Chapter 13
1216 Words
LAYLA'S POV
The moment I open the door and step in, it feels like Edward threw a party, deep voices echoing, and thick male scent clogging the air.
My steps slow as I get closer to the living room, then stop completely when about five pairs of eyes land on me at once.
The conversation dies instantly.
I blink. They blink.
My gaze flicks from one face to another, then drops to the stack of pizza boxes piled on the table.
“Hi,” I whisper, then turn sharply toward my room because all I need right now is a hot bath to scrub Colt off my skin and then sleep and pretend I can forget everything that happened, even though I know I won’t.
I’m barely five steps in when someone steps out of the kitchen, almost crashing into me. I jerk back just as he reaches out, catching my wrist to steady me.
Slowly, I lift my gaze.
The guy staring down at me is huge with broad shoulders, and ink running down both arms just like Edward’s. Actually… just like all of them sitting in the living room. What is this? A tattoo convention?
“You must be Layla,” he says, snapping me out of my brief zoning out. I quickly lift the books in my hand, pressing them to my neck to cover the bruise Colt left. “I hope I didn’t scare you.”
His smile is warm and soft in a way that doesn’t match how he looks at all. If I saw someone like him at night, I’d probably run until my legs gave out. But then he smiles like that… and it’s almost puppy-like.
“Yeah… I’m Layla,” I answer, even though a small part of my brain is already wondering how he knows that. I ignore it. I just want to get to my room. “Nice to meet you.”
I slip past him, heading straight for my door, and I’m almost there when…
“Isn’t it a bit rude not to ask my name?”
I pause.
From the living room, a couple of voices immediately back him up.
“That’s cold.”
“Brutal.”
I suck in a breath, reminding myself I do not need to snap at some random guy, especially if he’s Edward’s friend.
Slowly, I turn back and plaster on a fake smile.
“I’m sorry. It’s been a long day,” I say. “So… what’s your name?”
He jerks his head toward the living room. “Come on. I’ll introduce you.”
I hesitate, then follow him back into the living room where his friends are already watching me with expectant looks.
“This is Rio.” He points to the guy at the far end of the couch, and Rio lifts two fingers in a lazy greeting.
“And that’s Johnny,” he adds, gesturing to the guy beside him.
One by one, he runs through their names, and even though I zone out halfway, especially when more of them start filing out of the kitchen during this whole grand introduction, I manage to catch Rio, Johnny, Kaz, Leo, and Stephan.
The rest? They might have to wait until I’m in a better mood. Or do another grand introduction.
“And I’m Eliot,” he finally says, tilting his head at me with a smirk. Oakie purrs softly, which is her way of saying she likes him. And… yeah. He doesn’t exactly look like someone who should be friends with grumpy Edward. “Nice to meet you, Layla.”
“Nice to meet you too,” I say. “I guess… I’ll be seeing you guys around?”
“Sure.” He nods.
Not exactly what I was hoping for, but when do beggars ever get choices?
This is Edward’s lodge, and if he decides to bring in a pet lion, I’ll just have to deal with it. He did say we should stay out of each other’s lives… maybe I should’ve asked what that actually meant, so his little army of tattooed friends wouldn’t have come as a surprise.
“If Edward gives you a hard time, tell us,” Rio says, and I shift my focus to him.
“That’s…” My eyes catch on the letters inked along his arm, and I narrow them slightly. “Is that Latin?”
He glances down at his arm, then back at me. “Yeah. How’d you know?”
“I kind of know a bit of Latin.” I step closer, leaning in to get a better look. “Fall seven times, ride eight,” I translate, then straighten. “That’s nice.”
“Thanks,” he says, looking at me with a kind of fascination. “No one’s ever actually translated my tattoos before but thanks.”
“Let’s not keep you,” Eliot cuts in, and I nod quickly. “We’ll catch you later.”
“Yeah later,” I say, already turning. I don’t wait for anything else before heading straight for my room.
I hear someone behind me mumble that I look sad, but I ignore it.
My hand lands on my doorknob and then Edward’s door opens.
He steps out, and I freeze. He pauses, his eyes raking over me, and I have to admit I’m doing the same before I snatch my gaze away. He’s wearing a sleeveless shirt again and grey sweatpants, his hair tousled, eyes slightly red like he has been sleeping.
“You look like s**t,” he mutters, stepping closer with his hands in his pockets. “Why?”
My jaw tightens with annoyance.
Kudos to him for kicking someone who’s already down.
“I’m fine,” I say, pushing my door open. I’m about to slam it shut when he puts his leg in the way, stopping it. His lips twitch, like he’s annoyed. “What?”
He stares at me for a while, and when his gaze settles on the side of my neck, I shift my book over to cover it.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
I swallow, then force a nod. “Yeah.”
He doesn’t say anything for a few seconds, then gives a small nod. “Fine. If you say so.” He pulls his leg back from the door. “We need to talk about the tutoring thing tonight.”
“Alright.”
He hesitates for a second, then walks off.
I exhale slowly the moment he disappears, shutting the door and leaning back against it. My grip tightens around my books.
Did he see it? The bruise. Is that why he asked?
I swallow the thought away and push myself off the door, trudging to my desk. I drop the books carefully and start stripping out of my clothes.
I need to wash my skin until there’s nothing left of Colt on me, if that’s even possible.
As I walk into the bathroom, I turn the shower on and just stand under the hot water, letting it run down my skin.
For some reason, as I try to block out Colt’s words, the only thing that comes to mind is Rio’s tattoo.
Fall seven times, ride eight.
Where have I seen that before?
- Writer
