31. Ayla

31

AYLA

I step outside and pull the door closed behind me, my heart pounding. Lila stands there, her eyes watching me, a flicker of uncertainty in their depths.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, my voice tight. “How did you even find me?”

Lila shifts, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I couldn’t miss your birthday, Ayla. And...I needed to see you.”

I cross my arms, defensive walls slamming into place. Why now, after everything? After the harsh words hurled through the phone last time we spoke…

“Look, Ayla,” Lila begins, her words measured and deliberate. “I owe you an apology. A huge one.”

I blink, surprised by the sincere regret in her tone.

She takes a deep breath. “I was wrong, before. The things I said to you...calling you a whore...I had no right. I wasn’t supportive and I know I hurt you deeply. I’m so sorry.”

Shock ripples through me at her raw honesty. Lila never apologizes, never admits fault. Yet here she is, walls lowered, laying herself bare. A part of me is suspicious, wondering if this is some sort of trick or joke, but a bigger part hopes she’s telling me the truth.

Do I dare believe her? Let her back in, risk being hurt again? The little girl inside me aches to embrace my big sister, but the woman I’ve become hesitates, scars still tender.

I swallow hard. “Why apologize now, after all this time?” The question slips out, vulnerable and raw. “I don’t think you’ve ever apologized to me.”

Lila meets my gaze head-on. “Because I miss you, Ayla. And it’s eaten at me, how badly I failed you as a sister. I want to do better, if you’ll let me.”

From behind her back, Lila produces a neatly wrapped package, holding it out to me like an olive branch. “I brought you a birthday present. Something special, just for you.”

Curiosity wars with caution as I slowly accept the gift, fingers brushing against the glossy paper. With a deep breath, I tear into the wrapping, revealing a beautifully bound scrapbook. Memories of our childhood stare back at me from the cover, two little girls with gap-toothed grins and mischief in their eyes.

“Open it,” Lila whispers, her voice thick with emotion.

Page by page, I flip through the scrapbook, each carefully crafted collage tugging at my heartstrings. Lila’s gentle touch is evident in every detail, from the handwritten captions to the pressed flowers adorning each photograph. Tears prick at the corners of my eyes as I trace my fingertips over an image of us, arms wrapped around each other, giggling in the summer sun.

“You kept all these?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

Lila nods, her own eyes glistening. “Of course I did. Those memories, they’re a part of us, Ayla.”

At that moment, the walls around my heart begin to crumble. The love and effort poured into this gift, the vulnerability in Lila’s eyes... it’s the apology I never knew I needed.

Slowly, I close the distance between us, wrapping my arms around my sister in a fierce hug. She clings to me, her tears dampening my shoulder as we both let the years of hurt and misunderstanding melt away. I’m so tired of having walls up against everyone. I want to be happy with people who care about me, who love me.

“I forgive you, Lila,” I whisper, my voice trembling with emotion. “And I’m sorry too, for pushing you away.”

We stay like that for a long moment, holding each other tight, the scrapbook pressed between us like a bridge spanning the gap of lost time.

As we finally pull apart, I wipe away my tears, a tentative smile tugging at my lips. “Why don’t you stay for the weekend? We have a lot of catching up to do.”

Lila’s face lights up, relief and joy shining in her eyes. “I’d love that, Ayla. More than anything.”

I take a deep breath, feeling a weight lift from my chest as Lila and I step back into the living room.

“Everyone, I’d like you to meet my sister, Lila,” I announce, my voice steadier than I feel. “She’s going to be staying with us for the weekend.”

Teller is the first to approach, his dark eyes warm and inviting. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lila. Welcome to our home.” His deep voice resonates through the room, and I can see Lila’s guarded expression soften slightly.

Clay follows suit, his tall frame exuding a calm authority as he extends his hand to Lila. “We’re glad you could join us for Ayla’s birthday celebration. Make yourself at home.”

Kip looks over at me, knowing how my last conversation went with Lila but I nod at him, telling him it’s okay. Kip, ever the charmer, flashes Lila a friendly grin. “It’s not every day we get to meet Ayla’s mysterious sister. I hope you’re ready for some serious birthday fun!”

I go over to Clay and take Piper out of his hands before showing her to Lila. “And this little bean is Piper, the girl I nanny.”

Lila’s face turns into a grin. “She’s beautiful.”

“Isn’t she?”

“I would drop everything for her too.”

The evening unfolds in a blur of laughter and conversation, the tension from earlier dissipating with each passing moment. Teller, Clay, and Kip go out of their way to include Lila, asking about her interests and sharing stories of their own.

As we gather around the cake, their voices rising in a slightly off-key rendition of “Happy Birthday,” I feel a rush of pure, unadulterated joy. I look around at their smiling faces, illuminated by the glow of the candles, and I make a wish - a wish for this moment to last forever, for this happiness to never fade.

