12. Layla

"Uncle Eric, can we go on a bike ride before it gets dark?" Breckin asks.

"Of course, let's go," my brother answers with a grin.

A few minutes later they disappear down the street, the sound of their laughter fading into the distance. I watch them go, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. It"s a beautiful day for a bike ride, and I know they"ll have a blast together.

Once they"re out of sight, I turn back to Brock, my heart pounding in my chest. It"s just the two of us now, and I can feel the weight of his gaze on me. I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the conversation to come.

Lula's pickup truck pulls into my driveway.

Saved by my friend. Thank goodness.

"Hello, hello!" she calls out as she hops down and displays a bottle of wine and two pizza boxes.

Her son, Chance and daughter Lily hop out of the back seat.

"Hey Lula," I grin. "Hey guys! Breck and Eric will be back from their bike ride soon."

My eyes flit to Brock's, he looks confused but he smiles back at me.

"I thought we could catch up tonight since we missed Friday night. I figure the kids could play for a bit."

"You brought wine and dinner? You might be a saint."

"I'm Lula," she says as she extends a hand to Brock.

"Brock Bowen."

"I know who you are. My husband went to high school with you and is obsessed," she laughs.

"Who's your husband?"

"Dayton LeClaire."

"Oh, wow, I haven't seen him since we graduated high school. What is he up to?"

"Owns his own construction company here in town."

"And Lula owns the salon here in town. She's one of my best friends and a client."

"And Breckin and Chance are besties."

"Is Chance a football star like his dad?"

"Obsessed with it," Lula laughs.

Brock takes the pizzas and wine from her and carries them into the house. Lula's eyes meet mine quickly.

"What is this?" she mouths.

"I don't know," I mouth back with a giggle.

"He is hot," she breathes when he's out of earshot. "Did you sleep with him?"

I look away quickly. She starts laughing.

Eric and Breckin come back to the house. Breckin is cheering when he sees Chance and Lily.

"Hey Lula, hey guys!" Eric grins. "Mom's night?"

"Impromptu meeting of the minds," Lula teases.

"Well, why don't the two of you handle that and I'll hang out with the kiddos."

"Eric," I start.

He holds up a hand dismissively. "I'm gone a lot of the time with hockey, let me do this. You deserve a night that doesn't revolve around hockey, Breckin, and work."

"Thank you. You're the best brother in the world."

"You know, Sadie is single," Lula interjects.

I start laughing as Eric's face drains of color. He told me once that he thought Sadie was gorgeous, but she's always had a boyfriend up until recently.

"I didn't know that, but I'm backing slowly away from this conversation."

"You need a wingman, bro?" Brock chuckles as he comes back outside.

"With the kids? Sure. I have learned not to make direct eye contact with Lula and she'll back away from her need to be a matchmaker."

Lula and I are laughing as we walk inside the house. We go to the kitchen. She opens the bottle of wine and I get us two glasses. She grabs a slice of pizza while I pour."I'm so glad you missed wine night. This is so much better," she teases. "Tell me everything."

"I don't know everything," I say as I blow out a breath.

"You ran into him at the coffee shop and asked about him after. Did you remember something?"

"No. Yes. I don't know. He approached me at practice and said he wanted to have dinner or coffee and get to know me better."

"In front of Eric?" she roars with laughter. "Ballsy or insane, not sure which."

"Eric and Breck left the rink and he stayed behind. He told me that we were together right before my accident. That we slept together and had fallen for each other, he showed me pictures."

"Hold up," she interrupts me. "Do you think…"

"Yeah."

"Wow."

"Yeah."

I take a long pull from my wine glass. And lean against the counter. She does the same.

"That's incredible. Does he think he's Breckin's dad?"

"Yeah, he does. He offered to get a DNA test."

"Wow."

"Yeah," I giggle.

I shake my head and she grins back at me.

"You had sex with him Friday night, didn't you?"

