In Her Sleep

She Hates Me

She didn't say anything. He'd laid bare his soul and yet she hadn't said anything more than it wasn’t his fault. Caleb pauses and stares at Layla, hating the whole situation.
Sandwiched between Emma and Emily as they wait for dinner, she looks like she's having the time of her life…away from him and his screwed up one. An ache he hasn't been able to get rid of since she'd pointed out they'd be late for Janice’s dinner instead of letting him know what she was thinking, registers in his heart.
The fact that she didn't run the other way or that she'd hugged him once he was done seemed not enough then and certainly not enough now. Caleb needs her to say something, anything. The expressions on her face clearly showed that she didn't see him like her sweet doctor anymore. Does she loathe him, then?
"Give her time.” Janice comes round to his side as he leans on their kitchen counter. He hesitantly turns to her and he’s met with that same look she shoots him with when he's being hard on himself.
"I just wish she'd tell me what she's thinking.” Letting out an audible sigh, he gets back to chopping. It is not onion, thankfully. Janice is apparently in the mood for one of his killer fruit salads, God bless the little godson or daughter she's carrying for saving him. Even though in this dull mood, a few of those tears may have come in handy in washing away the ache in his heart without making him look like a sissy.
He stabs an apple before slicing it with an insane speed. At this rate he could cut an entire tree's worth of fruits just to keep from wondering what is going on in Layla's head and heart. “This is not even half of it and if she hates me–"
"She adores you. Stop filling your head with garbage.” Darren appears with two bottles of beer and hands one out to him. She’s still here, isn’t she?
"There is no adoration there.” He scoffs, pointing in Layla's direction. And for all I know, she could be here while she thinks of a way to let me down easy. If only his men could see him now, with his guard all down and him whining over a woman’s attention. Definitely not the famed king M.
"They are having a tea party for crying out loud. And if you are so hurt about being left out, all you have to do is ask and I'll lend you one of my dresses. You can be my plus one since I’m invited and we are best friends."
"Hey, I'm serious here."
"So am I.” Janice retorts. "Besides the fact that you’d look good in my peach tutu, You've had a bit of time to face this and she's had like what? Five minutes?"
Caleb grunts a response that keeps Janice talking. "This is obviously hard for you both so why don't you give yourself and her a break. And get on with the salad, I need it like yesterday."
"Yes master."
"Now that's more like it." Janice disappears through a door adjoining their living area, leaving him with Darren.
"It can't be all that bad.” Darren’s amused tone draws out a smile on his lips. Clearly his best friends wont let him wallow in this misery.
"It's actually freeing ,” Caleb admits. Despite everything else, letting Layla in feels like a weight has been lifted off of his shoulders. Not that I had intentions of living a double life with her, but sharing that, knowing that she knows, giving her a chance to choose to be with me regardless? Definitely freeing."
"But it's not just the same as having her say all that stuff, is it?"
What he’d give to hear her say she loves him still. "Yeah." His gaze travels to Layla and her smile even though not directed at him warms his heart. "I don't know what I'll do if she says otherwise."
"I doubt it'll come to that, but if it does, I have no doubt you'll charm the hell out of her all over again."
Charm her. Maybe he should start with that already.
"Check it out." slides his phone over the counter to him. A screen shot of a holiday booking is displayed on the screen. "It's never too late to charm your way into places they can easily lock you out of.
"You are finally giving Janice the trip she has always wanted?"
"Shh!” Darren glares at him before making sure Janice is nowhere near. A little late, I know. And she'll probably hate that it won't just be the two of us, but with you back, there is no better time like the present."
"I'm sorry for taking so long and–"
"If you say one more word of apology, I'm telling her you spilled the baby news."
"Is that supposed to scare me? You are such a child.” Caleb scoffs.
"Look who's talking."
"I am not jealous of them.” Caleb rolls his eyes over Darren’s insinuation that he’s jealous of his own goddaughters for having Layla to themselves. Well, he is, but there is no way in hell he is admitting that.
Good. Because you may have to put up with them for longer than today.
I am? Why?
Well, you are their godfather and a damn good doctor. Those two things will definitely keep my girl relaxed on the trip if we leave them with you and not their grandparents. And besides, kids are always a good distraction and perfect conversation starter. If you know what I mean.
Of course he does. I could kiss you man, when do you leave?
Tomorrow night. If she says yes.
If you need back up to convince, I’m your man. Caleb grins as the wheels in his head begin turning, laying out plans for how he would be spending the next few days. How he is going to win Layla over again. But first, dinner and maybe he could start on that charming too. No better time like the present.
The oven's timer agrees with him as it goes off right at the exact moment.
"Girls, let's get you washed up. As for you boys…"Janice pops her head into the kitchen. "Please get everything ready."
"Yes ma’am.” Caleb gives her a playful bow, choosing not to argue. That's as soon as I get a kiss from…Caleb looks for Layla, but she has disappeared already. Did she finally decide to run?
"She's just getting changed, lover boy.” Janice rolls her eyes at his obvious disappointment. Everything better be ready by the time we come down.
Ever so bossy. He reaches for a pile of plates, enroute to the dining table. “How do you live with that, man?” He turns to Darren only to find his best friend donning a longing look after his wife and that’s the only answer he needs. Love.
Could that be why Layla is still here with him? Why she didn’t run even after hearing what he had to say?
The thought gets him working faster than usual, wanting to get a moment with her before dinner. And when he’s done setting up, he heads upstairs, taking a couple of steps at a time as impatience to see his woman spurs him on.
He finds her in the room that has always been reserved for him when he stays over. Her back is turned to him, but one look at her and every cell in his body comes alive, as the hottest flashes of the million things he would like to do to her right were she is standing plague his senses.
“So beautiful,” he mumbles as he takes in her beautiful legs that are on full display in the short dress she has chosen. The urge to caress them is overpowering but with the distance Layla has been keeping between them, he's sure his touch won't be welcomed. His comment is received with quietness which is not surprising but Layla's non reaction to his presence is.
Deciding to focus on his mission despite the cold reception, he steps inside, closer to her. “I miss you.” He says, and when even that doesn’t get a reaction, panic washes over him, making him reach for her hand and spinning her around, albeit roughly. “Layla?”
Silence and pain greet him when she finally looks up.
“Baby, what’s wrong?” His efforts to comfort are thwarted and her phone is instead shoved in his face.
“Is that you?” The brokenness in her voice has him refusing to have a look and focusing on her instead. He is here to charm, to make things better between them and there is no way in hell, he's letting something else widen the gap he's trying to bridge.
“Whatever it is, we can work it out.” He pleads when she jerks away from him. Please Layla…
“Not this Caleb.” The finality in her words forces him to look at whatever it is she thinks she can't do.
What the hell! Rage clouds his senses instantly the moment he zeros in on whatever she wants him to see.
A video of him covered in sweat and blood, a gun in hand and bodies surrounding him stares him in the face. It's a copy of the video from Layla's aunt's rescue that has somehow found it's way to his girl's phone and he can see that gap between them widening. "You weren't supposed to see this!" He growls at the senders name, barely keeping it together. Simon! He'd know that line from anywhere. What is the bastard trying to prove? Paint him as the monster he is?
Looking at a retreating Layla, the video has pretty much done a damn great job at it and the realization leaves him swimming in panic.
"It's not what you think, baby.” Caleb reaches for her one more time but she steps back, horror written on her face, making him panic even more. "Layla?"