41
Layla
It’s been three days, and Liam finally gets to go home today. Which is nice, since it’s Christmas Eve. The bleeding wasn’t too severe and has been healing well. He was lucky it wasn’t worse, they said. I’ve been at the hospital on and off the last few days, spending more time there than at home. He slept a lot, so I took breaks to go home to shower or sleep.
I’m driving him home this morning. He’s moving around fairly well, but I can tell he’s still in pain. He tries to act like everything is fine, but I notice all the small signs of discomfort, the slight winces, the deep breaths as he settles into my car. It breaks my heart to see him hurting, but I’m so thankful that he’s going to be okay. I’ve sobbed many times the last few days over the relief and gratitude that I’ve felt.
While he’s been resting and recovering, I’ve planned something to surprise him with, and Dex and Daniela were more than eager to help. I really hope he likes it.
Liam glances over at me from the passenger seat. When I look his way, rays of sunlight catch his face, making his eyes look like they’re glowing—a mesmerizing mix of grey, green, and brown that distracts me for a moment. I avert my gaze back to the road.
“Shouldn’t you be at your new job?” he asks, like it only just occurred to him. “I can’t imagine they’d let you take all this time off when you just started…”
“It’s a long story,” I reply, trying to suppress a sly smile that’s threatening to take over.
“We’ve got a few hours…”
“Soon,” I say, giving him a reassuring smile.
I keep him busy with small talk. I ask about his past, his college years—I want to know everything that made him into the man he is today.
Every now and then, he looks over at me like he knows I’m up to something but doesn’t want to push it. Keeping the surprise from him is incredibly hard, but it’ll be worth it.
As we get closer to the house, his tone turns more serious, almost melancholy. “When do you have to head back?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe this weekend. I’m not really sure,” I lie.
He attempts a smile, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “I’ve missed you,” he says, his jaw tightening as he stares ahead.
“I’ve missed you too. So much,” I whisper. And I leave it at that. For now.
We pull up to his house, which should be empty. I park next to a cluster of pines that line his driveway and I try to hurry around to help him out, but he’s already helped himself out. I hold him around his waist anyway. The air is frigid, but there’s not too much snow on the ground.
He starts to walk, but I pause to take everything in—the mountains, the trees, the crisp air. I breathe it all in, feeling so happy to be back. Liam looks down at me with a sad sort of smile.
“You really love it here, don’t you?”
“I do,” I nod.
Liam closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, looking like he’s wrestling with his thoughts. Then he opens them, and there’s an intensity in his gaze. “I know I said I wasn’t going to tell you everything I want to until you’re back for good. But, fuck, I’m just going to say it. These past few days have given me a lot of clarity, but even before, I knew how I felt. Without a doubt. And now, I don’t care about holding back. You can take as long as you need, but I’m not giving up on this. On us. I will wait as long as you need, but I’m not going to wait another minute to tell you that I am completely in love with you, Layla Stewart. I wanted to tell you the day that you left, and I was an idiot not to. But I’m telling you now. And I’m not going to give you any ultimatums or deadlines. I’ll be with you in whatever way you can handle, because that is how much you mean to me. I know that there are a lot of big decisions and unknowns on your end, so I’ll be here however you need me to be. You fit with us so perfectly, and I know that you feel it too.”
Silent tears slip down my cold cheeks. I grab him and hold him close. Given his pained grunt, it was a little too tight.
I’d taken a leap of faith when making my plans over the last few days, but this—hearing him say all these things—was exactly the reassurance I needed. It was better than I could have ever hoped for.
I pull back, and Liam is wiping my tears away. He looks down at me with such a burning in his eyes that I feel as if I might float away if he weren’t holding me right now.
“Can you come with me for a minute?” I ask. His eyebrows crease, and his eyes dart around in confusion, but he nods, though it’s tinged with skepticism.
I sigh and lead him back to the car.
“Get in, please,” I order.
