Page 106 of Layla

No one laughs. They’re all still glaring at me as they file out. Haylee stops a few feet away, her eyes narrowed, and leans in. “I kneed that asshole in the balls tonight, and I’ll do the same to you. I’m feeling pretty badass so you better watch yourself.”

I have no idea what she’s talking about and I don’t really care because I need to get to Layla more than I need my next breath.

The door isn’t even closed behind them when I’m falling to my knees in front of the couch. “I’m so fucking sorry,” I whisper. “Jesus, Layla. I’m so sorry.”

Her beautiful eyes search my face and I can see the remnants of fear in them. This must have been a nightmare for her. And I wasn’t here.

That thought has a rush of guilt and regret crashing into me, so strong my head bows under the weight.

“Hey,” she whispers, her soft hand finding my jaw. I shudder involuntarily at the touch. God, I missed her. “John, look at me.”

I somehow manage to meet her eyes. “It’s not your fault.”

I make a noise somewhere between a disbelieving snort and a sob. “I should have been here to protect you.”

Something in her expression hardens. “Youshouldhave been here,” she agrees, and my stomach twists before her next words hit me. “But not to protect me.”

I just shake my head. “Layla, he could have—” I cut off when a tremor passes over her.

“I know,” she whispers, closing her eyes. “Believe me, I know.” She takes a deep, shuddering breath and I have to fight back the urge to pull her into my arms, to comfort her. I don’t deserve to be the one who does that.

After a long moment, she opens her eyes, fixing a piercing gaze on me. “I wished so many times that you were here tonight,” she says. “But it wasn’t so you could protect me.” She smiles a little. “Turns out I had plenty of people here willing to do that.” Her eyes take on a burning quality as she stares at me. “I wished you were here so you could hold me. So you could make me laugh, make me feel better. That’s what I need you for, John. I need you because you make me happy.”

I can’t breathe. Could she possibly be saying that she still has those feelings for me? After everything I did? Hurting her, scaring her, leaving her…

When I can’t find any words to respond to that, she shakes her head, sighing. Wrapping the blanket more tightly around her shoulders, she looks tired all of a sudden. Tired and small. “If you just came to check on me, you can relax. I’m fine. They got the bad guy. It’s over.”

She moves to stand and it snaps me out of my shocked stupor. There’s no way in hell I’m letting her walk away from me. I grab her hands. “I didn’t come just to check on you.”

She looks so resigned, so without hope, that my heart breaks a little more. “No?”

“Layla, I was already on my way to the venue when they called about the attack. I came straight from the airport.”

Some of that resignation fades from her eyes. “Why?”

“Because I love you,” I tell her, and the words feel so fucking good as they finally leave my mouth. “I couldn’t stand being away from you a minute longer.” Her face goes completely blank and I swallow, having no idea what she’s thinking. So, I do the only thing I can think of—I start to babble. “I was so fucking stupid, Layla. I never should have left, and I regretted it right away. The last few weeks have been hell, absolute hell. I was coming here to apologize, to throw myself at your feet and beg you to give me another—”

She cuts off my nonsensical ramble by throwing her arms around my neck. It’s the last thing I expected, but I don’t hesitate, not even for a second, my body knowing exactly what to do as soon as it feels hers. I gather her up in my arms, holding her close, kissing her head, her neck, every bit of her my lips can reach as she buries her face in my shoulder.

“I’m sorry,” I say, again and again. “I love you, Layla.”

When she lifts her face, her expression is radiant, happier than I’ve ever seen her. “I love you too.”

I just stare at her. “You can forgive me?”

She rolls her eyes, the exasperated expression on her face so perfectly Layla that I can’t help but laugh. “Of course I forgive you.”

“Who are you?” I whisper, shaking my head. “How are you this amazing?”

She grins. “I am pretty amazing, aren’t I?” I tweak her waist and she laughs before her expression grows serious. “You were going through something really hard, John. It takes some time to do the right thing when you’re hurting.” She smiles ruefully. “I should know.”

I bring my forehead close to hers. “I don’t deserve you.”

Her voice is quiet but firm. “That’s what I always thought about Dee. She gave me so many chances to do the right thing, you know? So many chances to find my way.” I feel her shrug a little against my chest. “I’d be a pretty big bitch not to do the same for the person I love.”

“I don’t need any more chances to find my way,” I promise her. “This is the only place I want to be.”

“Good.” She pulls back to fix me with that steely eyed, kick-ass look I love so much. “Because if you ever leave me again without saying goodbye, I will cut your balls off, Whitmore.”