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He nods and Jase finally stops pacing and sits beside him.
“I want you to know that I regret so many things about this past year, but meeting you is not one of them. You are one of the best things to happen to me… us in a long time, ever maybe. I saw you the day you moved onto campus. Did you know that? You looked right at me and waved. Right then and there I knew you were too good for Texas U. I wish I could have just kidnapped you and my family and ran… but we couldn’t. Plus you would have probably thought I was some psychopath.” I snort at that and nod, because yeah I would have run away screaming.
“Why would you want me to leave, Jase? What did I do that was so awful I couldn’t go to school? I’ve spent these past months driving myself crazy trying to figure it out.” I pause and wipe a tear from my eye. Layton wraps me in his arms, but he’s trembling. I look up at him but he won’t look at me.
“The summer of our senior year, we caused a young girl to die and then we hid her body in the woods. Penny recorded the whole thing and was blackmailing us,” Lay whispers. I pull out of his arms, and jolt over to Memphis. He looks sick to his stomach but not surprised.
“What the hell! Does everyone know but me?” I shout, then try to climb off the bed, but it’s like a penguin waddling through an avalanche. “A little help here,” I snap and everyone jumps to help me. I climb off the bed and stomp to the door. “I need a minute, do not follow me!” I shout then slam the door behind me. I slide down the wall and will my breathing to slow down. The stress isn’t good for me or the baby.They killed someone? They buried her body? Who the fuck have I been sleeping with?Shouting from inside the room and a lamp smashing causes me to try and climb from the floor. I open the door and Layton has collapsed to the ground sobbing. He lets out a wail of pure anguish and I forget about what was just told to me, rushing to him and holding him in my arms.
“Shh, baby, what’s wrong?” I look up at the assholes hovering and curse them out. I am going to need to censor myself before Dallas comes out speaking like a sailor. “What did you do?” I growl and East avoids my eyes.
“I killed her,” Lay mumbles before passing out. I look at Memphis and he has tears in his eyes, gazing at the broken boy in my lap with so much love.
“I think it’s time for you to leave. Today has been a day full of reveals and I need to rest,” I grind out through my teeth, fighting to keep calm and not blow up. East bends down and grips my chin, looking me in the eyes hard before kissing me softly. I gasp and he sighs, before letting me go.
“I have been wanting to do that since Thanksgiving. Don’t hate us for being young and dumb, Cara,” he says quietly then grabs a distraught Jase and pulls him from the room. Memphis takes Lay from my arms and places him under the covers. I climb in after and rock him, humming a random tune. Memphis climbs in behind me and wraps us both in his arms. I break down and he kisses my temple.
“Remember what the doctor said, Cara. The stress isn’t good for you or Dallas. If you want me to tell the guys to leave I will. The only people who matter to me are in this bed right now.”
I take some deep breaths and calm down.
“No, I need to find out the rest of the story. Then I can make a decision,” I whisper, then press my cheek to Lay’s clammy forehead and close my eyes to his soft breathing.
Jase
East drives us home and I slam the truck door when we arrive. “Well that could have gone better.” He huffs, and I am so close to decking him in the mouth. Xavier opens the door and looks exhausted.
“Where have you all been? The movers started to deliver all the shit you ordered rush delivery. I think you went a little overboard for someone who isn’t even born yet. Does Dallas really need a convertible walker?” I shove him aside and move up the stairs to one of the guest rooms. East had furniture delivered last night when we got the keys. I walk into the ensuite and strip before stepping into the shower and collapsing to the cold tile to cry.
I am so sick of crying. I’m a grown ass man. I need to nut up, as East would say, and fight. There’s more on the line now than I ever imagined, and I’ll be fucked if I let it slip from my fingers.
Layton
I wake up wrapped tight between the two people who mean the world to me. I groan and rub my eyes. They feel like sandpaper and burn. Carson hums and Memphis cuddles closer nestling his dick against my ass. I reach down and pause. Why are we fully clothed? I think back to what happened last night and gasp, before letting the tears fall again.
I’ve known for years that we were responsible for a young girl dying, but to find out it was all my fault. I really am a murderer. I don’t deserve her.No asshole, you don’t. You need to leave before you hurt the ones you love and that innocent baby.I shudder at the voice returning. It’s been a few months of solace, and the events of last night seem to have affected me more than I thought. I need to call Frankie.
I carefully climb from the bed, then leave Memphis and Cara to cuddle alone. I never should have come here. I need to leave before I poison the good things in their life.
“Don’t do it, Lay, get back in this bed and let’s talk,” Carson snaps at me as I turn the knob. I bite my lip and hold in my sobs.
“She’s right, babe. Get back in here and let us help you. Let us love you, Lay, don’t run away,” Memphis grumbles and I slowly turn around. I expect their eyes to be full of hate and disgust but they’re not, they’re full of love, panic and a flash of hurt.
“You heard what they said Memphis, I killed her. She died because of me and that stupid snack I made. We thought she overdosed. Maybe we could have saved her if we knew. She had to have had an epi-pen or something in her bag.”Yeah, because you're a worthless idiot.“Shut up!” I snap, smacking myself in the temple and Memphis jumps from the bed rushing to my side as I collapse to my knees and sob. I cry for the lives I took. Not only did I take Kyna’s but I took East’s, Jase’s, and my own, too.
“Baby shh, please don’t do this to yourself. Mistakes happen. Should you have called for help and not tried to hide her body in the woods? Yes, but you were young and dumb. You all were. Don’t let this change you back to the broken man you used to be. You are so strong and we need you in our lives, Layton Willis.” Memphis rocks me and Carson stares at me from the bed nodding, tears running down her cheeks.
“We need you Layton,” she whispers, rubbing her stomach. I know what they’re saying is true. But I’m not worthy of their love.
I slide from Memphis’ arms and press a kiss to his lips. I glance over at Carson and she holds her arms out to me but I shake my head. I have to get away from here.
“I need to make a phone call,” I whisper and Memphis nods. I get up from the floor and open the door, not looking back.
Thirty-Four
Memphis
“I don’t care if we have a fucking flight in an hour. I am not leaving until we find Layton!” I snap and hang up the phone. Ron’s replacement, Steve, can kiss my ass. I knew I shouldn’t have let Layton leave. I should have held him tighter, kissed him harder. Shoved my love down his fucking throat.
