11. Leila
Leila
I should be ashamed of myself for eavesdropping on Drew and Kaia, but I couldn’t help it.
He’d set the monitor on the table at the end of the hall.
It’s almost too much. The way he holds her so naturally, the slight sway of his body as he whispers promises to her.
The reminder of what we could have. Our own little family of three like we’d always planned.
Could we get back to that? I’m strong enough to admit that my feelings for Drew never disappeared. It’s the trust, the fear of losing him again, that keeps me from telling him as much when I silently slip into the nursery and step into his line of sight, monitor in my hand.
It doesn’t take but a second for him to piece it together.
“It’s true, you know,” Drew whispers, keeping his eyes on the little girl who looks so much like her daddy already. Same unruly hair, blue eyes that I hope don’t change color, and a little dimple in her right cheek. “How was your shower?” he asks, finally glancing up.
“Much needed,” I admit. “Thank you.”
His head shakes before I finish talking. “Helping you take care of yourself isn’t something to thank me for. It should be a given.”
Not wanting to argue, I shrug before silencing the monitor and setting it on Kaia’s dresser.
“Still up for going to meet up with everyone? I know you’re exhausted, so if you’d rather just crash—”
“We’re going out, Drew. I know you want to show this cutie off,” I say as I tickle the bottom of Kaia’s foot.
When he asks if I’m sure, I cut my eyes at him, eyebrow raised. “Just let me change her diaper and we can go.”
“Alright, sunshine.”
***
The lights are low as we enter Jace Riley’s Bar and Grill, a soft country tune playing through the speakers. A handful of patrons are scattered throughout, but it’s mostly vacant. I guess that’s what happens at three o’clock on a weekday.
“Are you sure her face is okay like this, Leila?” Drew asks, fidgeting with the baby wrap he insisted on using as he leads me to the bar stools at the back of the room.
Chuckling even as nerves consume my entire being, I rest a hand on his waist. “Promise. She likes to bury her face, but her nose and mouth aren’t smooshed against you.” Glancing up through my lashes, I watch him watch Kaia. “She just feels secure and loved,” I whisper, my lips ticking.
His eyes shoot to me, some unreadable expression dashing across his face before a sweet smile settles on his lips.
“Right. Let’s get you reacquainted with everyone.
” He slips a hand behind me, resting it on my lower back before guiding me to the small group of people gathered at the far end of the bar.
Kelsey and Jett are splitting an order of fries while the two guys seem to be studying something on the shorter one’s phone.
“Since I know the gigantic dude is Jace, I’m guessing the other one is Noah.”
“Yep.”
“Was he around back then?” Back when my life was crumbling. Back when I didn’t notice much of anything because I was more focused on flying under the radar.
Drew nods. “You probably didn’t cross paths too often. He was usually with Jace but didn’t really talk to anyone back then. He was dealing with his own hell.”
“Loner. Gotcha. And he’s Jett’s?”
Drew laughs out loud, drawing the attention of the four. “Yeah, Noah belongs to Jett.” He says it loud enough that the others hear, and Jett beams with satisfaction at the claiming. Noah’s face tinges with pink, but to his credit, he doesn’t back down.
“She sleeping?” Jace asks, wiping his hands on a white rag while nodding toward Kaia.
“Out like a light,” Drew boasts.
“Don’t get too excited,” Kelsey says. “She’s likely to wake up as the afternoon crowd livens up the place.”
“Kels is right,” I say.
“She’s in that thing?” Noah asks, finally glancing up. “I thought it was another shoulder brace.” His face goes from curious to concerned faster than I can track. “You didn’t walk here did you? Sun’ll be going down before—”
Jett cuts him off with a hand on his cheek. “What’ve we talked about, elevator man?”
He sighs heavily, eyes rolling but looking perfectly chastised. “That there’s nothing wrong with the sidewalks around town.”
“And?”
“And I shouldn’t tell grown-ass men where they can and can’t walk.”
“And?”
Noah’s face softens as Jett’s expression takes on a teasing edge. “And you’re the most beautiful girl in the room, chaos,” he says, leaning into Jett. Their noses brush in a sweet almost kiss.
Some random patron yells for them to get a room, but everyone laughs good naturedly.
I can tell this conversation is way over my head, but Drew eases Noah’s concerns.
“We drove, man. I just strapped her to me outside because there’s not really room for a stroller in here.
Besides, do you see how freaking sexy I look in this thing?
” He puts a hand on his hip and kicks his butt out, imaginary hair flip included. “I’m gorgeous.”
Noah and Jace snort laughter while the girls roll their eyes.
Jace looks at me. “Been a long time, Leila. How’s it been being a mom?”
“Like nothing I imagined,” I say honestly. “Still learning. Always tired, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
He nods. “I get that. Want something to eat? Buck makes a mean plate of cowboy nachos.”
“What’s that?” I ask, scrunching my nose.
“Only the best thing you’ll ever put in your mouth,” pipes Jett.