I exhale. "I did. It felt so natural. Feeling him against me was familiar, like a memory."

"Whoa."

"I probably sound ridiculous. I can't explain it any other way."

"I know how hard it's been for you not remembering so even if it was a little wisp, that's not ridiculous, it's amazing."

"Here's the crazy part. Randy showed up the next morning begging for me to come back to him. Brock walked up on it. Apparently, he's having similar issues with an ex that won't give up. He asked me to pretend to be engaged to him."

"That's something out of a romance novel," she giggles. "What did you say?"

"I told him I need to think about it. I don't want Breckin to get hurt."

"And what did he say?"

"He told me that he wants to date me and see where this goes between us and that the engagement would just be a way for us to protect ourselves from our exes and well-meaning people who wanted to intervene."

"He said he wants to date you?"

I smile, my cheeks turning pink as I nod. Lula comes around the counter and hugs me.

"You deserve all the great things the Universe has to offer and I think you're finally seeing that. What are you going to do?"

"I don't know."

"I think you should do it and my lips are sealed. What's it going to hurt?"

I inhale and exhale slowly.

My heart could get hurt.

"Maybe I will. Maybe Randy will finally get it through his head."

"Doubtful, but we can hope."

Lula and I talk and laugh for another hour. The kids come in and eat pizza, so do Eric and Brock. It feels so natural for Brock to be here with all of us.

Lula and the kids head home and Eric does too, once Breckin is in bed for the night. Brock lingers.

"So," he says, breaking the silence between us. "About that fake engagement..."

I swallow hard, the words sticking in my throat. I know I shouldn't do it. I know that I should protect my heart. But as I look into his eyes, so full of hope and longing, I can"t bring myself to do it.

"I"ve been thinking," I begin slowly, choosing my words carefully. "And I think... I think maybe it"s not such a crazy idea after all."

His eyes widen in surprise, and I can see the disbelief written all over his face. "You mean... you"ll do it? You"ll pretend to be engaged to me?"

"Yes, I"ll do it."

"Thank you."

I manage a smile, my mind racing with doubt and uncertainty. But as I look into Brock"s eyes, I know that I"ve made the right decision. For better or for worse, we"re in this together now.

***

Two days later, the entire town is buzzing with the news of our fake engagement. Everywhere I go, people stop me to offer their congratulations, their faces filled with excitement and curiosity.

It"s overwhelming, to say the least.

I decide to escape the madness for a while and duck into the local coffee shop for a much-needed caffeine fix. As I step inside, the bell above the door jingles cheerfully, announcing my arrival. The smell of freshly brewed coffee fills the air, comforting and familiar.

"Girl, you landed yourself a hockey player?" Bridget teases. "I guess you remembered him after all."

"Is this all everyone is talking about?" I ask, my face bright red.

"Yes, but only because we're all thrilled to see you happy. You're glowing."

"How does everyone know already?"

"A few ways, it was the talk of the town when people saw his car in your driveway."

I put my hand to my forehead and inhale.

"But that doesn't mean we're engaged."

"Yeah, but when you told Lula, it seems someone was listening and it spread like wildfire."

"Jeez, it cannot be this exciting."

"Everyone is just really happy for you."

"Layla?"

I turn around to find Randy standing behind me, his expression a mixture of surprise and confusion. My heart sinks at the sight of him, and I can feel a lump forming in my throat.

"Randy," I say, forcing a smile onto my face. "It"s good to see you."

He doesn"t return the smile, his brow furrowed in confusion. "What"s going on, Layla?" he asks, his voice tinged with hurt. "I heard about your engagement. Is it true?"

"Yes, it"s true."

Randy"s eyes flash with anger, and I can see the hurt and betrayal written all over his face. "But... how?" he stammers, his voice cracking with emotion. "I thought... I thought we had something special. We just broke up. How can you be engaged to someone else already?"

"Randy, I..."

