Chapter Sixteen
Layla
The nerve of him. I mean here I was talking to him about something important and he wants to change the subject. With all things, about getting gifts for people. Maybe I should cut him some slack but at the same time, I want to hit him in the head with a frying pan.
Juliet enters my room with a scowl on her face. “If she thinks I’m going to meet that tool Evan she’s seriously lost her damn mind.”
“I know. You know what pisses me off the most is Mom sneaking around about it. Oh, and why didn’t you notice it sooner? You told me she was meeting a client. Did she lie to you?”
“She said she was meeting a client for lunch.”
I fold my arms. “And you didn’t notice her attire when she left?”
“I don’t pay attention to what people wear. As long as they aren’t walking around in bras and underwear why the heck would I care?”
My sister is so clueless when it comes to fashion. I shouldn’t be mad at her. She probably didn’t even look at Mom before she left.
“You’re mad about something else though, what is it?” Juliet asks.
I raise my hands up. “Oh, I don’t know why I thought dating Tyler would be a good idea. I love him but man I want to slap him silly sometimes. I was telling him about what happened earlier with Mom and then I told him how depressing our house is during Christmas since Dad died. Do you know what Tyler did?”
“Uh … no. But I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”
“He freaking asked me if I got all the gifts I needed to get. What the hell, right?”
“Uh … no offense, Layla, but he’s a guy. They’ve got little to no emotions. Did you bite his head off for it?”
“Yeah.” I frown.
My sister sucks in the corner of her mouth and nods. “I know I’ve been annoyed lately but you guys really are good together.”
“I know we are.”
“Just fix it then.” She looks about the room. “What are we going to do about the other situation? I can’t be here for that, Layla.”
“Tyler offered to take us away.”
She nods. “Sounds good.”
“Movies are usually open on Christmas, maybe we can go there.”
“I don’t care where it is. I’m not going to meet that Evan guy. Not on Christmas.”
Wonder how Mom is going to explain herself when both of us aren’t here? Eh, not my problem. She should have thought about us first.
Our doorbell rings the next morning. I notice Juliet sluggishly moving to the door and I feel sorry for whoever she’s about to greet. She’s not a morning person. Right now, she has no coffee in her which makes her extra moody.
The door rips open and she snaps, “Do you have any idea what time it is? People like to sleep!”
“Hey, Juliet. Is your sister in?”
“Don’t you have a life? Before you started dating Layla what exactly did you do? You’re here like every stinkin’ day.”
I walk over to the door. “Ignore her. She hasn’t had coffee yet and she’s extra grouchy.” I shoot my sister a glare.
She rolls her eyes and walks into the living room then plops down onto the couch.
I glance back at Tyler who looks like hell. “I want to talk to you,” he says. “Are you free to leave for a couple of hours?”
Just as he asks my mom exits her office. “I thought I told you no guests since you and your sister were so blatantly rude to me last night?”
Juliet snorts. “We were rude. But you’re the one who is still wrong.”
“That’s enough out of you! Tyler, I’m sorry but Layla will not be allowed out of the house today.”
“Why? Because I expressed how I felt? This is bullshit!”
“Language! I said enough! Tyler, please.”
I grab ahold of his arms and shove him out the door with me. I’m not exactly dressed to go anywhere. Hell, I don’t have shoes on, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to be grounded. She can ground me for disobeying but not for telling her I refuse to meet her side piece.
“Hey, uh … What are you doing?” Tyler asks.
“Get me out of here. Now.”
“Babe, you don’t have shoes on or socks. And your top is um …” he swallows. “I can see a lot right now. Not that I mind.”
“Just shut up and get in your SUV.”
We’re rushing to his Cherokee and the front door pops open. “Layla Faye Valentine, you better not even think about leaving.”
“Watch me, Mom.” I shut Tyler’s door and lock it. Yep. I’m so not going to sit in that house and listen to her crap.
Tyler starts up his Jeep and says, “You’re going to get me into trouble, aren’t you?”
“Probably.”
He backs out of the drive and huffs. “All right. You better remember this the next time you’re mad at me.”
“Thank you.”
“Anything for you. You know that, right?”
I nod and swipe a stray tear from my eye.
“I got some spare flip-flops in here. I think,” Tyler says as we park in the Target lot. He rifles through the back and says, “Got them. They’ll be big on your tiny feet, but you can manage. We’ll get you some shoes that actually fit.”
“I don’t need the shoes.”
“Yes, you do. You can’t go walking around barefoot where I’m taking you. And stores have this crazy policy about no shoes no service. I mean what the hell is that?”
I giggle even if it’s not exactly funny. “The nerve of some people.”
He smiles. “Exactly.” He shuts the back and comes over to my door. After he opens it he slips the sandals on my feet and hands me over his varsity jacket. “Come on.”
I stare at the jacket. “Ty, I don’t need that. It’s not exactly cold out.”
He swallows. “It’s not for you. More for me. Keeping myself in check since I can tell you aren’t wearing a bra right now.”
I blush at his words and slip the jacket on.
We hurry in and I find a pair of black shoes. Tyler insists I grab some sweats and socks too. Even though I keep telling him I can manage without socks.
“We’re not going to argue about this,” he says as he pulls down some multicolored striped socks and we head to the self-checkout.
He swipes our items, pays then we’re back in his SUV. I’m putting the shoes on and he’s driving us to who knows where. I do know that I’m happy I left my cell behind at the house. My mom can’t blow it up and leave a bunch of texts or voicemails.