After we enjoy the cake, Teller clears his throat as he stands up and leaves the room looking suspicious. Clay and Kip try to act innocent but I know their expressions too well and know something is going on. Teller comes back a moment later with a birthday bag. “This is our actual gift for the birthday girl.”

I raise an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. “Oh? What might that be?”

Clay steps forward, holding a beautifully wrapped box. “We know you’ve been wanting to make your room feel more like your own space, so we put together a little something to help with that.”

My heart swells as I accept the gift, my fingers trembling slightly as I untie the ribbon. Inside, I find an assortment of items: a soft, cozy throw blanket in my favorite color, a set of string lights to create a warm ambiance, and a collection of picture frames waiting to be filled with memories.

Tears prick at the corners of my eyes as I look up at the three men who have become such an integral part of my life. “This is... it’s perfect. Thank you, all of you.”

Kip grins, his blue eyes twinkling. “We just want you to feel at home here, Ayla. Because that’s what you are to us – family.”

As I hug each of them in turn, grateful for their thoughtfulness and care, I catch Lila’s eye across the room. She’s watching the exchange with a curious expression, a mixture of surprise and something else I can’t quite decipher.

I wonder what she’s thinking, how she’s processing this glimpse into my new life. But for now, I push those thoughts aside.

As the night gets later, I look around at the laughter and conversation flow easily. I watch as Lila engages with the others, her earlier reservations seeming to melt away. She compliments Teller on his cooking skills, jokes with Kip about his latest project, and listens intently as Clay shares a story about Piper’s latest adventure.

Slowly, I feel the tension in my shoulders begin to dissipate. The light-hearted atmosphere is infectious, and I find myself smiling more than I have in a long time. It’s a relief to see Lila making an effort, to feel like we’re finally taking steps towards repairing our fractured relationship.

As the evening winds down, exhaustion begins to settle in my bones. It’s been an emotionally charged day, and the weight of it all is finally catching up with me.

“I think I’m going to call it a night,” I announce, stifling a yawn. “Lila, you can split my bed with me, if that’s okay?”

She nods, a grateful smile on her face. “That sounds perfect. Thank you, Ayla.”

Clay stands up, scooping a sleepy Piper into his arms. “I’ll put this little one to bed. You two get some rest, okay?”

I feel a rush of affection for him, for the way he always seems to know exactly what I need. “Thank you, Clay.”

The bedroom door clicks shut behind us, and a heavy silence settles over the room. Lila sits on the edge of the bed, her fingers idly playing with the frayed hem of her shirt. I busy myself with gathering extra pillows and blankets.

“So,” Lila begins, her voice deceptively casual. “Those guys downstairs... Teller, Clay, and Kip. What’s the deal with them?”

I freeze, a pillow clutched tightly to my chest. Heat rushes to my cheeks, and my heart starts to race. “What do you mean?”

Lila arches an eyebrow, a knowing smirk playing on her lips. “Oh, come on, Ayla. I saw the way they look at you. And the way you look at them. Is there something going on there? Something... romantic?”

My mouth goes dry, and I swallow hard. The truth is right there, on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t bring myself to say it. The thought of admitting to Lila that I’m dating all three men, that I might be in love with them... it’s too much. Too vulnerable. Too scary.

“No,” I lie, my voice barely above a whisper. “We’re just friends. That’s all.”

Lila’s eyes narrow, and for a moment, I’m sure she’s going to call me out on my bullshit. But then she shrugs, a satisfied smile spreading across her face.

“Well, that’s good to hear. Because damn, those men are smoking hot. Maybe I’ll have to take a turn with one of them myself.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, and I feel a wave of nausea wash over me. The thought of Lila with any of them... it’s too much to bear. I don’t want her to know Teller’s softer side, or how protective Clay can be or how funny Kip can be. I want to scream, to tell her to stay away, that they’re mine. But I don’t. I can’t.

Instead, I force a smile, my voice tight and strained. “Yeah, they’re... they’re great guys.”

Lila flops back on the bed, her arms stretched out above her head. “I’m really glad we got to spend this time together, Ayla. I’ve missed you.”

I nod, not trusting myself to speak. The conflicting emotions swirl inside me – relief at having smoothed things over with Lila, but also a deep, aching anxiety. I know I can’t keep hiding the truth from her forever. Sooner or later, something’s going to have to give. Her words echo around my head about living with three men and the implications it would bring. If she knew the truth she would rip me apart.

But for now, I push those thoughts aside and climb into bed beside my sister. She grabs my hand, intertwining it with her own. As I close my eyes, I try to focus on the positive – on the fact that, for the first time in a long time, Lila and I are in a good place.

Even if it is built on a foundation of lies.