Page 22 of Shattered Hearts

“How did you go?” Laynie asks as Sadie makes her way towards the bedroom door.

She spins, her cheeks warming as she nods excitedly. “I will find out in a few days, but I think it went well. You’ll be the first to know, Laylay.”

“I better be,” Laynie replies, and Sadie giggles.

“Of course, but keep eating your dinner. I won’t disturb you.” She closes the bedroom door behind her.

I turn back to Laynie, who is trying her best not to break out in laughter. “Your cousin—”

“Is a bit much. Yeah, I know, but she’s really sweet.”

I sniff a laugh. “She should meet Holden. Maybe she could rub some sweetness off on him.”

Laynie chuckles, “Holden has a sweet side.”

“Barely.”

“He does with Aspen,” she points out.

My head shakes. “That’s different. Aspen is his daughter. Plus, how could you not fall for that little girl? Her giggles are more infectious than the chicken pox.”

That makes Laynie grin, and the tension in my gut dissipates. “You’re right, Aspen is the epitome of cuteness.”

Her eyes shimmer as I mumble under my breath, “I think there’s someone else who might take that position.”

Laynie doesn’t seem to hear me, which is probably for the best. We made a pact to be best friends, and I still stand by that. She’s always been my closest friend, and she always will be. Part of me wishes she could be something more. I’ve caught her staring at me without my shirt on, or when I polished up for our graduation, her eyes lingered longer than usual. I told myself that she was eyeing me because she also had feelings, but the older we got, the more I realised it was a lie. We might be close, but we’re also just friends, and I think that’s all we’ll ever be.

Getting back to our dinner, my fork twirls around for a solid minute, my mind tracking back to what Sadie said when she entered the house, and it doesn’t sit well with me.

Clearing my throat, I ask, “You’re still not feeling better?”

Laynie’s throat works, and I watch her tongue lick pesto sauce from her lips. It’s such a small movement, but it makes my extremities fizzle. Watching her, my fingers itch to wipe the spot she missed on the peak of her upper lip. Reaching out, my thumbs swipe at it as I stare at her, as if I’m mapping out every centimetre of her face to draw later in private.

I’ve definitely spent time studying her dainty features. I’ve even been caught multiple times by my brothers, and once by Macie.

“No, I am,” Laynie lets out, staring back down at her plate. “Sadie just thinks I’m feeling down because my parents are still away.”

That makes the tingles cease. “Are you?” I question. “Are you feeling alone?”

Blinking, she gives a small shrug. “Maybe a little bit.” Her throat bobs, and I move my hand to cover hers. Smaller and softer. I give it a small squeeze as a reminder that I’m here. That I will never leave her side. It’s my duty as her best friend.

“You know you’re welcome at the ranch any time. Mum would set you a place at the table every night if you asked.”

Laynie lifts her gaze to meet mine, irises pale and fresh. I stare at her like she’s all that matters in my world. Which is true. My world revolves around her, even if she can’t see it. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about her.

Sometimes I think that I’m the only one who fully sees her. The one who sees the obsessive thoughts streaming through her mind constantly. She spends so much energy keeping everything in order and tracked, but I see the little slip ups. The moments when she’s struggling but trying to act like she isn’t. The crumbling of her mind. The protective wall she throws up. I see it all, and maybe she doesn’t realise that, but she doesn’t need to. I’ll still see it either way and do my best to help her out, even if she doesn’t mention it.

“Maybe I’ll take you up on that. I’m sure Hazel wouldn’t mind another child hanging around.”

“You’re basically her daughter at this point,” I snicker, making her beam. “Just message her when you want to come over.”

“Thanks, Blondie,” Laynie lets out, and my toes scrunch at the flash of relief in her eyes.

“Anything for you, Biscuit.”

I truly mean it. I’ll do anything for this girl, because she’s mine, even if she’s just my friend like we swore when we were fourteen.

Chapter Eight