Page 238 of Fighting Chance
“I should be saying that to you. What Layla’s going through…” A faraway look enters his gaze. “Let’s just say I know the toll it takes on someone you love. I won’t lie to you, Ashford, it’s ugly, and it’s really fucking hard.”
Holding out my hands before me, I lay my heart bare. “I don’t know how to help her. I feel sofuckinghelpless it’s driving me insane.”
O’Connor looks like he knows exactly what I mean.
“You have to let her grieve. She’s grieving a life she dreamed of, one she’ll never be able to obtain on her own, and that’s a hard pill to swallow.”
“Fuck,” I curse, running a hand through my hair. “I really can’t help her, can I?”
O’Connor rocks his head side to side. “You be there for her. Support her, welcome her with open arms the moment she needs you, and try to do things that make her happy.” He looks around the parking lot before lowering his voice. “Honestly, when Cindy and I went through our struggles, she found it the hardest to understand that I was okay with our future looking different. She was so devastated that our plans were changing, she said she didn’t feel like a woman and that I should be with someone who could give me everything I want.”
“Holy shit, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”
He shakes his head. “No one knows. Cin likes to be fun, loud, and boisterous, but growing up her parents didn’t let her have feelings, so she struggles to be anything other than perfectly happy.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Yeah, it was rough for a long time, but we found our way back to each other.” He bites his lower lip, mulling something over before he snaps his eyes back to me. “Just make sure Layla knows it doesn’t change anything for you. Make sure she knows that you’re there for her regardless if she can give you children or not.”
“Of course she knows I’m not going anywhere.”
“I don’t know, man, she’s had the rug pulled out from her. She probably didn’t hear a lot of anything those first few days. I had to drill it into Cindy that I didn’t want to date someone else who could give me a family naturally.”
My eyes all but bug out of my head.
Clapping me on the shoulder, O’Connor doubles down. “Make sure she knows she’s enough.”
“Can I ask how you knew about the breathing technique?”
O’Connor’s lips flatten as he shrugs. “My brother. My mom says he came out anxious.”
“Really? He always seem so…”
“Collected? Yeah, he’s not on the inside, trust me. He’s gotten really good at hiding his anxiety.”
“Does he have any tips?”
O’Connor snorts. “Yeah, really fucking good medication.”
Chapter 52
Layla
SEXY BOYFRIEND
*coordinates*
LAYLA
should I be afraid?
SEXY BOYFRIEND
never with me sunshine
My driver side door slams shut and I step out into the middle of nowhere—no seriously, I’m in the middle of nowhere up one of the Colorado mountains. I wish I could say I know where I am because I’ve lived in Colorado my whole life, but I spent the majority of it indoors, either in my room or in a hospital.
I never had time nor the energy to traverse through the mountains, and with the sun setting, the horizon pink like cotton candy, I know it’s a damn shame I’ve never come here before.
