Troubled Waters (The Lake Trilogy, Book 2) (26 page)

“So, Layla Weston, probable psych major…where are you from?” Eli asks. It’s such a simple question. Six months ago I would have been so closed off that the idea of having this conversation with Eli would have been non-existent. Truth be told, I wouldn’t have made eye contact with him long enough to secure this seat for him, but now…now that I’m living my utterly normal dream life? I’ve got this.

“I’m from a little town in North Carolina,” I say. I decided long ago that this would be my solid answer to this question. “What about you?”

“New York, but we moved around a lot,” he replies.

“Military brat?”

“Brat, yes…military, no,” he laughs. “My dad’s job took him all over the place. I was happy to finally get into college so I could stay put for a while, but I’m on my way out. Just one semester left, so the light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter.” Four people are trying to squeeze around a two-person table next to Eli and he gets shoved right into me. To make the room we have more comfortable, Eli puts his arm around my chair. “Do you mind?” he asks.

“No worries,” I say. “That’s awesome about being so close. This is my first year, but with all the AP classes I took my senior year of high school, and the credits I earned last semester, I’m technically a sophomore now.” I tuck a loose lock of hair behind my left ear and Eli gets a look at my engagement ring.

“Whoa! Well done to the guy who put that on your finger!”

“Oh, yeah. I just got engaged at Christmas.” I’m a little embarrassed. I don’t know why. I couldn’t be prouder to marry Will. I’m just not a fan of all the attention. This has sparked quite a few conversations about the kind of wedding Will and I will have. I’m all for small and simple, but Will wants to make a huge spectacle of his love for me. While that’s sweet, it’s totally unnecessary.

“Boyfriend from back home or college romance?” Eli asks.

“Aren’t you inquisitive! Guess you’re well suited for that journalism major, huh?”

“It’s in my blood! I can’t help it,” he smiles.

I see Will enter the coffee shop so I make a buzzing sound. “Oh, I’m sorry, your time is up! My fiancé just walked in the door and he’s going to need that seat. I guess you’ll have to quiz me some other time,” I chuckle.

“That is actually a great idea. I’m on the student newspaper and would love to interview you for a student spotlight. What d’ya say?” Eli looks at me eagerly. “You should say
yes
because I’m not going to take
no
for an answer. You’d be great! Ok…I had someone set for the next student spotlight but they got busted for having pot in their dorm so they got expelled. Not exactly the kind of student we’re wanting to highlight.”

“Well…I guess,” I say reluctantly. “Here, give me your phone. I’ll put my number in it and then text myself. Ok…now I’ve got your number, too. Just let me know when you want to get together. You know you’re going to owe me, right?”

Will gets his drink from Finn and makes his way over to where I’m sitting with Eli. His face is hard and I can almost see the daggers shooting out at Eli. Will is so protective of me. I’m going to have to diffuse this immediately.

“Hey babe. This is my new friend Eli. Eli, this is my fiancé, John,” I say giving Will the look that says “Behave!” I’ve become quite adept at referring to Will as John around other people. It took some practice, and sometimes I have to think for a second, but, for the most part, I’ve got it down now.

“Hey John. It’s nice to meet you,” Eli says, extending his hand to shake.

“Eli,” Will reciprocates. “Thanks for keeping my girl company and my seat warm,” he says. Eli takes Will’s cue and gets up, making the way for Will to take his rightful seat next to me.

“Absolutely. I’ll call you in the next few days, Layla. Thanks for helping me out. I appreciate it!”

“Definitely! It was great to meet you, Eli! We’ll see you soon!” I say as Eli walks away. I pour on the sugar wanting to make up for Will’s icy stare.

“You have something you want to tell me?” he asks seriously.

“No.” I take a sip of my coffee, ignoring his macho jealousy.

“Layla. I walk in here and you’re sitting here with another guy and his arm is around you. Do you even know who he is? Where he’s from? What if he…”

“First of all, his arm was around the chair, not me. He was only sitting like that because those idiots over there were pushing him into me. And just so you know, he
asked
if I minded. Secondly, how can you think for even a nanosecond that I would be unfaithful to you?” I put my hand on Will’s cheek.

