Page 14 of In the Lonely Hour

“How fucked up is it that that’s the least of my concerns?” Layla turned to face him. “I don’t have to know the details of your marriage to know he doesn’t deserve you. Or Dior.” He took a step in her direction. “If I felt like you wanted me to… I swear to God I’d take you.” He took another step, causing Layla to inhale a sharp breath. “But if you want me to fall back, I can do that too.”

“Honestly… I don’t know what I want you to do.”

“Then I’ll fall back until you figure it out. Promise me you’ll let me know when you do.”

Layla smiled as she nodded. After placing a kiss to his cheek, she assured him, “I will. I promise.”

“Is it okay if I hug you?” Layla’s mom, Sharon, asked.

Andres smiled and nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

Sharon wasted no time pulling him into her arms. Only a few seconds passed before her body was shaking from the tears she released. Layla turned her back to them as she wiped her own tears. When Sharon released him, her father gave him a firm handshake and pulled him in for a side hug.

“Trust me, we don’t usually act like this,” Jasper assured, causing them both to chuckle.

“We’ve just been waiting for this for so long,” Sharon explained. “This is the first time Layla has allowed us to keep Dior for a few hours in over a year, and we pray this can lead to her being able to stay overnight.”

“But we’re not going to rush it,” her father interrupted. “We’re going to take it slow and get what we can get.”

“Thank you,” Layla replied, making her way to Andres’s side. “I know she’s going to be okay with y’all. It was my own issues more than anything. Not being able to count on Carlos made me feel like I couldn’t trust anyone. Plus I was ashamed of how things had turned out. It was a mess, but Dre is helping me get out of my own head.”

“It doesn’t matter anymore. We’re just happy we get to have her for a little while. And see you of course. We’ve missed you both.”

“We’ve missed you too.”

After Layla gave them a brief rundown of what they could expect, Andres gave them a list of things to avoid saying or doing to send Dior into a meltdown or shutdown stage. She didn’t have them often according to Layla, mainly when she was overwhelmed or afraid.

Because this was another new experience for them, Andres planned to spend the time they would be apart with Layla to be her support. Normally, it would have been her spouse, but since he didn’t know what the hell was up with her and Carlos, he didn’t mind taking his place at all.

Two weeks had passed since their trip to the botanic garden, and though it had been hard, Andres had been on his best behavior. All that bullshit about not wanting a relationship and keeping things professional went out the window when he was around Layla. It was something about her that made him feel like they’d been partners in another lifetime, and maybe that was why he felt so comfortable and attached to her already. It didn’t help that he wanted to be literally everything she and Dior needed.

As they walked out of the house, Layla asked, “Are you taking me to get food? I’m starving.”

Andres chuckled, casually taking her hand into his. He pulled away quickly, reminding himself that he said he’d fall back.

“I made us a reservation at Ruth’s Chris. Is that cool?”

“Ooh fancy. I haven’t had a good steak in a while.”

That hadn’t been Andres’s plan, but when he saw her in that peach bandage dress that accentuated every curve she had and added ones she didn’t, he knew he had to take her somewhere nice and show her off. Her hair was pulled up into a high bun for a change, showing off her striking facial features. This evening, her face was lightly made, and his eyes kept going to her peach colored lips.

Andres was surprised when she took his hand back into hers.

“You’re teasing me.” When she tried to pull her hand out, he held it tighter. “I like it.”

Layla laughed softly as she wrapped her arm around his. “I don’t mean to tease you or seem hot and cold. My mind is telling me this is wrong but my heart definitely wants to explore something with you.”

“I’ll make sure I handle both properly so you’ll know which one you can trust and listen to.”

“You saying things like that only makes this harder,” Layla confessed, getting inside of his SUV.

“How so?”

She didn’t answer right away, thinking over the right way to express herself. “Two of the biggest things that I think my marriage and household lacked are present partnership and seeing to each other’s needs. You’re so present and gentle with me and my daughter and you care for us in a way that…” Her eyes blinked rapidly as they filled with tears. Sniffling, she hung her head briefly and composed herself. When her eyes were dry she looked at him again. “In a way that I wanted her father to. I’ve been really lonely over the past couple of years and your companionship means a lot. It’s one thing for you to be kind toward me but the way you handle my daughter… that’s whatmakes me crave you most. And I keep telling myself not to take it personally because this is your job but…”

“It’s not,” he interrupted, cupping her cheek and brushing it with his thumb. “Don’t get me wrong, I’d treat y’all just as well regardless because I’m genuine and passionate about what I do… but I go above and beyond for Dior and you. With anyone else, I would work with them two or three days a week max and let my team handle the rest. Me being with y’all almost every day is because I want to be, not because I have to be for work.”

“But why? What is it about us that makes you do the things you do?”

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