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“I’ve never been more ready for anything,” I tell him. “Thanks for not hating us.”
“I could never hate you,” Noah replies. “You’re the best man I know. You’ve always been the bestpersonI’ve known since we were kids. What you did for me with that man…”
That man, our father, the devil.
“You’d have to do a whole lot worse than love somebody to clean that slate.”
There’s the word again.Love. It’s true, but Layla and I haven’t said it to each other. Depending on Elena’s response, we might not get a chance, or we’ll say it anyway and have to let it go. Can we do that? I know I can’t.
“It’s best to give Elena some time to cool off,” Noah says.
“I’ll book us a hotel,” I reply.
Layla gives me a look. I get it.
It’s thebe goodeyes again.
CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE
Layla
“Adjoining rooms?” Tess says, staring at me from the laptop.
I sit up in bed. It’s past midnight, but sleep feels like a distant joke with no punchline coming.
Tess has rollers in her black hair, and she’s wearing a face mask. Usually, I might banter with her about this, but I can’t summon the enthusiasm for anything that isn’t about Miles or Mom or the mess we made.
“I told him I didn’t want to, you know, until Mom gave her blessing.”
This was a lie. I obviouslywantto.
“Noah was okay with it?” Tess says.
“I think so. You should’ve heard this story he told about Miles, the love in his voice. Miles wants this, Tess, badly. He’s never been sure about anybody, but now he’s sure about me. It’s a miracle.”
“What’s stopping you from going into his room any time you want?” Tess asks.
I grin, then force it away. Each smile feels like a betrayal since I stuffed a suitcase and sat in the car with Miles, driving away from my house, maybe forever. What if Mom never gives us her blessing?
“Are you trying to encourage me?” I say. “Honestly,nothing’sstopping us, except we can’t betray Mom again.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Youarehelping, Tess. I hope you know that. Just being willing to talk about my craziness is a massive help.”
She beams. “I’ll always be willing to do that.”
“Even if it’s icky?”
“Hey, I told you I didn’t mean that.”
“I’m only kidding. Anyway, I think Mom agrees. She said our kids would have a difficult life because Miles is my step-uncle.”
“Why? She thinks they’d be bullied?”
I shrug. “Maybe, and she might be right.”
“She could be, or she could be wrong, and they’ll have a great time at school. Either way, kids get bullied for lots of reasons. They’re experts atfindingreasons. I don’t think that’s a basis for ending this relationship before it begins.”
