“I can't believe you guys made us watch an action movie”, Layla folded her arms in disappointment as we walked out of the cinema and all we laughed

“I wasn't up for that high expectation romance bullshit”, I said playfully, causing her to poke me with her elbow playfully on my chest and I winced in fake pain

“What did you want us to watch Lay since you're also terrified of horror movies?”, Troy asked when his laughter died down and Layla shrugged her shoulders lightly

“Mystery, fantastic, adventure movies, anything”, she entwined her arm with mine

“Action is more real man, it's like the thrill of it all. The explosions, the gunshots, the fist fighting, its just gets your blood pumping-”, Quinton started excitedly before Layla patted him on the shoulder.

“We get it Q, don't hurt yourself”, she teased, and we all laughed again as Quinton side hugged her

“I enjoyed this”, he said, and she hugged him back

“I enjoyed this too”, she said as she turned to look at us walking behind them.” Thanks guys, I had a really nice day”, she said as she smiled at us and Quinton stuck his tongue out at me cause Layla was giving him attention.

Show off

When we arrived home, Adriana refreshed up so that she could join my parents to go to the wedding. My father and I were still not on speaking terms, and he was trying to do right by me, but I was just not ready to forgive him yet.

When it was time for them to leave, Troy leaned to kiss Adriana on the cheek, but she kissed him fully on the lips instead, and a wave of discomfort washed over Troy's face as he bid her goodbye. Layla snapped her fingers in front of my eyes to get my attention.

“You're staring, it's rude”, she said, and I couldn't remove my eyes from the couple. Layla turned my face to look at her, and she fixed her eyes on me. “I'm serious Damon”

“Sure”, I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close to me

“Bye Momma”, Dylan walked over to kiss Layla on her cheek, and we fist pumped

“Be good, okay?”, she said, and he nodded before taking my mother by the hand

“I always am”, he gave a little smile

“We'll see you when we get back”, my mother said as they walked to the door along with dad and Adrianna, and we bid them goodbye

“Finally, we're home alone”, Quinton sprawled himself on the couch.” What now?”, he questioned as his gaze focused on each one of us and Troy and I stood up, excusing ourselves.

“We got some business to take care of, we'll catch up with you two when you figure out what we're going to do”

“So Layla, what do you want to do?”, Quinton asked as I watched Damon and Troy walked upstairs

I shrugged a little. “I don't know”

“Really?”, he scoffed mockingly with his gaze fixed on me. “If I knew we'll have nothing to do, I could have just agreed to go to the wedding”

“I just want a really long bath and crawl to bed”, I said, and he did a dramatic sigh before standing to his feet

“Fine, but you'll have to make it up to me tomorrow”, he extended his hand for a handshake, and I took his hand in mine for a short handshake

“I promise”

Later on that evening, I soaked myself in a bubble bath with a wine glass in hand and slow music playing in the background. I don't know whether I was turning into an alcoholic or what, but somehow I seemed to cope with not being able to focus on my feelings. It's just one of those moments I wanted to shut myself out of the world and be alone for a couple of hours. Have me to myself, with no interruptions.

There were two knocks on the door before it slowly opened and Damon peeked inside.

“Isn't this cozy?”, he questioned, and I took a sip of my wine before sinking in the water again, and he walked in to sit on the edge of the bathtub. “Are you okay?”

“I would be if you joined me”, I looked up to him and bit my lower lip a little, only to see a smile appearing on his face before he dipped his hand in to test the water and stood on his feet

“That's an offer I can't refuse”, he started unbuttoning his shirt and I smiled as I watched him take the rest of his clothes off

After the bath, we cuddled on the bed, with the slow music still playing in the background, grazing deep into each other eyes before he reached out for a loose strand of my hair and tucked it behind my ear

“You're so beautiful”, he whispered softly, brushing his thumb on my lower lip and my lips pulled into a smile before I looked away

“What's on your mind?”, he asked, and I shrugged a little

“I don't want to think about anything right now. I just want to stay like this until morning and I need you to hold me close so that I fall asleep into your arms, is that too much to ask for?”, I asked, and I felt his lips press a tender kiss on my forehead.

“Of course not. Anything you want, I'll give it to you”, he breathed out, and I rested my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes for like a minute or so before he called out to me in a whisper.

“Hmm?”

“I love you”, he whispered softly, and I opened my eyes and stared into space for a little while. When Damon drifted to sleep, I got out of bed to sit by the window, drinking the last glass of wine while looking out the window. It was way past midnight, and I was certain those who went to the wedding were already back because all the lights were off in the house.

I pushed Dylan's door open to see he was sprawled on the bed with his clothes and shoes still on, and I laughed to myself, he must be really exhausted if he didn't have time to get into his night clothes. I changed him into his pajamas and tugged him in even though it was not as easy as before because he was now heavier because he was asleep before placing a kiss on his forehead.

