Chapter Five
Two Weeks Later - Trish
“Aunt T?” Layla shouted from the kitchen while I was lying on the couch. My eyes hurt so I didn’t even open them. “What Layla?” I shouted back
“Can I have Lucky Charms?”
“Sure babe, just try not to spill any this time!”
“Okay!”
Yes! Peace and quiet.
“Aunt T?” she shouted again. I growled deep in my throat before shouting back. “Yeah?” “I didn’t spill the cereal!” she stated excitedly. I growled again. “Good job, babe!”
Silence.
“Aunt T?” Layla shouted. Again!
“What?”
“I sorta spilt the milk!”
I sighed. “Give me five minutes okay?”
Silence met me. I waited a minute. “Lay?” I called out, but when I still got no response, I threw the sheet off and was just about to get up when finally she shouted back. “Okay!”
Oh good God! I lay back down and closed my eyes again. I only needed a few more minutes to rest my eyes.
Then there was a knock at the front door.
“UGH!” I threw the covers back off and stood up. “Just a minute!” I barked at the door. I walked to the dining room for a quick peek at Layla.
She was alright, but the box of cereal had exploded all over the table. “Honey, you okay in here?”
“Mmm hmmm,” she answered with a full mouth.
The knock came again. “Who is it?” I called out. The only response I got was more knocking at the door. “Alright, already!” I looked to look Lay, “Be good. I’ll be right back.” That got me another “Mmm Hmmm.”
With the pounding still at the door, I yelled. “Hold your horses!” All I wanted was five more damn minutes! Was that too much to ask?
I stomped up to the door, unlocked it, swung it open and shouted “What?!” before I saw who it was.
Holy fucking shit! Landyn.
I tried to slam the door shut, but he threw his arm out to stop me before I could. Shit!
“Nice to see you too, Trish,” Landyn said mockingly. His voice was still as deep and rough as even I remembered. He was also still the hottest guy on earth. Bastard!
“Where is she?” he asked, demanding to know. When I didn’t answer his eyes narrowed to slits. “I want to see her Trish,” he growled in frustration.
I wanted slam the door in his beautiful face and break his nose, but his hand prevented me.
I tilted my head to the side and crossed my arms over my chest. I bent my knee and stuck out my hip. “To whom are you referring?” I asked nonchalantly and took great pleasure in watching the muscles in his face constrict.
“You know who I’m talking about Trish, don’t play this game with me. Let me see her.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, sorry.” I honestly didn’t know if he was talking about Lex or Layla, but I sure as heck wasn’t giving anything away.
He opened his mouth to argue some more, but quickly shut it. I watched as he stood up to his full height and froze. I was about to try slamming the door one more time when I heard Layla’s little plastic high heels click-clacking across the floor; she was close.
“Aunt T, who’s that?” Layla asked her cute, curious little voice.
I closed my eyes. Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!
When I felt her wrap an arm around my thigh I placed a protective hand to the top of her head and quickly looked down. Layla was decked out in her famous silver crown and huge clip-on plastic, silver and pink earrings with the matching necklace. Her long, thick black hair was down and fell over her shoulders, her long bangs highlighting her big amber eyes. She was wearing a pink fairy costume with princess heels that were much too big for her. The outfit was finished off with pink glittery nail polish and hot pink lip gloss.
She was staring up at Landyn. “You’re a giant,” Layla said in awe. “Are you famous or somethin’? Like a football guy or somethin’? You look like one of those guys.” She got quiet and waited for him to answer. I glanced at Landyn and he was staring down at his daughter with watery eyes.
“I wish I had a football,” Layla whispered to herself. “I’ll ask Mama to buy me one.”
Landyn still didn’t say anything and suddenly Layla perked up. “I have Barbies!” she yelled excitedly. “Will you play Barbies with me? Aunt T, can he play Barbies with me?”
This was not good at all. I looked up again at Landyn and he still had tears swimming in his eyes.
Shit!
He knew she was his and he already loved her. Who wouldn’t? He hadn’t even technically met Layla yet and love was written in black permanent marker all over his face.
“Umm... Layla, it’s football player not football guy, and this is Landyn. He’s an old friend of your mom’s from high school and I’m pretty sure he’s not famous,” I said very uncomfortably.
Layla looked up again at Landyn and smiled. “You’re still a giant.”
Because this situation was so awkward, I forgot to filter my thoughts before speaking. “Layla James, he’s not a giant, he’s just a very tall man.”
“Layla James.” My head swung to Landyn’s because I heard him repeat his daughter’s name in a barely there, heart wrenching whisper. I felt sorry for him.
Son of a biscuit!
“Oh. Okay. Can I still show him my Barbies Aunt T?” Suddenly, and surprisingly, Landyn dropped down to a squat so he was eye to eye with his mirror image with longer hair.
“Sorry to disappoint you angel, but Trish is right. I’m not famous, but I did play football all through high school. I’d love to see your Barbie’s.”
Layla considered what he said for a moment. Then she grinned “I changed my mind about Barbies. Can you teach me how to play football?” she asked jumping up and down. Landyn chuckled.
Maybe this won’t be so bad.
But a second after that thought, I watched as Lex’s red truck pulled in the parking lot.
Shit!
“Layla, I need to have a big people talk with Landyn for just a minute okay? Maybe you can show Landyn your Barbies or play football another time. Can you go watch cartoons and wait for me?”
“Awww... do I have to, Aunt T?” she whined with her face scrunched up in disappointment. I nodded. “Please. I’ll be right in.” She looked up at Landyn with a shy, yet sad smile “Bye, giant guy,” she said softly.
“Bye, precious.” Landyn responded quietly just before he stood up and turned to face the stairs. I watched as the muscles in his forearms constricted when his hands fisted. Then I saw his jaw clench and lips thin.
He knew Lex was here and without a doubt he was prepared for battle.