Page 25 of Enforcer
Sabrina bounced on her toes. “I knew we would win!” she said confidently.
Layla grinned at Sabrina. “I knew you would win, too.”
Elijah ran a hand over Sabrina’s braided hair. “Now we’ve got to celebrate,” he said. “Whatever you want for dinner. We’ll go get it.”
Sabrina’s eyes lit up. “Can we all go together.”
“Of course. You two are a duo. We can’t split up the group.”
“Yes,” Sabrina said clapping. She looked at Jasmine who raised her brows high and grinned. Sabrina nodded before looking back at her dad. “Does this mean we can always eat together?”
Elijah must have also noticed the look the girls shared because he raised a brow. “What do you mean?”
“Sabrina saw you two kissing,” Jasmine blurted out. “Is it true. Are we going to be sisters.”
Layla sucked in a breath and looked at Elijah. If her eyes were as wide as his with shock then they both must look like deer caught in headlights.
Layla spoke first. “When did you see that?”
Sabrina twisted her hands together. “It’s been awhile, but I didn’t want to say anything until you said something.”
“But we can’t wait anymore,” Jasmine cut in. “So, is it true? Are we a family?”
Layla looked to Elijah. She wanted to tell the girls, but she had not been ready to confess in the middle of a crowded school hallway after the pageant. She and Elijah said they would wait and tell the girls after the pageant was over. When they could all sit down after dinner, talk and answer any questions. Leave it to their kids to make their own plans.
Elijah took a deep breath before stepping close to Layla and wrapping his arm around her waist. Layla gaped at him, but he just smiled and nodded. He looked back at the girls. “We’re still figuring out the details, but, yes, Ms. Layla and I are seeing each other.”
“Yes!” Jasmine squealed. She turned and gave Sabrina a high five. “I told you we would be sisters one day.”
“Finally, I didn’t think they’d ever get together,” Sabrina said as if she’d been waiting a hundred years for the announcement.
“Wait, were you waiting on this,” Layla asked.
They both nodded. “Mom, we’ve wanted you two to get together for a long time.”
“A really long time,” Sabrina echoed. “Can we go eat now?”
Elijah laughed “Where to?”
Sabrina and Jasmine began discussing where to eat, but were quickly distracted when one of their friends walked over to congratulate them.
The arm around her waist tightened just a bit as they watched the girls bask in their friend’s praise. “I guess we were the only ones holding out.”
She chuckled and rested her head on his shoulder. “I wasn’t holding out. It was you and your rule about not dating a friend,” she said.
Elijah let her go and shifted to face her. “Hold up, didn’t you tell me to be sure because of that.”
She held up a hand. “That part of our story is erased forever.”
He grinned. “Fine, but if I have nightmares about fighting for the Queen of the Nile then I’m blaming you.”
She rolled her eyes. “Blame yourself on that one.” She glanced at the girls, still talking before turning serious. “For real, I’m glad you broke some of your rules.”
His eyes darkened with warmth and understanding. “Rules are meant to be broken when you’re in love.” Her jaw dropped. “And I do love you, Layla.”
She didn’t have to think about her answer. “I love you, too.”
The girls finished their conversation. Sabrina grabbed Layla’s hand and Jasmine took Elijah’s. They were a family. She squeezed Sabrina’s hand. “Let’s go eat.”
