"Jared. Just give me a minute. Please."
I want to warn her not to keep me waiting, but the pleading in her voice has me clenching my jaw.
"I'll be in the car." I press a kiss to her forehead before leaving. Evelyn is at the bottom of the stairs.
"You're leaving?" she asks.
I smile. "Yes, I am."
That leaves her unsettled, and she marches up the stairs.
Outside, I get into my car. I have two missed calls from Alex.
I'm busy, I text her and look back at Layla's house.
I can't imagine the conversation is going well with Evelyn. It takes a lot of restraint not to get out of the car and rush into the house to get Layla.
Thirty painful minutes pass before Layla leaves the house with a small backpack. She won't meet my gaze as she climbs into the passenger side. The door closes, and with