But he doesn"t let me finish, his words tumbling out in a torrent of anger and resentment. "I can"t believe you would do this to me," he says, his voice rising with each word. "After everything we"ve been through, you"re just going to throw it all away for some hockey asshole who doesn't even live here? You just met him."

"I"m sorry," I whisper, my voice barely above a whisper. "I never meant to hurt you."

But he"s not listening, his anger consuming him like wildfire. "Save it," he says, his tone cold and dismissive. "Were you cheating on me? Is that why you dumped me so suddenly?"

"No, I never cheated on you. I wouldn't."

"Bullshit. We've barely been broken up and you're engaged to someone you don't even know."

"He's my brother's best friend, his college roommate. I do know him."

"Then why have I never met him or ever even heard his name uttered?"

"We met before…"

"You know what? Save it! I don't want to hear your lies anymore."

He turns around and storms out of the coffee shop. Tears prick at my eyes. I hate it when people are mad at me.

This man literally slept with numerous women and has the balls to publicly accuse me of cheating. The audacity.

"Here's your coffee," Bridget says softly. "Don't pay attention to him, he's just pissed he can't manipulate you anymore."

"I didn't mean to hurt him."

"You bruised his ego. Now he can't tell everyone that he dumped you or that you're begging him to come back like he has been. Also, Brock is way better than him and he knows it."

I pay for my drink and walk out of the coffee shop in a daze. I almost smack into Brock.

"Hey, funny meeting you here. I was coming in to grab you a coffee and bring it to you."

"That's sweet."

"You okay?"

"Yeah, Randy just made a scene."

"Oh babe, I'm sorry," he sighs as he wraps me in a hug.

"It's fine. It's not your fault."

"What do you have going on today?"

"I've got back-to-back calls with potential clients and then going to the salon to get some video content for their social media."

"Okay, that sounds like a lot."

"Why do you ask?"

"I want to take you on a real date."

"I can't go out on a school night."

"I didn't think about that. What about Friday night? Do you think Eric would watch him?"

"That's usually their night together. So yes."

"Perfect, then I'm taking you on a real date on Friday."

"I'd like that."

"I scheduled a doctor's appointment for Breckin. It's today, after school."

"Is he feeling okay?"

"Yes, it's for them to do the DNA swab."

"Oh, I wasn't even thinking about that. And then will I need to do the same."

"Yes."

"Okay, then I'll do the same."

"I don't want Breckin to know yet, until we get confirmation."

"I'm okay with that. I don't want him to get hurt in any way."

"Thank you."

"I'm going to go in and grab a coffee, I'll see you later," he says before he bends down and kisses me sweetly.

My stomach flips and I want him to kiss me more, but I have too much else to do right now.

***

Later that afternoon, the waiting room is filled with the soft murmur of conversation as Breckin plays with a toy truck in his lap, his innocent laughter echoing off the sterile walls.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for what"s to come. The receptionist calls our name, and I gather Breckin"s hand in mine, leading him down the hallway toward the examination rooms. He skips along beside me, oblivious to the turmoil raging inside me.

As we enter the room, I force a smile onto my face, doing my best to hide my anxiety from Breckin. The nurse greets us warmly, her voice cheerful and bright as she ushers us inside.

"Alright, Breckin," she says, kneeling down to his level. "We"re going to play a little game today, okay?"

Breckin"s eyes light up with excitement, his face alight with curiosity. "A game?" he repeats, his voice tinged with anticipation.

The nurse nods, her smile widening. "That"s right," she says. "It"s called a DNA test. Have you ever heard of it before?"

Breckin shakes his head, his brow furrowed in confusion. "No," he says, his voice barely above a whisper. "What"s a DNA test?"

I glance at the nurse, my heart pounding in my chest. How do I explain something so complex and terrifying to a five-year-old? But before I can say anything, the nurse steps in, her voice gentle and reassuring.

