Page 41 of What if It's Us

A slow smile spreads across Layken’s face. Not only does she know about my crush on Marlee, but she and Griffin are the only ones who know that I’m Marlee’s sperm donor. Thank God they’ve both willingly kept my secret for me. “Yeah you will.” She brings a hand to her mouth as if to hide what she’s about to say, and then whispers, “Maybe trying the old-fashioned way will help.”

“Yeah. Maybe.”

“Hey, also, call your brother, will you?” Layken says to me, referring to Griffin.

I roll my eyes as I let out a quick laugh. “It’s only been forty-eight hours since we saw each other. Is he really that bad?”

She shrugs. “You know how he can get. It’s the end of summer and he’s bored. And between you and me, I could use a break if you know what I’m saying.” She winks and a humored smile spreads across my face.

“Hear you loud and clear, Lake. I’ll call him tomorrow.”

“My vagina and I thank you very much,” she whispers and then winks just as Marlee comes out with her purse and briefcase bag.

“Ready?”

“Mhmm.” Marlee turns to wave at Layken as we head out. “I’ll see you tomorrow Layken.”

“Feel better Mar. And if there’s anything you need…seriously, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Thanks.”

She’s quiet in the car as I navigate the streets and it’s killing me that I can’t make this all better for her. I can’t just pull out my wallet and give her exactly what I know she desperately wants because like it or not, money can’t buy everything.

“Where are we going?” she asks, finally realizing I’m not driving straight to her place.

“I’m taking you out for comfort food. Whatever you want. You want hot dogs? Chinese? Pizza? A whole night of junk food gorging? An entire bathtub full of chocolate to sit in? Whatever you want, it’s yours.”

“You know it’s just a period, right Ledge?” She turns her head to look at me. “Women get them for five to seven days every single month mostly like clockwork so it’s not something I’m not used to.”

“I know.” I shrug. “But this one hits differently and I get that. So, I want to help you feel better. I can’t erase the period for you and I can’t change what getting your period means for us, but I can certainly do something to hopefully put a smile on your face and a little hope back in your heart.”

That earns me a small smile. “Ledger Dayne, is there a bit of a compassionate romantic deep down in that brawny body of yours?”

If you only knew, Marlee.

If you only knew.

“I don’t know that it’s so deep down in there. Helping others is just…”

“Your love language?” she asks, her eyes narrowing and her head tilting as if she’s all of a sudden studying a part of me she’s never known before.

Pretty sure you’re my love language, Marlee.

Anything that involves you.

I nod. “Yeah. Something like that.”

She inhales a deep breath and pushes it out, relaxing against her seat. “Alright then. Show me what you’ve got.”

I spin my head toward her momentarily. “Really?”

“Really,” she says. “I could use a fun evening to distract me from my own stupid thoughts, so what do you have in mind?”

“Do you trust me?”

She glances at me once more, the corner of her mouth pulling up. “In case you’ve forgotten, you sat between my legs and gave me one hell of an orgasm. I’m pretty damn sure that means I trust you more than anyone right now.”

And fuck, if that wasn’t the best night of my life so far.

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