“It’s fine. Everyone knows now. I’m not mad,” Layla cuts in.
She is, though. I can see it. Her leg is bouncing under the table. Nervous. Exposed.
I slide my hand onto her thigh. The movement stops instantly. She grabs my hand and squeezes hard, grounding herself. My touch calms her down. Just like hers does for me. It's hard to think that just a few days ago my feelings about this girl were very different.
Dad pulls out his phone. “All the family’s here. Time for a perfect picture.”
Really dad? Sometimes I feel as though he’s clueless. Or maybe he has just gotten to the age that he doesn’t care anymore.
After dinner, Layla helps Nancy, Maggie, and Steph with the dishes. I corner Luke near Dad.
“That was uncalled for,” I say.
Dad backs me up instantly. “She’s new here. You had no right to embarrass her.”
Luke looks down. “I didn’t think she’d get all weird about it.”
“Go apologize,” I say.
He nods and heads toward the kitchen.
“God,” I mutter. “This kid gives me chest pain.”
Dad looks at me. “You like her, don’t you?”
I pause my whole body freezing and then–
“Yup,” I say without thinking.
“Your plan is to make her fall for you in hopes she’ll stay?” he asks quietly.
I scoff, clear my throat. “Working on it.”
“Don’t get your heart broken.” He sighs, pats my back, gives me a knowing smile, and walks toward the kitchen.
What am I doing? Setting myself up to get hurt again—that’s what. Setting myself up for failure. But I can’t help it. Being around her feels easy. Right. Like home.
“You want to go for a walk?” Layla asks, her voice bright and excited, eyes sparkling like she’s just discovered the best secret. “I really need to walk around. I’m so stuffed from dinner and the sunset is absolutely everything.” She adds, already bouncing a little on her toes.
I slide my hand to the small of her back, warm through the thin fabric of her dress and guide her down the narrow hallway out of the kitchen. Her body fits against my palm like it belongs there. Damn, it does.
“Where y’all going?” Dad hollers from the living room, TV blaring some old Western in the background.
“For a walk. We’ll be back,” Layla shouts over her shoulder, casual as hell, like she’s been yelling answers to my family for years.
It hits me hard, she’s already slipping into this place like it’s home. Laughing with my sister at dinner, teasing Luke about his terrible poker face, even helping Nancy clear plates without being asked. Comfortable. Natural. And yeah, part of me loves it. The bigger part—the grumpy, guarded part—is terrified it’ll scare her off.
Luke’s big mouth earlier didn’t help. Blabbing about catching us naked by the creek like it was comical. I’m still pissed about it. If he ruined that perfect moment for her, I swear…
We step onto the porch, the screen door slapping shut behind us. The air’s cooling fast, carrying the scent of hay and pine. Sunset’s painting everything gold and pink. Layla heads straight toward the barn path without me saying a word, hips swaying just enough to make my mouth dry.
It’s quiet between us at first. Awkward quiet. The kind that makes me itch.
“I’m sorry if Luke embarrassed you,” I say, keeping my tone light even though my jaw’s tight.
She glances up, smiles soft. “That’s okay. He apologized.”
I nod, but she keeps going, voice dropping a notch. “I just don’t want your family thinking I’m some whore just because we mess around.” She pauses, cheeks pinking. “I’m not a whore, by the way.” Nervous laugh.
