“Layla, your mother told me you’re in London with Grayson and that you are on your way home. Hope you had a good time sweetheart and sorry to hear about the girl in hospital. The reason I called is that apparently our flights land ten minutes apart. Alice asked me to give you a ride home. Kevin will be waiting at arrivals, so if you get there before me, just go to the limo. It will give us some time to catch up on the drive home. I have something I need to discuss with you. See you on the other side.”

After listening to the message, I handed my phone to Grayson so that he could hear it too. It was easier than repeating everything.

“At least it saves you a taxi ride,” Grayson said with a half-smile, but his eyes were dark and stormy.

“What’s wrong?”

“What on earth does he need to discuss with you?”

My mouth went dry. “Do you think he knows about us? Someone could have seen us kissing.”

“Lala, I don’t care anymore. Once I get home, I’m talking to our parents about everything.”

A female voice sounded over the tannoy. “Calling all passengers to gate thirty-one. This is the final boarding call to Sydney and the gates will be closing soon.”

“I have to go, Grayson. Don’t worry, I’ll handle  Dad.” I reached up and cupped his face in my hands. My eyes misted over as I stared into his. “Thank you for the best week of my life. I had so much fun and I . . . I, um, I will never forget it.”

Being too much of a coward to tell him how I felt, I reached up on tiptoes and kissed him. His arms locked around me.

“Fuck, I don’t want to let you go. This is killing me.”

“I’ve got to run.” His lips burned down on mine and then he let me go.

“Have a safe flight, baby. Love you.”

“Love you too,” I said.

But it was the kind of love-you we’d said to one another before. The kind family use when they end a conversation or say goodbye.

Maybe I read it all wrong. Maybe he just didn’t love me the same way I loved him. But there wasn’t time to think about it now, Carmen was waiting to see me on the other side of the long flight. My wonderful week with my stepbrother had ended and it was time to come back down to earth.

To reality.

Moving as fast as I could, I made my way to to my gate and onto the plane without looking back.

This sucked. Really sucked.

I choked back the tears and pulled up my big girl panties. Things would work out the way they were meant to. I was a firm believer in the philosophy, even if I didn’t always like the outcome.

***

My stepdad was already waiting for me by the time I’d collected my luggage. We hugged and I walked out of the airport and into the limo. We made small talk for a good portion of our journey, but I was too tired from traveling and on tenterhooks, wanting to find out what Milton wanted to talk about to make a decent conversation.

“Your friend Sloane . . . I really like that girl. She’s sassy and smart. I think she’d be a great match for your stepbrother. But since she’s your best friend, I wanted to find out how you felt about the two of them as a couple.”

Talk about being put on the spot. Milton didn’t mince his words, so I’d expected him to be direct, my problem was that I didn’t know how to answer. Under different circumstances I’d be delighted to welcome my best friend into our family.

“What would that make Sloane? My best step-sister-in-law?” I said, laughing to hide the pain that was stabbing my heart.

Milton laughed. “Yeah, something like that.”

“Well, since you asked my opinion, I’ll be honest. It’s between Grayson and Sloane. If they . . . um, if they become a couple, that would be their choice regardless of how I felt about it.”

It was fucking true.

The fact that I’d been with Grayson and had the most amazing sex I’d probably ever have in my entire life didn’t mean a damn thing. My stepbrother could still choose Sloane—or any other woman—to be his wife. Our illicit London affair was over and not once had we really discussed how we’d handle the future.

I rubbed at the ache in my heart with my fist. Why did it hurt so damn much?

“Hmmm. Well if I have any say in this matter, Sloane would be the woman I picked for my son and heir. I think they are a perfect fit and she’d be good for his future. You know how you sometimes just have that feeling about someone?”

My throat tightened, so I just nodded.

“Grayson would be a fool not to snap her up before some other smart fella does. Luckily he has an advantage over other guys.”

“Yeah? What’s that?” I asked, really curious to know the answer.

“Sloane already told me she likes my son a lot and that she is developing deeper feelings for him. What could be more perfect? I’m hoping the two of them finally address their feelings at my party. It would make me a very happy man.”

“Right,” I said in a thin voice, hardly keeping my shit together.

Milton laughed. “Of all the things I’ve done in my entire life, I never imagined I’d play matchmaker for my son.”

Neither did I, Stepdaddy Dearest, neither did I. The man who’d adopted me as his daughter had no fucking idea he was breaking my heart with his plans.

As soon as I’d seen Carmen and made sure she was okay, I’d finalize the plans I’d already set in motion before London. Thank fuck I was smart and had a logical, rational brain. That’s what geeky girls were good at, right?

There was no place for me in this family anymore.  It was finally time to move on because staying and watching Milton give Grayson and Sloane his blessing at his party would be the last straw and my heart would break completely.

26: Grayson

I’d been delayed in London and only just landed three hours ago, but at least I was still in time for the big party. I’d tried to call Layla everyday since she left London, but her phone kept going to voicemail. I’d put it down to jetlag and the lack of sleep while we were away. I blamed myself for it by having sex with her all the time and keeping her awake. Words cannot express how eager to see her as soon as I arrived at home.

But she wasn’t there or in her bedroom, and neither had she been sleeping much according to Alice. Apparently she’d been at Carmen’s bedside ever since she arrived, barely coming home to eat or rest.

Was Layla mad at me? If she weren’t at least a little bit upset with me, surely she’d have answered my messages?

After she’d left London, I’d moped around for a few hours, missing the fuck out of her. Since I’d made my decision to confront our parents and tell them the truth a calmness had settled over me. Layla deserved more than the two of us sneaking around and I already knew she was the woman I wanted for the rest of my life.  It was a no-brainer really.

Alice poured two cups of tea and set them on the tray with some sliced banana bread. I took the tray from her and followed her out onto the patio.

“When do you think Layla will be back?” I asked but couldn’t keep the worry out of my voice.

Alice shrugged. “I have no idea. Carmen’s mother went into a deep depression and she’s been hospitalized as well, so Layla is running between both of their rooms.”

I grimaced. Layla was in too deep for it to be healthy for her. I’d have to convince her to take a step back—when I actually got to see her of course. Alice took a seat and I placed the tray in front of her. As I sat down I took the cup of tea she handed to me.

“Do you think she’s okay?” I ventured. Was it something other than Carmen’s situation that was causing Layla to act like this? She was a sensible woman and she wouldn’t normally go this over the top and stay away from home. What Dad had said to her when she arrived in Sydney had been niggling the back of my mind as well.

“She’s running herself ragged, Grayson, but she won’t listen to me or anyone else. It’s as if something has gotten into her since she returned from London I can’t get anything out of her,” Alice said, sighing deeply. She was as worried about her daughter as I was.