18
Layla
I slept in late this morning. When I eventually rose from my warm, snuggly bed, I made my way to the kitchen where I made my mandatory coffee, then plopped down on the couch.
I’m sitting here with puffy eyes and a coffee in hand, thinking how embarrassed I am about last night. Liam finally opened up to me about Jackson, and I had a full-blown meltdown. I didn’t see it coming and the admission from him struck too close to home. I lost it. But he was so sweet and patient the whole time.
I hadn’t planned for the date to end so early, but after my breakdown, I needed to be alone. As soon as he walked me to my door and hugged me goodbye, I shut the door and collapsed into a pile, sobbing all over again. Yes, I miss my parents, but I was crying for other reasons too. I was crying because I feel so alone sometimes, and I was crying because my heart broke for that sweet child who lost his parents at such a young age. At least I was an adult and had so many years of wonderful memories with my parents. Jackson would never have that, and it broke me.
I check my phone and see that Liam has already texted me this morning.
Liam: Good morning beautiful. I hope you’re doing better today. I had a great time last night. :)
Relief flows through me, realizing that I didn’t scare him off. Him calling me beautiful also does things to my insides.
Layla: Sorry for how it ended. I’m feeling much better today though, thank you. I also had a great time.
He immediately reads it, and I see his typing bubble pop up. I smile.
Liam: No need to apologize. How is your morning? I hope Lord Davies is treating you right;) Otherwise I might need to have a word with him.
I giggle, and it echoes through the empty room. I’m pleasantly surprised to hear that he remembers that name. I was, in fact, about to pull out a book. Though I finished that one already and am onto a new book.
Layla: He’s okay. I’ve already moved on to a new book, though.
A minute or two passes before my phone chimes again.
Liam: How’s a guy supposed to compete with all these perfect fictional men?
I laugh again.
Layla: Don’t worry, you’re doing just fine;)
I shiver, realizing how cold I am sitting here. I go to check the heat, but it doesn’t seem to be working. I push buttons and fiddle with the thermostat, but nothing changes. It’s going to get freezing in here really fast if it’s broken.
I immediately contact the owner of the rental, then I open my message thread with Liam while I wait for a response. He wrote back a few minutes ago.
Liam : I’d like to see you again.
I send him an update about my heating situation, and he immediately writes back.
Liam: I’m coming to take a look .
Liam: If that’s okay…
Layla: Okay. Thank you!
I scramble to the bathroom, realizing he could be here within five minutes if he hops right in his truck. I brush my hair and add a quick swipe of mascara. Thankfully, my curls from last night held a little and I was wise enough to wash my mascara-streaked face when I got home last night. It’ll have to do. I quickly throw on a pair of black leggings and a thick, forest-green cable-knit sweater, then spritz a bit of perfume on my neck before returning to the couch. I pick up a book, but my mind can’t seem to focus, anticipating his knock at any time.
I pull out my phone and send Daniela a quick message.
Layla: Liam is coming over to fix the furnace .
Daniela : Is this an innuendo for something?
Layla: No. It’s actually broken and he’s coming to take a look. A true knight in shining armor.
Daniela: OMG. Brian would have never known how to even start fixing that. Of course that mountain man would know how to fix a furnace. Use protection:) Or don’t. xoxo
I laugh. After I calmed down from my crying fit last night, I crawled into bed and called Daniela for a quick check-in. She would have been blowing me up all night if I hadn’t updated her at all. The only way she would have left me alone is if I told her I ended up at his place, which, clearly, I did not. After I gave her a very condensed version of what happened, her voice softened, and she told me to get some rest. She added that the sunset sounded nice.
I’ve only been sitting down for a few minutes, scrolling through my phone, when a knock sounds at the door. I hop off the couch to answer it.
I open the door, and his broad figure fills the doorway. “Hey,” I say.
“I got a call about a furnace?” he smirks down at me.
“Right this way, sir.” I play into it, letting him in. “Sorry I interrupted your morning with this.”
“Not at all. I’ll tell you later what forms of payment I accept,” he says with a mischievous grin.
“Coffee?” I offer.
“No, not coffee,” he replies, still grinning.
“I hate surprises, you know.”
He shakes his head. “I know. Some surprises are good, though.” He winks.
I clear my throat. “So, no Jackson today?”
“He’s at his grandparents in Reno for the weekend.”
“Ah. Your parents?”
“Yep. They picked him up from school yesterday and took him for a couple of days.”
“That’s nice.”
He nods and takes his coat off as I show him to the furnace. He rolls up the sleeves of his grey henley and gets to work, investigating the problem. His tan, tattooed forearms catch my attention again and I can’t help but think about them wrapped around my body. I wonder what those strong arms are capable of.
I shiver from the cold, and Liam happens to catch it. “Have you been freezing all morning? You should have texted me sooner.”
“I just started noticing it when you messaged me. I don’t think it’s been out for long.”
He nods, looking thoughtful.
“This is just like a book I read recently,” I ramble as he pokes around more. “The girl and guy get snowed in at her cabin and then their heating system breaks, and they have to stay close for warmth…”
“And then they fall in love and live happily ever after?”
“No, they actually freeze to death at the end.”
Liam abruptly stops what he’s doing and looks at me, his mouth agape. “What!”
I laugh, tilting my head back. “I’m kidding. Of course they lived happily ever after.”
He shakes his head in disbelief.
“Sorry, my sense of humor can be dark sometimes...”
He laughs. “You’re just full of surprises.”
“Hopefully that’s a good thing…”
“Definitely,” he says, smiling back at me.
He sighs and stands up, dusting his knees off and setting his tool down. “So do you want the good news or the bad news?”
My shoulders sink. “Aw man. Lay it on me.”
He quirks his brow.
I cross my arms and lift my eyebrows at him. He seems far too entertained by this.
“Okay, the bad news is that this furnace is broken, and it needs a specific part. Or maybe a new unit altogether. Neither of which I have. I’m assuming you contacted the owner?”
“Yeah. No answer yet.” I lightly bite down on my bottom lip, which he definitely notices. “What’s the good news?”
“The good news is, you get to come hangout with me for the day,” he says confidently.
I look at him, tilting my head and searching for a response. He continues. “Have you eaten breakfast?”