“A lot of people in town are talking about how much time the two of you are spending together. I’ve even heard the word ‘wedding’ thrown around.”
“People love to make up shit, man. They live vicariously through everyone else because their own lives are so dull.”
“I get to be your best man. If you pick anyone else, I won’t show up for your wedding.”
“The day I never get married, you can be my best man,” I agree.
“Your bachelor party will be epic.” Justin’s eyes glaze over as he looks off into the distance, visualizing my imaginary bachelor party.
“Yeah, I’m sure it’ll go down in history, never to be topped,” I deadpan. “Can you be serious for a minute?”
“She’s your girlfriend. She loves your daughter. Of course she’ll babysit for you. Every girl in this county drools over you when you walk by. Why would she be any different?”
That’s just it, Justin. She is different from every girl in this county, in every way.
“She’s not my girlfriend,” I emphasize.
“So then you won’t mind if I ask her out?”
“You already have a girlfriend.”
“Things aren’t great between us,” Justin admits.
“Sorry to hear that, man. Anything you want to talk about?”
“Not with you. Maybe Layne will lend a sympathetic ear my way, though.”
“Stay away from her,” I warn, the edge in my voice as sharp as a razor.
A slow, shit-eating grin covers Justin’s face. “I knew it.”
“You lied to me about you and Karen for that?” I spit out.
“No, I didn’t lie about Karen and me. Things aren’t great and haven’t been for some time. It is time we just split before we end up hating each other. If you’re not interested in Layne, though…” He intentionally lets his voice trail off for a few thick seconds. “She’s gorgeous. Everyone who’s met her has said she’s incredible. Tara has a huge girl-crush on her.”
“Your little sister is easily swayed,” I laugh. “But you’ve heard correctly. She’s a great person. And you stay away from her.”
Justin smirks at me, knowing me way too well. “When are you bringing her by here to meet me?”
“I’m leaving now. I’ve spent enough quality time with you today.”
“You know she has to get the best friend’s stamp of approval,” he calls to my back as I walk toward my truck.
“You want to ask her out. She already has your approval.”
When I get home, River and Layne are in the backyard, sitting on the bank with their fishing poles and their feet in the water. “You know you’re scaring the fish off with your feet splashing around in the water.”
“We know, but we’re still having fun.” When Layne looks up at me, pure happiness radiates from her beautiful face. She hasn’t seemed this happy since she got here. My curiosity is piqued.
“What have you been up to since I saw you earlier today?” I ask Layne.
“Rose called me this afternoon and asked if I could keep River. She said she got an earlier flight to Texas and didn’t want to bother you at work again,” she explains. “We’ve had an awesome time together.”
“She left early? And didn’t tell me?” I can’t believe Rose would do that.
“Yep, she did, Daddy,” River confirms. “I told her to call Laynie because I wanted to stay with her.”
“I’m sorry she put that burden on you unexpectedly like that.” I apologize, even though I know I’m about to ask her to take on this burden for most of the summer.
“It’s not a burden, honestly. She said you’d probably need someone to keep River while she’s away the next couple of months. She can stay with me, if you want. I mean, if you don’t have someone else already in mind.”
The thing about Layne is she has no idea how completely wonderful she is. She is blissfully unaware of how people around her seem to fall under her spell without any effort on her part. She doesn’t have a clue how badly I want to pull her into my arms and kiss her senseless at this very second. It’s taking all of my willpower to keep from doing just that.
My reply is as honest as I can be with her. “Layne, I’m not thinking of anyone else at all.”
Chapter Seven
Layne
Somehow, I’m able to hold my groan inside. I just blurted it out, without a filter or a second thought of what I was offering. This summer was a time for me to get away from everything, regroup and find myself and recharge my batteries. The point is, this summer was my chance to focus on myself for a change. It was all about me.