Cat & Her Second Chance (Book 3 Of The "And Her" Series) (COMPLETED) (UNEDITED)

Chapter Twenty Two- Craig

"Fucker—did you know it's Layla's birthday today?" Colton growls next to me as I push the weightlifting bar above my head

Fucking hell—a little warning would of been good!

I put the weights back down on the support bar and sit up and towel dry my forehead, looking at Colton his eyes shine with hurt and frustration

"To be honest mate, I forgot—getting the shit that Rebecca spread across the press world was a head wreck" I sigh

"Is that sorted now?" Colton asks sitting next to me

"Yeah—Marcus had sent the recording to all people Rebecca spoke to, I didn't even get a fucking apology from the fuckers" I growl

"It's the press though man, did you really expect one?" Colton chuckles

I snort laugh "Nah, suppose not"

It's been a week since Rebecca caused that shit storm, it's only brought me and my girl closer—she's now fully moved into our apartment,she moved stuff in every day after work and last night she brought the last of her stuff...

"So, how did you find out it was her birthday?" I ask

"She answered a call from her mum and I heard singing happy birthday down the phone to her, when I asked her why she didn't tell me it was her birthday, she got all upset about it and said she didn't wanna talk about it" Colton says

That's weird....

"And you just left it?" I ask him

He looks at me like I'm the stupidest fucker on the planet. "Well, Yeah—Craig, when a woman says she doesn't wanna talk about something and she's as upset as Layla was then you can bet your ass I'm gonna give her what she needs" he says. "I don't know what it is, but I wanna be there for her— " he adds as my phone rings. I get my phone out and it's Catherine—

"It's catherine, maybe she knows what's up with Layla" I say to Colton as I answer the phone putting it on speaker. "Hey beautiful, are you okay?" I ask her.

"I'm good, but I woke and you wasn't here" she says sleepily and I can tell she's doin her cute little pout.

"I'm at the gym upstairs baby—I'm with Colton, I'll be down soon" I say grinning like a fool, Colton flicks my forehead and mouths ask her.

I glare at him for the flick. "Eh baby, can I ask you something?" I ask my girl.

"Sure babe" she sighs contently.

I smile. "Colton's just found out it's Tink's birthday and he asked her why she didn't tell him when it was, and she got upset about it telling him she didn't wanna talk about it—do you know anything about that baby?" I ask her.

She's silent on the phone. "Baby?" I ask. "You still there?" I say looking at my screen to see if we'd been disconnected, she's still there.

"Yeah I'm here, sorry— " she clears her throat. "Layla doesn't really like to celebrate her birthday anymore Craig" Catherine says sadly

I frown. "What? Why?" I ask confused.

"Well for one her ex travis broke up with her on her birthday two years back, and then last year—ummm" she hesitates on the phone.

Colton's pacing the gym floor his shoulders are tense as he listens to Catherine...

"Then last year, what baby? What happened?" I ask her.

"I can't tell you craig, this is Layla's story—but now she's convinced her birthday is cursed, so she doesn't like to celebrate it... she only keeps up appearances for her mum and that" Catherine says sadly.