"It"s a special test that helps us learn more about your body," she explains, her tone calm and soothing. "We"re going to take a tiny sample of your saliva and send it off to the lab to see what makes you unique."

Breckin"s eyes widen with wonder, his curiosity piqued. "Cool!" he exclaims, his face lighting up with excitement. "Can I do it now?"

I nod, my throat tight with emotion. "Yes, sweetheart," I say, my voice barely above a whisper. "You can do it now."

The nurse hands him a small plastic tube and instructs him to spit into it, explaining that it"s just like blowing up a balloon. Breckin follows her instructions eagerly, his small cheeks puffing out as he fills the tube with saliva.

Once he"s done, the nurse seals the tube and places it in a small plastic bag, smiling warmly at him. "Great job, buddy," she says, ruffling his hair affectionately. "You did amazing."

He beams with pride, his chest puffing out with confidence. "Thanks," he says, his voice tinged with excitement. "When will we get the results?"

The nurse glances at me, her expression sympathetic. "It usually takes a few weeks for the lab to process the samples," she explains, her voice gentle and reassuring. "But don"t worry, we"ll let you know as soon as we hear anything."

"Okay," he says, his voice tinged with anticipation. "I can"t wait to find out what makes me special."

The two of us drive home. Breckin starts his homework while I prepare dinner, the rhythmic chopping of vegetables filling the air.

I glance over at him, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. He"s so absorbed in his own little world, completely oblivious to the fact that his life is about to change in ways he can"t even imagine.

As I stir the pot of simmering soup on the stove, there"s a knock at the door, and my heart skips a beat. I glance at Breckin, who looks up from his homework with a curious expression.

"That must be Brock," I say, my voice barely above a whisper. "Why don"t you go let him in?"

Breckin nods eagerly, pushing back his chair and darting off towards the door. I watch him go, a pang of sadness tugging at my heart. He"s growing up so fast, and I can"t help but wish that I could freeze this moment in time forever.

A few moments later, Brock enters the kitchen, his face lit up with a warm smile. "Hey, Layla," he says, his voice soft and gentle. "Smells amazing in here."

I return his smile, my heart fluttering in my chest. "Thanks," I say, gesturing towards the stove. "I hope you"re hungry."

Brock nods eagerly, taking a seat at the kitchen table beside Breckin. "Starving," he says, rubbing his hands together in anticipation. "What"s for dinner?"

I glance at the pot of soup simmering on the stove, a warm feeling of satisfaction spreading through me. "Vegetable soup," I say, ladling out generous portions into bowls. "I hope you like it."

Brock nods enthusiastically, accepting his bowl with a grateful smile. "Looks delicious," he says, taking a tentative sip. "Mmm, tastes even better."

I smile, feeling a sense of pride wash over me. Cooking has always been a passion of mine, a way to express my love and care for the people in my life. And tonight, as I watch Brock and Breckin enjoying their dinner together, I couldn"t be happier.

As we eat, the conversation flows easily between us, filling the kitchen with laughter and warmth. Brock tells stories about playing hockey for the Predators.

Breckin listens with rapt attention, hanging on every word as though it were the most fascinating thing he"s ever heard. I smile, looking at the similarities between the two of them. There's no way that DNA test says he's not Brock's child.

After dinner, we clear the table and settle in the living room, Breckin snuggled up on the couch between Brock and me. We flip through the channels on the TV, searching for something to watch, but I find myself more interested in the conversation between them.

Brock asks Breckin about his favorite toys and activities, and Breckin eagerly launches into a detailed description of his latest LEGO creation. Brock listens attentively, nodding along with genuine interest, and I feel a swell of gratitude wash over me.

"Oops, it looks like it's bedtime buddy," I say when I glance down at my watch.

"Okay, Mommy. Good night, Mr. Brock."

Breckin goes over and gives Brock a big hug before darting off to his room. I smile as I follow him.

"I like Mr. Brock, Mama, I hope he's here more."

"Me too, buddy."