by Evelyn Dar
“Did it?” Laylah nodded. “That’s…something.”
The waiter beamed proudly.
Laylah looked helplessly across the booth.
“Do you like lobster?” Avery asked.
Laylah nodded.
“Michael, please bring Laylah the butter braised main lobster and I think I’ll take you up on those locally grown shiitakes.”
“Very good.” Michael collected their menus. “I shall return shortly with the second course list.”
Laylah cleared her throat and shifted restlessly in the booth, not that the booth was uncomfortable – it literally felt like sitting on a pillow – but the restaurant itself was uncomfortable. Even during her family’s Buckhead days, Laylah had never dined in such a high-end establishment.
Avery grimaced. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“You hate it here.”
“What?” Laylah forced an enthusiastic smile. “Chez Pierre is…” Her smile wavered. “The most expensive restaurant in Atlanta.”
“And you hate it.”
“I don’t hate it.” Laylah scanned the swanky dining room.
Chez Pierre was the kind of restaurant the handsome, yet relatable main character of a rom com proposed in. The kind that enforced a strict dress code and a minimum net worth. The kind where the only brown people you saw were part of the wait staff.
“It’s…an experience.”
Avery looked skeptical. “Do you mean it? Because Joanna gave me her black card and specified I spend as much money as possible.”
Laylah laughed. “Really?”
“I know,” Avery said. “Who would have thought sober Joanna was the fun one?”
“I don’t know.” Laylah rubbed her chin. “That sounds more like divorced Joanna than sober Joanna.”
“You’re right,” Avery said. “Spending Teddy’s dwindling fortune is her favorite sport.” She looked warily at Laylah. “But we don’t have to spend it here.”
Laylah reached across the table and held Avery’s hand. “I don’t care where we are. I’m just happy to finally be alone with you.” She cringed. “Or something that sounds less creepy.”
“I know what you mean.” Avery scooted closer and Laylah wrapped an arm around her. “I’ve missed you so much. I know we’ve seen each other, but–”
“Courtrooms don’t count.” Laylah smiled, grateful all that was finally behind them.
Six months of investigations, interviews, and hearings had left them both mentally and physically exhausted but mostly on the victorious side. Reggie had been captured in Miami with a hundred dollars to his name, and although he was still awaiting trial, with his prior rap sheet they doubted he would ever see the light of day again. Teddy was a different story.
It didn’t take long for the attorney general to realize the court of public opinion was far more powerful than his bank account, and he resigned amidst a criminal investigation into extensive corruption allegations. And although it would likely be years before Teddy ever saw the inside of a prison cell, if ever, at least it was a start.
Michael set a plate of steaming over-sized mushrooms in front of Avery.
“If courtrooms don’t count,” Avery said, “Neither do fancy French restaurants.”
Laylah stared suspiciously at the plate. “It doesn’t look that bad?”
Avery grinned and lowered her voice. “You know what I could really go for right about now?”
****
Laylah groaned as she climbed out of the Range Rover. “This is going to be so awkward. I just put my two weeks in today.”
Avery growled as they walked up to the entrance of Earley’s hand in hand. “Don’t remind me.”
Laylah raised an eyebrow.
Avery sighed. “Sorry, I meant to say congratulations for getting into Berry on a full scholarship even though in two weeks you’ll be leaving me forever.”
“Dramatic much?” Laylah asked. “It’s less than a two-hour drive to Emory, and trust me, I’ll make the time.”
Avery pouted. “I know, it’s just – the last six months have been a special kind of torture and the only thing that’s kept me going was the thought of you. Of us finally being together. And not just the occasional double date with Maddy and Stacy or a shared vending machine lunch on the courthouse steps.” She shook her head. “Ugh, I’m sorry. I’m acting like a baby. Ignore me.”
“You’re not acting like a baby,” Laylah reassured her. “And we’re together now.”
“For two weeks,” Avery said glumly.
“We can do a lot in two weeks,” Laylah said cryptically.
“Oh?”
“Mmhm.” Laylah smiled. “We could have a romantic picnic at Piedmont park…or spend a day in the botanical gardens…or something more intimate, maybe?”
Avery’s pulse quickened. “Okay, this is cute and everything, but baby I am wound entirely too tight for this joke.”
“It’s not a joke,” Laylah said softly. “I want what you want.”
Avery swallowed and tried to play it cool, but the implications of Laylah’s words sent chills through her. “You do?”
Laylah took a deep breath. “I do.”
Avery stood on a parking bumper, so she was eye to eye with Laylah. She had to be sure. “You know I want you, right?”
“I kind of figured.”
“No, I mean…I want you, Laylah.” Avery’s neck burned, and she was certain she was beet red. “All of you.”
Laylah gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. “Wait, you’re not talking about sex, are you?”
