Page 66 of Second Draft

I’m prepared for Travis’ retaliation, but not for the look of betrayal and hurt that meets me when he finally gets his bearings.

He wipes the blood from his nose with the back of his hand, lips tight, jaw clenched. “You’re an asshole, you know that?”

My chest squeezes painfully.

Travis turns and storms out of the house, slamming the door so hard behind him that the pictures on the wall rattle.

I rub my knuckles, staring at the closed door for a few seconds, before turning back to Layla.

“You shouldn’t have hit him.” There’s emotion in her voice now, tears glistening in her eyes.

“He deserved it. No one talks to you like that.”

“He had a reason to. Think about it from his perspective. He comes home to find us…together.”

“He walked away,” I say incredulously.

“And he came back.”

Cold trickles down my back.What is she saying?

“You’re not thinking about giving him a second chance?”

“It’s his child. I can’t–”

“He signed the papers, made his decision.” Fear constricts my chest, tightens my throat.

“He’s your brother.” Her hands reach for the railing, fingers trembling. “You’re the one who told me he’d be back. Are you really prepared to cut him out of your life…for me?”

She has no clue what I was willing to do for her.

“Yes,” I growl, moving towards her, but she puts out a hand to stop me when I try to touch her.

“You say that now, but…” A small, sad smile draws her lips up, her expression unreadable.

Every insecurity that I’ve tried to suppress fills me.

She wants him.

Wants to raise this child with him.

I was just a second choice.

Somewhere deep inside of me, I know it’s not true, but then there’s the other voice, the one that’s screaming at me right now, telling me what a blind idiot I’ve been.

I came swooping in here, not giving her much, if any choice. Demanding that she be mine.

She told me that Travis was only the second person she’s been with. He had to mean something to her. I’d tried to not think about that. But the evidence of what was between them would always be there. If Travis really had changed his mind, then I couldn’t stop him from being part of the child’s life. Being part of Layla’s.

Fuck.

My head is spinning.

I need to get out of here before I say something I’ll regret. I take her hand and stroke my thumb across the soft skin.

God, I love her. I thought I knew how much, but I didn’t really, not until now, when I’m about to lose her.

The question is, do I love her enough to give her what she needs? Even if what she needs is me walking away?

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