Page 39 of The Dark Elf's Secret Baby
“Holy Maws, Layla.” I drag a hand down my face, pressing my balled fist to my lips and biting into my knuckles. I don’t know how to contain myself as I take her in.
“Is it…” She looks down at herself. “Too much?”
I shake my head, holding out a hand to her and hoping she doesn’t see the effect she’s having on me. “You look perfect.”
She takes my hand surprisingly and lets me spin her around. I let out a breathy chuckle as she comes back to face me, her face aflame. “You’re too much.”
“I’m not enough for you,” I breathe. “But I will try every day to be.” Her jaw slackens and before she can eclipse her emotions with an insult, I tug her hand. “Let’s go.”
“Where are we going?” she asks as I lead her down the street and toward the beach. “Harper wouldn’t tell me a thing.”
I grin. “Your friend has been a gem. I don’t know how I would have pulled this off otherwise.”
“And this is…”
“You’ll see.” I wink at her as she groans.
Her eyes light up as we cross to the edge of the island and make way for a secret cove I selected. “It’s rare I come out here outside of work.”
“You’ve always loved the water, though,” I murmur.
“I know. But there just isn’t time.”
As we reach the mouth of the cove, I turn to her and tuck a loose lock behind her ear. “I want to make more time for the things you want, Layla. I want you to be happy.”
Even as she leans away from my touch, though it seems reluctant, she whispers, “I am.”
Then she turns toward the cove to see the candlelit dinner I’ve laid out and her eyes widen. I tug her further in, gesturing for her to sit so she can see fruits and deserted and roasted meats I’ve selected for her. All her favorites.
“You did this for me?”
I nod. “I did. And tomorrow, we will take the leftovers on a picnic with Jasper. I might have gotten him a few new toy carriages…that are magically enchanted.”
She slaps my shoulder. “You spoil him.” Then quieter she adds, “You spoil both of us.”
I hold her hand to my chest, her eyes dancing in the candlelight as I gaze deeply into them. “I want to spoil you both for the rest of my life. If you’ll let me.”
When she sucks in a breath, I shake my head, letting her hand go. “I’ve never been happier, Layla. Never in my life have I felt like I have this past week with the two of you. I know you want to do the best for Jasper and you need time to sort through this. I’m not pressuring you, but I want my intentions to be clear to you.”
I drop my eyes so she doesn’t feel like she has to counter what I’ve said. I want nothing but to ease her mind, but I know that I can’t force her into anything. I have to let Layla process this at her speed, and I’m willing to let her have that.
But she has to know that I won’t be giving up on her no matter how long that takes.
“Thank you,” she says softly, and I slowly lift my eyes back to her. “I…I never explained why I left.”
I shake my head. “No, you don’t have to. I wasn’t trying to pry–”
She holds her hand up to stop me. “I want you to know.” Sucking in a deep breath, Layla continues, “When I first found out I was pregnant, I wasn’t sure how’d you react. I wasn’t sure of how you truly felt for me, if I was to pass the time or something more, and either way I understood. But you were always talking about where you wanted to go, and I worried that my pregnancy would upset you and jeopardize your future. So, I left to alleviate that decision…and protect myself from heartbreak.”
I move closer, pain hitting me hard through my chest. I’ve been in love with Layla for so long, and I know that I was hesitant to let her see that. I protected her from the shadows out of fear that it would draw attention to her – and that she wouldn't be able to love me back. But to hear that my fear was the reason she left…
“I know that was my fault,” I confess. “I never was honest with you about how I felt. I wasn’t brave enough to face my true feelings back then.” I lean forward, taking a risk as I cup her face. “But you have to know, now at least, that Jasper would have never been a problem. I love him so much, and I would have loved him in Camp Horizon all the same.”
Layla surveys me under her thick lashes, and it feels like my words are stuck in my throat. But right now is the time for me to finally put it all out there.
“I made many mistakes in my life, Layla, but you and Jasper are not one. I never once, not in Camp Horizon and not now, regretted being with you. I am so happy to have found you, and even more so to have Jasper in my life.” I stroke her cheekbone. “You are both the greatest thing to ever happen to me, and that is no accident. It is a blessing from the gods.”
Her eyes are hooded, and the air between us is charged. This is the most she has opened up to me since I returned, and the emotions are running high. Even though I fear I’m crossing a line, I take a chance and lean in.