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Hell, I asked him to be my fake date the night we met. Granted, there wasn’t a child on the line, and it certainly wasn’t in a court of law, but he’s not asking me to do anything other than help a little girl who is struggling and help him keep said little girl with him in his home.
“And the fact that I’m LaylaFritz?” I cock an eyebrow.
“It doesn’t hurt, but it isn’t the reason. Not even close. If you were simply Layla Atkins, it would still be you.”
Good answer. Damn him.
He sighs, shifting on the counter so he can see me better. “Listen, I know this isn’t a small thing—it’s a huge fucking thing. I’m asking you to move into my home and pretend like you’re in love with me and to also be in Katy’s life until all this goes through. Even possibly for a bit after since I believe Katy needs you to get her through this. It’s a lot and I’m not making light of that. I don’t even know what to offer you in return, but whatever you want that will get you to say yes, name it.” His eyes beseech mine. “I wouldn’t ask if I weren’t desperate.”
He’s right when he says that it’s not a small thing. I remember all that Amelia and Oliver—and even I—went through when they did something similar, and we weren’t even living with Oliver.
“Tell me why you need this?” I want him to say it. I don’t even know why. I think I already know where his heart is, but… I want to hear it straight from him. If I’m considering this…
“I love Katy,” he says simply. “She’s my niece and I believe my sister-in-law’s parents don’t. Or at least not enough. I lost my brother, and we were close. But the moment I held my newborn niece in my hands, she was part of me. Part of my blood. She’s struggling right now, and I’d give anything to fix that for her. Anything to make it easier for her. I can’t let her move away from me, Layla. Both of us have already lost enough. She and I… we need each other.”
I swallow and look away. Thinking. Thinking hard.
I’d have to move in with him.
I don’t even know what I would tell people. My family would immediately know it’s bullshit and I don’t want to lie to them. He’s my professor. Not to mention if word gets out, there are people who could call the validity of this into question. People like Patrick or Murphy or hell, anyone in my group class and chat for that matter.
I suppose I could say we were keeping it a secret for obvious reasons, but damn, it’ll be bad for me. Really freaking bad. It’s a stain on my reputation, both at school and in the hospital.
There are a lot of ways this could all go wrong and there is a little girl’s life at stake with this.
Plus, there’s the other piece to consider. The piece of myself that already likes Callan Barrows more than I should. What would moving in and living with him do to that? I don’t have time for this. I don’t have time to get myself entangled with his life and his drama all the while risking my reputation and my heart.
No thanks on any of that.
But…
I rise out of my seat. “When do you need an answer by?”
He pales. “By Monday morning if you can. I have court that afternoon.”
“Okay. You’ll have my answer by seven Monday morning.”
I turn and head for his door, but I hear him hop off the counter and then he’s running after me. “Layla! Wait.” He rushes in front of me, stopping me, only to stand here in silence as he gazes at me. “I…” He releases a heavy, tormented breath. “Can I drive you somewhere?”
“No. I need to walk for a bit, I think.”
He shifts his weight, looking miserable. He doesn’t touch me and I’m grateful for that along with the distance he’s put between us. “I’m sorry.”
“I know.” With that, I push past him and thankfully he lets me go this time. I walk out of his brownstone and then down the street, looking both ways. Well, this is certainly not how I saw my day going.
“Are you talking to me?” a man passing by asks, giving me an appalled look. Yeesh, this outer musing thing is a real bitch.
“No. Definitely not.”
Inwardly shaking my head, I walk and walk, unable to organize my thoughts. I keep picturing Katy—the way she was screaming for her parents, the way she passed out in my arms—and Callan’s face when he walked into that trauma room. The way she let me braid her hair and played with me on the playground.
Then I remember other things with Callan.
I walk through every detail of the night we met and then the day we saw each other in class. The night we hung out in the cemetery. All the time we’ve spent together since and all the times we did our best to ignore each other and do our work when ignoring each other seemed impossible.
Our chemistry is undeniable, and I’m obviously very drawn to him, and that’s the main reason I’d say no. Which feels fucked up, but I still should say no. Right?
I’m torn… which is why I need help. Stat.