Liam’s confused frown deepens as he looks at me, still not moving.
“Can you just humor me, please?” I beg. “I promise it’s worth it.”
“Fine, fine,” he says, putting his hands up in defeat.
I get in and sigh again as he buckles up beside me.
“I was going to wait until tomorrow to show you this, since you just got out of the hospital, endured a three-hour car ride, and should probably be at home relaxing. But then you had to go and confess your love to me…” I smile at him with watery eyes. Not yet , I tell myself. Keep it together. I want to show him this first.
He doesn’t look fully amused, but he’s going along with it. I pull out and head about five minutes up the road, to a neighborhood with a cluster of small homes. I pull up to one and get out, giving him no explanation.
I stride to the front door, sensing him following close behind me. Then I pull a key out from under a vase and go inside. There are several boxes scattered in the entryway, and a miniature Christmas tree near the wall. That was a thoughtful touch. I spot my framed picture that Liam bought me from the antique shop sitting atop an open crate full of stuff and I smile.
Dex really went the extra mile when dropping my stuff off. I shake my head, unable to suppress a smirk as I picture Dex and Daniela grabbing some of the boxes I packed back in Sacramento and bickering the entire time. Dex dropped them off here and met with the realtor to get the key, which he left for me under that vase. I had planned this before Liam’s accident and was going to share the news with him when he came to visit, but after all that happened, I called in a favor with Dex and Daniela. They were more than happy to help so I could make this grand gesture to Liam when he came home.
“Surprise,” I say, my voice a little too high-pitched.
He looks at me, still confused, then glances around the room. “I don’t…I don’t get it.”
“This is my place,” I state simply. “It’s only a three-month lease. I was actually really lucky to find a deal like this. I thought…we could see how it goes and then—”
Liam cuts me off by lifting me off the ground and squeezing me in a tight hug. Then he winces and lets out a grunt and sets me down. I give him a look of concern and stand back to take him in. His eyes are sparkling with happiness, and his smile is wider than I’ve ever seen it, despite the pain he was in two seconds ago.
“Be careful, Liam. Are you alright?” I ask with concern.
“I’m fine,” he smiles, holding his hands up.
“I’m sorry it took me a little longer to take the leap,” I say. “But I’m taking it now. I want to be here. With you, with Jackson, even Cocoa. You guys have welcomed me with open arms since the day I showed up, and I’m forever thankful for that. I feel like I’m part of a family again, and I didn’t realize how much I missed that. I missed you horribly the entire time I was gone.”
Tears are streaming down my face now. I’m thinking of all the loss the three of us have endured, and how, through it all, we’ve found each other.
“You’re staying?” he asks, like he still can’t quite believe it.
“If you’ll still have me. You’re the most selfless person I’ve ever met, Liam. And you’re patient, kind… a little bossy in the kitchen,” I add with a playful smile.
He laughs, grabbing my face gently in his hands, staring deep into my eyes.
“Of course we will,” he smiles, then kisses me intensely, like he never wants to break apart again. I can feel all the relief, the pain and the joy in his kiss. I pull away for a moment, staring up at him again.
“I love you, Liam Barnes,” I smile.
“I love you so much, Layla” he replies, kissing me again.
**
We didn’t stay long at my new place. Nothing was unpacked and I could tell Liam was getting tired and still feeling sore.
We’re getting out of the car once again, this time in front of his house. I hold his hand and lead him toward the front door. His thumb massages mine and he looks at me with a twinkle in his eyes.
As we step inside, I take in the large, real tree in the corner of the living room and the big banner hanging above the kitchen island, complete with balloons. It reads, “Welcome home.” Another plan executed with the help of his best friend. Liam smiles, taking it all in.
Finally home again, we hold each other in the kitchen, kissing and staring into each other’s eyes. We almost take things to the bed before we both realize that it’s not the best idea for Liam today. Unfortunately. But there will be endless days ahead of us for that.