Layla – Present
“The tables booked for eight,” Jacob tells me as he opens the door to our room. “That gives us two hours.”
We spent the morning and most of the afternoon in the Broadmans lawyer’s office, with Jacob signing all the paperwork to finalize the deal. As promised, they invited us to celebrate with dinner at an upscale New York restaurant.
I watch him sit at the end of the bed and slip off his shoes. He removes his suit jacket and loosens his tie. I leave the red dress I was double checking for wrinkles hanging nearby and stand in front of him.
“I’m sorry if you were bored today.” He looks up at me, his hands resting on the bed.
I step between his legs. “I wasn’t bored.” I push my fingers into his hair and bite my lip.
His eyes flicker to mine as I climb onto his lap. His hands move up to grip my waist. I press my lips between his collar and jaw, smiling when I feel his fingers dig into me. I start undoing the buttons on his shirt, kissing my way across his chest.
“Layla.” He breathes, his hands tangled in my hair, pulling my face to his. He kisses me then, his tongue warm against mine. Reaching for the zipper of my dress, he helps me pull it over my head. As our lips meet, my fingers trace a line from his neck down to his belt, and I begin to unhook it.
“You’re sure?” he says, his voice a deep whisper against my lips.
I nod. “I want this with you, Jacob.”
Of all the things Jacob and I have done together, we’ve never done this.
My heart races as he grips my thighs and gently turns us over, laying me down on the bed beneath him, his weight pressing warmly above me.
I wrap my legs around him, and he presses gentle kisses along my neck, his fingers sliding under the straps of my bra, pulling it down.
He kisses the spot on my shoulder where the fabric once rested, his hand trailing down to my thigh before winding back up to tangle in my hair.
“You’re perfect, Layla.”
He rests his forehead against mine, brushing a kiss on the tip of my nose. I push back on his chest, then climb on top of him, swooping my hair over one shoulder before I place a tender, lingering kiss to his lips.
“I could say the same about you.”
I let my bra slip from my shoulders. His eyes darken, as he takes me in.
He turns me gently, settling back on top of me, kissing me slow, like he’s trying to memorize everything.
I used to imagine what it would be like to have him touch me like this. But none of those fantasies even comes close to this.
He leans in, brushing the hair from my face.
“You okay?” he murmurs.
I nod, a smile on my lips, and press a finger to his. He holds my gaze for a beat longer, kissing the tip of my finger, then leans in, his mouth crashing down on mine.
***
The sheets are wrapped around us, my back pressed against him as I toy with his hand in mine. He kisses my bare shoulder, then lets go of my hand to place it low on my stomach.
“Tell me what you’re thinking about,” he says.
I laugh, turning to face him. His green eyes lock onto mine with such intensity that it pools warmth low in my belly.
“You really want to know?”
He swallows, then nods.
“I’m thinking I’m not sure how we’ll ever top tonight.” I trail my finger along his arm. “I’m afraid every other time is going to be a letdown now.”
He presses his nose to mine. “A letdown, huh?”
“Yes.” I grin. “I think the only way to be sure is to do it again.” I look up at him through my lashes, “You know, process of elimination?”
He laughs then leaves a soft kiss on my lips. “When you put it like that…”
He pulls the sheet over us.
***
As it turns out, Jacob is incapable of disappointment.
I think he knows my body better than I do. He knows exactly where to touch, how to move, what to say, how to…
“I underestimated you,” I say, my head resting on his chest.
His laugh is deep and throaty. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that with you.”
My cheeks flush.
“What time is it?” I ask.
Jacob grabs his phone from the bedside table
He curses. “We’re late.”
We rush to get ready. I grab my red dress from the hook and slip it on, Jacob helping me with the zipper while I fix his tie.
The man who held the lift for us yesterday is there again. He hits the button for the first floor.
“How’s your trip going?” he asks, glancing at me as I try to tame my hair.
“It’s going well. We’re actually visiting that park you told us about tomorrow.”
He nods in approval as the doors slide open.
Jacob laces his fingers with mine as we weave through the streets, arriving at the restaurant a little out of breath. The Broadmans are already seated, a bottle of wine open on the table.
“Ah there they are.” Jim Broadman, smiles at us as he stands to greet us. He shakes Jacob’s hand then kisses my cheek.
“I’m sorry we’re late,” I say.
“Don’t be. You’re young and in New York for the first time, I’d expect nothing less,” Brianna replies warmly.
Jacob squeezes my thigh under the table as the waiter takes our orders.