The wine was starting to kick in, and I felt a bit tipsy when I tried to stand up, causing me to balance myself with the bed stand and took a deep breath before standing to my feet again and walked to the kitchen for a glass of water. I hunched over the sink to compose myself as my vision blurred, and I felt a little light-headed. It wasn't much use that it was dark and only the moon reflected some light inside, but I knew my way around the house, so I didn't see the need to switch on any lights.

“Layla, are you okay?”, a pair of hands grabbed me by my waist from behind when I seemed to lose my balance a little

“Yeah”, I turned to face him and wrapped my hands around his neck, pulling him to me and claimed his lips with mine. He was dumbfounded at first as my lips worked my way on his, and I felt him deepen the kiss and wrapped his arms tightly around me. Our lips moved in sync for a minute or so before he quickly withdrew his lips from mine.

“Layla”, he whispered against my lips as he tangled himself from me

“I love you too”, I whispered, and he kept quiet, and I felt myself collapse in his arms

“Layla?”, a hand shook me gently, and I peeled my eyes open lazily to see Damon kneeling beside me

“Yeah?”

“Why are you sleeping on the couch?”, he questioned, raising a brow at me and I rose up to see that I was indeed in sleeping on the couch, covered with a fleece blanket

“I don't know”, I sounded confused trying to recall what really happened that I ended up here, and nothing came in mind. “I don't even know how I got here”

He studied me for a second, and he shook his head. “Well this should be like a habit. I was really disappointed when I reach out for you, and you weren't there”

“I'm sorry”, I cupped the side of his face a little before getting up. “What time is it?”

“A few minutes after 4am”, he picked me up bridal style. “Let's go back to bed”

I could still feel Layla's lips on mine while I laid eyes wide open on the bed, I didn't sleep a wink at night. I still replayed last night's events in my eyes, it was even worse when I closed my eyes. Her scent was embroidered on me when I pulled her close to me during the kiss. This was the second time she initiated a kiss. The first time, it was her hormones driving her to the end point and last night, I could taste sweet rosé on her lips as we kissed sensationally. She must have been intoxicated and probably thought I was Damon.

I love you too

My heart skipped a beat when she whispered those words to me before falling unconscious

into my arms. That moment, it's indescribable. It just felt so real like she was really professing her love to me, just like I imagined all those years ago. Hearing her say them, took me way back to think what could have happened if I just got to her in time before she left for varsity. If only I just swallowed my pride and told her how I feel about her in the first place. None of this would be happening, we wouldn't be in this situation.

Adriana stirred to snuggle close to me and I closed my eyes, pretending to be fast asleep, and I felt her rise her head to look at me while trailing her finger on my face and kissed my cheek before resting her head on my shoulder

This was another thing. Adriana is in love with so much that I pity her. Even with me acting up and acting like a jerk towards her, she doesn't seem to give up on the idea of us actually living the rest of our lives together, but how do I give myself to her whilst I'm in love with another woman?

It was morning already, and I got up for a quick shower, but really it was more like to wash my guilt off me as the water ran down my body. How will I look Damon in the eye today knowing that I shared a moment with his wife last night?

How will I even face Layla?

I don't think she'll even remember what happened, but what if she does? She was a bit intoxicated, but I still went ahead and kissed her. I took advantage of her.

I'm so stupid

“Good morning”, Adriana yawned lazily when I finished getting dressed, and she sat up to cradle her legs to her chest

“Morning love”, I walked over to peck her on her lips, and he held onto my arms when I attempted to walk away, forcing me to seat next to her, and she pulled me onto her and planted a kiss on my lips. I broke away from the kiss immediately and looked away.

“What's wrong Troy?”, she questioned while searching for my eyes. “You barely even touched me since we got here”

I moved to sit a bit further from her on the bed and cleared my throat. “I don't think this is either the right place or time to be intimate with each other”

She moved closer to straddle me, forcing me to look at her”I promise I won't be loud”, a smile played on her lips as she leaned to leave trails of kisses on my neck and I sighed as I tried to stop her. “Make love to me”

“Dria, I can't”, I tried pushing her off me gently, but she ignored me, continuing to kiss me

“Just relax”, she whispered to my ear before claiming her lips with mine and I grunted in her mouth as I tried to push her off me, but she didn't bulge

I love you too

Layla's voice said repeatedly in my head as I closed my eyes shut and tried not focusing on it. Adriana used her other hand to unbuckle my belt and I grab it as I open my eyes to look at her.

“Don't”, I commanded and her lips pull into a smile

“Why are you denying this? It's clearly a part of you isn't”, she referred to my erect manhood hitting her inner thigh. I cursed under my breath for my body betraying me. I also didn't want her to be suspicious and put two and two together of why I didn't want to sleep with her. I took a long, deep breath before kissing her back in a fierce manner as I swiftly changed positions and laid her on her back. She giggled as I claimed on top of her and took my shirt off before claiming her lips with mine.

I love you too

Layla's voice was tattooed in my mind every second as I made love to Adriana