rests against mine, his voice low and breaking. “Say it again,” he whispers.
“I love you,” I breathe.
A tear rolls from his cheek onto mine. “God, Layla,” he says, his voice trembling. “I love you too, baby. I’ve loved you since the day you walked into my bar with your wild smile and a proposition to film it.”
Catalina is already openly crying, and Amelia is wiping at her eyes with a grin.
Maverick mutters something about the “Hayes house being a goddamn soap opera,” earning a soft elbow from Carter, who’s smiling despite himself.
But I barely hear any of it.
All I can feel is Reed’s hands cradling my face, the steady rhythm of his breathing against mine, and the quiet, unshakeable truth between us.
For the first time, I’m not afraid to say it.