Conversation flows easily. Brianna quizzes me about Rockport and all the sightseeing we’ve done. Our dinner plates are just being cleared away when she suddenly gasps and leans forward, eyes wide.
“Do you watch football?” she asks, adjusting her earrings.
“Not really, but I used to.”
“Don’t turn around, but the Guardians tight end, Clark Gables just sat down at the table behind you.”
My head instinctively starts to turn.
“I said don’t look,” she chides.
Too late. His eyes meet mine, and a slow, familiar smile spreads across his face. He pushes his chair back and strides toward me.
“Layla?” he says, pulling me into a hug. “Holy hell, what are you doing in New York?”
“I’m here with Jacob, for a business meeting.”
“Jacob?” He releases me and smiles past me, then extends a hand toward Jacob. “I’m Clark,” he says, “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Jacob returns the smile and shakes his hand. “Nice to finally meet you.”
Clark glances back at the woman he was dining with. She smiles gently, long brunette waves tied in a ponytail falling over her shoulder.
“Give me a minute and we’ll join your table,” he says, waving down a waiter.
Brianna practically vibrates with excitement. “How do you know Clark Gables? And is he really going to join our table?”
The waiter brings over two extra chairs and sets new places as Clark returns, his hand on his dates lower back as he guides her toward the table.
“This is my girlfriend, Aria,” Clark says, introducing her. I lean forward to greet her.
“It’s nice to meet you. Clark’s told me so much about you.” Aria smiles warmly at me.
“So,” Brianna starts, her grin wide.
“Clark this is Brianna, she’s one of Jacob’s new clients.” I lean in closer “and she’s a fan.” I whisper.
“More than a fan,” she laughs. “Slightly obsessed. And my nine-year-old son will hate me forever for meeting you without him.”
Clark grins. “I’ll have to arrange to meet him then, won’t I?”
“You’d do that?” Her eyebrows reach her hairline.
He nods. “We’ll even get him out to a game.”
“Oh my goodness, thank you! Thank you so much!”
Clark nudges my shoulder. “And we need to get you to one, too.”
I hesitate. I’m not sure I could watch Clark in the colors Ben used to wear. I’m not ready for that. Not yet, anyway. That wound’s still healing. Maybe someday I’ll be able to watch Clark play without lingering on all the things that should have been.
“How are you doing?” I change the subject.
“Nice diversion, Matthews.” He shakes his head then takes a sip of his beer. “I’ve been good. Aria’s writing an article about an ice hockey team here, and I tagged along.” He laces his fingers through hers.
“How are things in Rockport?” he asks, glancing toward where Jacob is still deep in conversation with Jim and Michael.
“I’m opening my bakery.” I say, unable to hide my smile.
“What? When?”
“I haven’t picked an exact date yet. But when Jacob and I get back, I’m going to finalize everything.”
“Do it during my off-season,” he says, turning to Aria. “What do you think, could you spare a month down by the sea?”
“How could I say no to that,” she says with a soft laugh.
“Have you got yourself a place yet?” he asks, just as the waiter sets their plates down.
“I’m still living with Mabel,” I admit, cheeks warming.
I can’t help but feel like I’m still behind, like I should be further along by now.
Jacob’s hand squeezes my thigh gently. “You okay?” he whispers.
I nod. “Just in my head.”
He brings my hand up to his lips and kisses the back of it.
“Jacob.” Clark says, “how long have you known Layla?”
Jacob rests his arm along the back of my chair “Since junior year.”
“High school sweethearts,” Brianna gushes.
I watch as the conversation shifts from how we all know each other and settles into something easier, jokes, laughter, stories. Comfortable.
There’s something about these two parts of my life colliding, and not just tolerating, but accepting each other, that makes my heart beat a little easier.
We stay so long the waiter has to ask us to leave. I wave goodbye to the Broadmans as they climb into a cab, then hug Clark and Aria, promising to meet up again soon.
Back in the hotel room, our clothes scatter the floor, our bodies tangled together, the sheet draped lazily across us. And I realize something, there’s no right way to live, and to grieve, and to love. There’s no way to protect your heart from the pain of loss.
I don’t think the pain of losing Ben will ever disappear, and maybe it shouldn’t.
But the broken pieces of my heart? They belong to Jacob now.
Maybe they always did. He told me before it’s always been me, but I don’t think he understands that it was always him for me, too.
Life just had other plans. But that love, it never truly went away. Even if it’s now shared.
“Layla?” Jacob whispers into my hair.
“Yeah?”
“Move in with me.”