Always You

Chapter 13

{Meg}

I wake up slowly, opening my eyes tentatively, enjoying the cosy warmth. Layla sleeps peacefully next to me. We'd both moved in the night to face each other. My brain is probably going to rebel against my impulsive actions last night but for now it's at peace in this moment.

Layla wakes up as I watch her, a smile forming when she sees I'm still here. "Good morning dream girl."

"Dream girl?"

"I figured I'd edge my bets in case I dreamt last night. This is better than my teenage dreams though."

"You're so dopey," I chuckle, "your bed is great, I don't think I've slept that well in a long time." It really was a great sleep. After all the tossing and turning I did before coming in here, I went into a deep sleep without being disturbed once. I almost don't want to move now. If it weren't for the fact I have to get up for Abby.

Shit Abby.

I bolt upright. Flinging the blanket off me. "Abby." Is the only reason I give Layla before rushing out her room and barging into mine. The sight before me has me stop dead in the doorway, Layla practically running into my back.

"Mummy, can we play princess?" Abby says sweetly, playing on the floor with her teddy, a plastic tiara already on her head.

"Yes, baby girl." I manage to say as my racing heart starts to calm.

Layla pats my shoulder gently before announcing that she's going to start breakfast.

--__--__--

Abby dressed in a princess outfit is playing with a child's jigsaw puzzle on Gracie's living room floor as the two of us sit on the sofa talking.

"So how did Layla do yesterday?" Gracie asks after telling me about her meeting and her co-workers.

Part of me was still thinking of last night so my first instinct was denial. Gracie chuckled at my reaction before clarifying what she was initially asking but deciding my reaction was juicier.

"I slept in Layla's bed." I say unable to look at her.

"And were did Layla sleep?" she asks in a sing-song.

"Also, in her bed." I say, cringing.

"You slept together." She says loudly.

"Not in the way you're implying," I rush to clarify, "we just slept in the same bed there was no sex." I mouth the last word after a look to Abby who's still playing happily on her own.

"Why not?" she says disappointed.

I give her an exacerbated look. Really? Her reaction is not why were you in the bed but why didn't you sleep with her. My cousin is weird.

"What do you mean why not? I'm not the type to have random one-night stands and Layla and I are not together."

"I still don't know why you're not dating her yet." She mumbles. "Okay," she says louder, "How did you end up in her bed?"

So, I go on to explain what happened, when I tell her we kissed multiple times she becomes practically giddy. She'd have me walking down the aisle with Layla tomorrow if she had her way.

"What does this mean going forward? Are you going to sleep in her bed again tonight? are you going to kiss her again? or easier question, do you like her?"

I've tried to deny it since she walked back into my life but I can't anymore. I do still have feelings for her but memories of that final day together are still strong.