Me and my Shadow | ✓

Chapter 18

Layla's POV –

The next morning I got up and told Cecilia that I would see her tomorrow. It was only Saturday and I told my mom that I would come home for the day to have a little "family time".

The family time might get a little awkward if I bombard Eric with questions about what happened between him and Cecilia yesterday.

I think I'll just ask my mom for some advice first.

"Hey mom?"

I looked over at her as she was humming to the song that was quietly coming out of the speakers in the car.

"Yes?" She asked, quickly glancing in my direction and then back to the road.

"Is it normal for a boy to pull away before possible sex?"

Now, I know what you're thinking... why on earth would I ask my mom such a question?

The truth was, my mom and I had a very open relationship. We could literally talk about anything and it wasn't weird or strained. I felt safe whenever I talked to her.

She knew that I had already lost my virginity, but that's a story for another time.

"Well Layla, that's hard to say. It really depends on the situation." She said, as if the answer was obvious.

"Are you being safe?" She suddenly asked.

No, my mom wasn't necessarily okay with me being sexually active at sixteen. She was furious when I told her that I had lost my virginity. However, she accepted the fact that I was a teenager and teenagers in this day and age have sex, especially when they're just in the moment and not thinking clearly. My mom was always cool like that. She knew that this was the twenty-first century and that being an overprotective mom who forbids anything, will only result in something bad happening, so she accepted the inevitable and talked through everything with me, rather than just ignoring it and pretending it wasn't happening.

As a result, I've been on birth control for a little over eight months.

"This isn't about me mom. I'm asking for a friend."

Crap. Now she'll probably know which friend I'm talking about.

"Well, there are only two possible answers." She said calmly.

"What would those be?" I asked, curious as to what she would say.

"Well dear, it could mean that he's gay, but that's a long shot."

I snorted at that one. Eric, gay? Well, he did have nice clothes and his hair has always been styled perfectly... Okay Layla, just stop.

"Or, it could be that he's actually really in love and he's scared to take it to the next level."

Okay, that seemed a bit more realistic.

"Hm, I suppose one of those answers could be right." I said in a joking manner.

My mom looked at me quickly, and I could tell that she knew who I was referring to. She let out a small laugh and shook her head, as we pulled into the driveway.

"Thanks, mom." I smiled.

"Anytime sweetie. Oh, and stay safe!" She said with another laugh, causing me to roll my eyes.

+++

Mom and I walked inside to the smell of breakfast, so I immediately made my way into the kitchen.