“Are you guys really together now?Having sex and all?”Lloyd points between us.
“Yes, we are,” Laird says, completely unfazed.
“Laird,” I whisper, heat rising to my face.What is wrong with Lloyd?He hasn’t changed at all since middle school—still arrogant, blunt, and shameless.
“It’s true,” Laird shrugs.
“Wow.You two don’t get sick of each other?You’ve known each other since, what, newborns?”Lloyd wrinkles his forehead, his nose scrunching like he’s disgusted.
“Let's call it fate,” I shoot back, taking Laird's words, suppressing the red warmth on my cheek.
“Well, good luck with that.Hope you’re ready for this madhouse of a family.”Lloyd smirks.
“Don’t scare her with things that don’t matter,” Laird warns, his voice low.
“Hell, it matters.Dad and his girlfriends—same age as you, by the way—yeah, that’s a big deal.Fenella’s gonna find out soon how messed up it really is.”Lloyd tilts his head at me, his tone singsong.
“Can we not do this right now?”Laird mutters, his jaw tightening.
“Oh, right.You need rest.”Lloyd chuckles, patting my shoulder.“Take care of him, Fen.”
“You’re leaving already?”I ask as he heads for the door.
“Group study.First mock trial’s tomorrow.Catch you later.”He winks, waves lazily, and shuts the door behind him.
Once he’s gone, I sit closer to Laird.“Why does he sound so bitter?”I frown.
“Jealousy, frustration, and a shitty dad.That’s why.But I swear he’s not as miserable as you think,” Laird sighs, adjusting his pillow.
I want to ask more about him, about how Lloyd became that bitter, but maybe I shouldn’t pry too much.“Okay… you should rest now.”I pull the blanket over his legs.
“You leaving now?”His eyes trace my face, soft but searching.
Seeing him like this—fragile, still recovering—I can’t make myself go.How can I leave when he needs me?But Lloyd’s warning about Hugo Evans lingers in my mind.Their dad’s infamous in this neighborhood for being ruthless, unpredictable.No one wants to cross him.
“Just a little longer,” I whisper, rubbing his arm with gentle strokes.
“Good.Stay here.”His hand slips around my waist, holding me close.“You’re not scared of my father, right?”Laird raises a brow.
“Not scared.Just… uneasy.He’s been cold for a long time.He didn’t even visit you in the hospital.”I brush my thumb along his cheek.
“You know how he is.That’s nothing new.He never came to a single baseball game or parents’ day.”Laird exhales, resting his head on my shoulder.He breathes in my scent like he’s grounding himself.
“I don’t think he’ll ever accept me,” I murmur.
“Screw that.His sugar baby probably thinks the same thing.They come and go from this house like it’s a hotel.”He scoffs before planting a small kiss on my shoulder.
“What about your mom?”I ask, running my fingers through his hair.
Laird exhales and lifts his head to meet my gaze.“I don’t know.Last time I saw her was when I was interning at the prosecutor’s office a couple years ago.She came to see Mr.Golden, just to say hi.”
“Huh?She didn’t come for you?”My brows pull together.
Laird goes quiet for a moment.His lips press into a thin line before he murmurs, “Malcolm Golden’s the reason she left us.”
I freeze, staring at him.My hands grip his arms.“Wait—Malcolm Golden?The guy your mom had an affair with back in high school is him?”My voice cracks in disbelief.
“Yup.The same jerk you gave your mom’s cookies to.”