“It’s not you I’m worried about,” he says. “I don’t like that our schedules are so off. I can’t protect you like this.” Will is frustrated. He wasn’t able to protect me like he wanted when Marcus was a threat to us, so he’s working at making up for lost time.

“W-…John,” I say correcting myself. I’m speaking in a hushed tone, and the coffee shop is so loud and busy, but I still need to watch myself. “Let’s go outside. I’ve got an umbrella, and you need to start making your way to class.”

We step outside into the rain and I pop the huge golf umbrella open. Will takes my free hand and we begin walking the path across the quad to his building. I love walking in the rain with Will. It’s like a scene from a movie – the kind where couples stay together forever. Maybe that’s why it feels so good.

“I’ve really been enjoying these last few months. They’ve been…normal. I need normal, Will,” I tell him.

“I know…” he begins.

“No. Don’t say anything. Just listen. Ok?” Will nods and I continue. “I know that you love me and are just looking out for me like you always have. And I love that about you…about us. But we’ve spent our entire relationship playing both offense and defense. Can’t we just move forward in our life together like…like two people who haven’t gone through hell and high water to be together?”

“Layla, that’s part of our story,” he says in defense.

“That’s part of Layla and
Will’s
story. What’s my and John’s story?”

“Layla…”

“Will…I need life to be normal. Think about it. My parents died and I spent the next five years being punished for their death. Then I moved in with Luke and Claire and spent the next year on a roller coaster of loving you and dodging the consequences of that. I lost you, and just when I got you back I faced everything with Marcus. Good grief! I’m a Lifetime movie, Will! I just need to live a normal life as a college student, daughter, fiancée, and friend, and that includes you maintaining a
normal
level of jealousy because you can’t stand for me to be around another guy and not because you think I need protecting.”

“You’re right,” he says with a sigh. “I’m sorry.”

“Thank you.” I give his hand a squeeze and his cheek a kiss.

“Ok…so this is me being a
normal
, jealous fiancé. Who is this Eli guy?” Will smirks.

“He’s on the student paper. He came in with the swarm of people when the downpour started. He needed a seat and I had one open next to me. That’s all,” I tell him.

“So why is he going to call you?”

“Oh, he needs a fill-in for the student spotlight. He had someone but apparently they got busted for having pot in their room, so they’re not exactly eligible for the feature. I told him he could interview me.”

“Well, I guess that’s ok. Just still be careful what you tell him. Remember not to use John or Elisabeth’s last names. We may be out of the woods, but we still want to be cautious.”

“Got it. I know the drill. Wes throws different scenarios at me once a month to make sure I’m on guard,” I reassure him.

“This is me,” Will says as we reach the building for his economics class. “I’ll be over after class. I’ve got a ridiculous amount of homework, though. It’s not due until Monday, but I’d like to get it done between tonight and tomorrow. That’ll give us Friday and Saturday night to do something fun.”

“Really?” I say excitedly.

“Yeah…I know it’s been crazy busy. I really want to start making us a priority now that things are…
normal
. John Holland would really like to date his fiancée. So, Miss Weston, if you’re not busy this weekend, would you do me the honor of letting me take you out on an official date?” Will smiles that brilliant smile of his and I melt just like I did the first time I saw it on the Green in Davidson when we met.

“Why, Mr. Holland, I would be delighted,” I smile sweetly and bat my lashes a few times. He’s read my mind and feels the same way I do about the lack of quality time we’ve had. I’m giddy with excitement and can’t wait until our date, or dates.

We kiss each other goodbye and I leave Will on campus to head home and tackle my own mound of homework. I’ve waited too long to have a normal life to let anything stand in the way of my weekend with Will.

I’ve just gotten out of the shower when I realize that I’ve only got 20 minutes before Will is supposed to pick me up for our date. I begin to rush but then decide to take my time. There’s a normalcy to the boy having to wait on the girl, so I casually get dressed in the light cotton red skirt and soft white shirt I picked out last night. I dry most of my hair and pull it back into a high ponytail, letting my new bangs swoop across my forehead and some locks hang loose to frame my face.