Noah scoffs at his girlfriend’s response. “I take offense to that, ma’am.”
“None of that shit at my bar,” Jace groans. “This is a public eatery, and not all of Havenwood wants to know about your birthday suit shenanigans.”
I notice a few patrons glance our way, and Jace’s ears turn pink as he realizes more people heard him than Jett’s comment.
“You’re just jealous you aren’t gettin’ any, little brother,” Kelsey chimes in, never one to leave well enough alone.
“By three minutes, and neither are you.”
A knowing glint fills Kelsey’s eyes as she takes a bite of another fry before pointing the remaining portion at her twin. “Hmm, keep thinkin’ that, bubs.”
I hide my giggle behind my hand while Drew coughs to cover his laughter.
Jace throws his hands up, clearly exasperated with his sister. “Know what? Forget it. I’m going to the kitchen. I’ll come back when you guys grow up.”
“He’s just salty because he’s lonely. All he does is work and go home to that huge empty house,” Kelsey says.
“Wait, wasn’t he engaged right at the end of your senior year? Whatever happened to her?” I ask.
The collective silence from the group makes me regret opening my mouth. Clearly, nothing good came of it.
“We’ve all seen our share of hurt over the years, sunshine,” Drew says before placing a chaste kiss on the top of my head.
Jett reaches for my arm, pulling me closer to her and Kelsey. I can’t help but glance back over at Drew, but he’s already in discussion with Noah, steadily bouncing on his feet. His large, calloused hand rests against the back of Kaia’s head protectively.
“Somebody’s swooning,” says Kelsey, a grin plastered to her face.
I jump, suddenly aware of my staring. “What? No.”
“Mhmm. Whatever you say, Lala.”
“Lala?” Jett asks.
I roll my eyes, sliding into the open stool next to them. “My brother’s childhood nickname for me. Kels thinks she can use it because she’s got an in with the guardian.”
Kelsey snorts. “Just because my best friend is back in town after a decade doesn’t mean anything. You’ve been ‘Lala’ since the day you were born.”
“I forget you guys all grew up here sometimes. Me and Noah are the odd balls,” Jett says.
Kelsey shifts gears. “So, how are things really going? You guys settling in okay? Gav said you were still set on moving somewhere on your own.”
I nod. “I haven’t started looking yet.”
“You know, Noah’s got a few rentals. You could ask him if any are available,” Jett mentions.
“I might. I just want to get out of Gavin’s hair, you know?”
“Your brother wants you there, Leila,” Kelsey reassures me.
I shrug. “He’s been taking care of me for over a decade now. It’s time I figure out how to go out on my own. As soon as I figure out what to do about a job.”
“I thought you were working that remote gig?” Kelsey asks.
“I was. But they wanted me to start coming into the office twice a week once my leave was up. Not really possible now that I’m in a different state.”
“You were doing admin stuff, right?”
“More or less. Scheduling, prepping documents.”
She looks at Jett. “Still wanting to hire an assistant?”
Jett’s eyes light up as she swings to me. “You’re hired!”
“Wait, what?” I look between Jett and Kelsey as I feel Drew’s heat at my back. “You don’t even know me.”
“I don’t need to. Kelsey knows you, and she’s the one who gave me my shot a few months ago.”
Drew’s hand settles on my waist as he says, “Jett’s a special kind of crazy, but she’s our crazy.”
“He’s right. When I moved here at the beginning of the year, I was running from myself.
My head is a chaotic mess ninety-eight percent of the time, but this town helped me chase what I thought was a far-fetched idea.
Now, I’m running a bookstore café alongside my editing services.
It’s taken off, and I need someone who can keep me organized and on track with deadlines. ”
When I don’t answer immediately, she smiles. “Think about it. You can work remote most of the time, and if you need to come in, baby girl is always welcome.”
“I don’t want a pity job.”
“It’s not. I swear it. I’ve been meaning to post the position on some of those job sites, but I keep forgetting until two in the morning.”
“If you’re sure.”
“Absolutely. And no rush on starting. Feel free to take a few more weeks.”
I shake my head. “If you’re sure, I’d love to start next week.”
“Cool beans. We can talk more about it later.”
Jace steps back around the corner and slides a plate of tater tots with what looks like shredded chicken and barbeque sauce on top. “What’s your beverage of choice?”
“Sweet tea would be heavenly.”
“You good?” Drew asks softly.
I nod. “It’s kind of nice being around people again.”
His eyebrows furrow. “I thought you had support in Tennessee?”
Shaking my head, I shrug. “I had Gavin. Kristen when I needed her. That was enough.”
“From now on, you have this town, this group right here. And you have me. No more doing this on your own,” he whispers against my hair before dropping a kiss to the top of my head.
His hand on my waist keeps me from turning to look at him, and I know— I know —I should not feel like my insides just melted.
I’m more than aware that I can’t let myself fall for his words again.
He promised me the world once before, and look how that turned out.
But what if I let him in? What if we wiped the slate clean?
I mean, what’s the worst that could happen?