Page 69 of Forbidden

“Eve said you weren’t hungry.” Mum crossed her arms. “I was coming to give you a lecture about how alcohol is not a food group.” Mum walked into the room and Layla turned, backing into me as Mum approached.

Meeting the parents was usually a big step, right? Well, in this case, I wanted her to meet Mum. I planted my hands on her hips.

“Mum, this is Layla and Layla this is my Mum, Abby.”

“I believe Hannah has relocated to your house, right?” Mum smiled at her and was her normal carefree self. Mum would know exactly what to say to make sure Layla didn’t bolt. Mum always read people well. She was the best judge of character.

“Yes, her and I have an unhealthy relationship for Netflix.” Layla smiled and didn’t seem nervous. “Total polar opposites with everything else, though, especially when it comes to exercise. Your daughter hates exercise.”

“Hannah is allergic to anything involving exercise.”

“I know. I made her walk the block and I regretted it by the time we got to the corner. But I will have her running by the end of the month.” Layla’s hands went over mine. “I’m forcing exercise and eating on her right now.”

“Yeah, I’ve noticed she’s lost weight.” Mum’s concern for Hannah was coming out. Something was wrong with Hannah, just no one knew what. “Has she explained to you why she isn’t eating?”

If anyone was going to have an idea what was wrong with Hannah, it would be Layla. Layla and her were glued together at school and after school and every weekend. In fact, it was a rare occurrence that they’d been apart last night.

I felt Layla go slightly stiff. Like she was keeping something to herself.

“She’s under a lot of pressure at school with being captain and taking on those extra units. I think it’s just stress. But don’t worry, Mrs. Wilson. I’m making sure she does look after herself.”

“Call me Abby. When I hear Mrs. Wilson, I think of the dragon known as my mother-in-law.” Mum glanced at my hands on Layla. She knew I was making a claim in front of her. Layla was important. Important to me.

Mum also wasn’t used to me having anyone at the house, let alone having someone here that was a girl.

“Well, do you two want to come down for breakfast?” Mum took her eyes off my hands and looked at us. “If you’ve been here since last night, then I know for a fact you didn’t get tea because Tyson is allergic to the kitchen.”

I scoffed. Of course Mum would bring that up.

“Up to Tyson.” Layla turned. “Are you hungry?”

I would rather spend my time with her in bed. But we did need food.

“Yeah, we will come down.” I made the decision. If I forced her to eat now it meant she could be locked in my room for longer.

“I’ll, um, get dressed,” Layla said, taking my hands off her.

“Don’t bother. No one is going to be home. I’m about to head out. Reaper is at the clubhouse and Eve’s already left to go shopping with friends. And I don’t know where Hannah is.”

House alone with Layla. Fucking perfect.

“Thanks, Mum.” I couldn’t be more thankful. No one was going to be home. Which meant I could do whatever I wanted with Layla.

“Breakfast is on the kitchen bench. Make sure you get him to eat, Layla. He’s been drinking his weight in liquor.” Mum’s hand fell on the door handle. “If you are still around, Layla, we do family dinner on Sundays and you’re welcome to join us.”

I grinned. I was really going to have to thank Mum later. Now, thanks to her, I was going to make sure Layla stayed for tea. Which meant she would be here all day. Mum closed the door.

Layla and I were by ourselves again.

“So, you’re staying then?” I kept my hands on her as she turned around, looking up at me.

“You know how I wasn’t going to let you get to know me?” Layla spoke up to me.

I nodded my head. Was she going to let me get to know her?

“Well, I was given this advice and I sort of live by it: it is to judge a person’s actions and not their image. For once, when it came to you, your actions and image said the same thing. That being ‘fuck off’.”

Great, I really knew how to make an impression.

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