Page 33 of Layla

“I’m fine,” she snaps. But her hands are shaking when she reaches for her chocolate milk.

“I’ll stay until she’s settled,” I tell him. I expect her to argue with me, but she almost looks relieved. Once Louis is gone, I sink into the chair opposite her, feeling wiped out in that way that signals adrenaline leaving the body. “How do you feel?”

She rubs her forehead. “I don’t know. Tired, I guess.”

“You were tired even before you went out,” I point out, and she gives me a small, rueful smile. “You should try to sleep.”

“Yeah. I’m so surethat’sgoing to happen.”

“Do you want food? Or, I don’t know, a bath or something?” Okay, I am completely out of my element here. Offering relaxation advice is so far beyond the bounds of my job description it isn’t even funny. And from the way Layla’s lips are tugging up in the corners, I get the feeling she’s thinking the same thing.

“A shower sounds pretty good,” she says, but doesn’t move to get up and I wonder if maybe she’s waiting for me to leave.

And I probablyshouldleave. She’s safe in her room, she doesn’t need me hovering. I should go and talk to my team.

But the thought of leaving her alone in here is unbearable.

And that kind of shit is exactly why you messed up so badly tonight,I tell myself, a fresh wave of anger washing over me. I’m letting this get too personal and I need to put a stop to it. Now.

Before I can act on my decision, there’s another knock on her door. Layla closes her eyes. “You want me to—”

She shakes her head. “I’ll bet money that’s Haylee and she’s not going to listen to any excuse you give her.”

Sure enough, there’s another, louder knock. This one followed by the sound of Haylee’s voice. “Let me in, Layla! I know you’re still awake.”

She sighs, pulling herself up off the couch. I follow suit, standing near the mini-bar while she gets the door, trying to look like I belong there—for purely professional reasons, of course.

Layla swings the door open. “What’s up?”

“That’s what I came to ask you.” Haylee pushes past her into the room, stopping short when she sees me. Her mouth drops open. “Oh.”

We all stand there for an awkward moment before I finally clear my throat. “We were just going over some security issues,” I begin, and Layla’s eyes widen in fear, like she thinks I’m about to give her away. “No big deal,” I lie, shoving my hands in my pocket. “We can talk tomorrow if I have any more questions.”

I cross over to the door, meeting Layla’s eyes as I pass. I feel better about leaving her with Haylee, but I can’t seem to get rid of the weird tugging sensation in my chest as I walk out of her room.

And when our eyes meet just before I slip through the door, I get the strangest feeling that she doesn’t want me to go.