I stare at myself in the mirror for a long time. The last time I considered my appearance this much was the day of Gramps’ funeral. I was embarking on a new chapter in my life – one of freedom and found redemption. I remember wondering if I looked as different as I was beginning to feel. There was no sign of change then, but that’s not the case now. I stand taller, my face is happier, and my eyes are brighter. All I can think is that I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I know I’ve ended up exactly where I need to be.

I check the clock and realize that even with all my casualness about getting ready, I still have five minutes to spare. I hear the doorbell chime and think it’s odd at first. No one ever rings our doorbell, but for the past couple of months Claire and Eliana have been chummy with our neighbors. Claire said it was time to stop acting like recluses and make friends.

When I open the door I don’t find a middle-aged northern transplant standing on our front step, but instead, the love of my life, bouquet of flowers in hand, smiling like a fool in love. He looks more handsome than I’ve seen him since prom. He’s got on dark jeans, a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up just past his elbows, and the hottest black vest I’ve ever seen. I take a deep breath and relish in the fact that the man standing in front of me is all mine.

“Hello, sweetheart,” he says smiling.

“Hello,” I say mirroring him.

“These,” he holds out the bouquet for me to take, “are for you. I saw them and they made me think of you.”

“They’re lovely. Thank you, Will.” I step aside, inviting him in. Will gives me a sweet kiss on the cheek as he crosses the threshold.

“Layla, who’s at the door?” Claire asks entering the room from the kitchen.

“It’s Will,” I tell her.

“You rang the doorbell?” Claire looks quizzically at Will. “You never ring the doorbell!”

“I’m here to pick up Layla for a proper date. A proper date does not just walk into his girl’s house.” Will smirks at me. “I’ll be taking Layla out to dinner, Mrs. Weston. Is there a particular time you and Mr. Weston would like her home?”

“No particular time, Will. We trust you both will be responsible. Have fun!” Claire stifles a giggle as she retreats into her and Luke’s bedroom. I hear the muffled talking and laughing of them both as she relays the little act Will is putting on for my benefit.

“Is this normal enough for you?” he asks wrapping his arms around my waist.

“It’s definitely a strong start. Thank you.” I push up on my toes and kiss Will square on the lips.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! This is our first proper date. I’m not the kind of guy who kisses on the first date!” he teases. “Oh…who am I kidding? C’mere!” With that, Will presses his lips to mine and kisses me like he really means it. It amazes me how our kisses get better each time. I suppose that’s because our love gets better and better every day, too.

“You don’t really think we haven’t dated, do you?” Will asks as we pull out of the driveway.

“No, I suppose not. It’s just…forget it. It’s silly,” I say, embarrassed that I’m allowing myself to be so particular about this. I really should just be grateful that I get to spend the rest of my life with Will. How we got to our life together shouldn’t matter so much.

“C’mon, Layla…please tell me. It’s obviously bothering you,” he pleads. “I don’t care if you think it’s silly. It matters to me.”

“Well…it’s not that I don’ think we’ve dated. We have…in our own way. And I guess that’s what matters most. I love that we have our own special love story…minus the threats, manipulation, and secrecy, of course. I just really want us to have a life where we’re not always looking over our shoulders. Does that make sense?” I press my lips into a hard line, not wanting to cry as I think about the life-threatening terrain we’ve travelled to get to where we are today. I don’t ever want to go back to that.

“It does. I understand, and I want you to know that my life’s mission is to give you the best, most normal life ever. I guess it’s a little harder for me to transition into this normal life. I’m just so used to being in protective mode with you. When we were in Davidson, every move I made was calculated to protect you. Even when Luke, Claire and I decided something drastic had to be done and Mom and I disappeared…Layla…that was the hardest thing I ever did in an effort to protect you. I guess I just don’t know how to
not
guard over you. You are the most precious thing in my life and I would sooner die than lose you.” Will takes my hand and brings it to his lips, kissing my knuckles. He really does truly love me. It’s in moments like this that I know that I would face 100 years of Gram’s fury if I knew that Will was waiting for me at the end.