Avery closed her eyes and prayed the ground would swallow her whole. She cracked an eye open and was met with a smiling Laylah.
“I know that’s what you want,” Laylah said, still smiling. “And I want it, too.” She leaned forward and lightly brushed her lips against Avery’s. Teasing.
“Okay,” Avery said breathlessly. “Oh-kay.” She jumped off the parking bumper and pulled Avery toward the Range Rover.
“I thought you wanted mac & cheese?” Laylah asked.
“Nope,” Avery said without breaking stride. “Want something else now.”
Laylah’s laughter made Avery’s lower abdomen tingle, and she walked faster.
“Where are we going?” Laylah asked.
Avery had already backed out of the parking lot before realizing she had no clue.
Thanks to Joanna’s newfound sobriety, her house was now out of the question. Without pills and booze to occupy her time, Joanna had taken to hanging out with Avery, and shopping with Avery, and watching tacky rom coms with Avery, and essentially spending all of her waking hours with Avery.
And while Avery appreciated the newfound undivided parental attention, she would hate for Joanna to pop in on her at an…inopportune moment.
“What about a hotel?” Avery suggested. “Joanna’s black card is still burning a hole in my pocket.”
“We could…” Laylah said. “But I might know a place.”
“A place?”
Laylah waggled an eyebrow. “Yep.”
“Okay,” Avery purred. “So where is this mysterious place located?”
“Pull over and I’ll drive.”
“Oh, uh…” Avery looked around, noting the busy intersection and seeing nowhere safe to pull over.
“Never mind,” Laylah said quickly. “A hotel’s fine.”
“What? No, I don’t mind,” Avery said. “It’s just the traff–”
“Forget it.” Laylah clenched her jaw. “I get it.”
“You get what?”
“The whole, ‘you not trusting me’ thing,” Laylah said. “Let’s just go to a hotel. Neutral territory.”
Avery glanced at Laylah, who was staring out the window with her arms crossed.
Avery sighed, and the moment she was able to safely pull off the road, she did. She switched off the Range then climbed out and slammed the door.
She waited in front of the SUV with her arms folde
d across her chest and watched as Laylah climbed out and approached her with the apprehension of a deer approaching a lion.
Laylah shoved her hands in her pocket. “I–”
“Shut up and listen.”
Laylah’s eyes widened, but she remained silent.
“Laylah Carter.” Avery forced herself to look into Laylah’s eyes. “I love you, okay? Possibly more than I love myself – which I know, is a conversation for me and my therapist.”
Laylah smiled.
“But I am so incredibly in love with you and, yes we have…a past.”
“I drugged you and kidnapped you,” Laylah replied.
“A colorful past,” Avery admitted. “And yes, trust will be a thing for us – but it’s not a one-way street. We both have to earn each other’s trust again. And it’s going to take time. But I’m okay with that, if you are.” She held out her keys to Laylah.
Laylah stared at them, and for a brief second, Avery was afraid she wouldn’t take them.
“I’m okay with that, too.” Laylah took the keys. “And uh, I love you, too.”
Avery wrapped her arms around Laylah’s neck and laughed, then playfully pushed her away. “Okay, will take me to this mysterious place because I’m about to fucking explode.”
Laylah smirked. “That’s so sexy.”
Avery laughed and got in the car. “Shut up, and drive.”
****
Laylah pulled into the empty driveway of the newly sold two-story bungalow and peeked at Avery.
Avery’s brow was furrowed. “Are you house-sitting or something?”
“Or something,” Laylah replied. “Come on.”
They got out of the car and Laylah took Avery by the hand and led her up the stairs. She unlocked the front door and moved a stack of unpacked boxes out of the foyer, clearing a path.
She watched as Avery’s face transformed from confused to cautiously optimistic.
“Laylah,” Avery said slowly. “Is this what I think it is?”
Laylah could only nod as a tear rolled down her cheek. Avery squealed and took a running jump into Laylah’s arms.
“Thank you,” Laylah said, as she spun Avery around.
“For what?” Avery asked. “Last time I checked, I didn’t buy you a house.”
“No,” Laylah said. “But because you stood up to Teddy, my Mom got her job back and we’re getting our lives back.”
Avery beamed. “Aw, baby, I love you so much and I am so happy for you guys, but… where’s your room?”
Laylah laughed. “It’s upstairs. Second door on the right, but–”
Avery took off before Laylah could finish, and when Laylah walked into her bedroom, she grinned. Avery was smiling up at from her mattress on the floor, the only thing in her bedroom other than unpacked boxes.
Laylah crossed her arms. “I tried to warn you, I don’t have much furniture.”
Avery chuckled, deep and throaty. “You have the only piece of furniture we need.”
Laylah tried to smile, but the enormity of what they were about to do hit her. She swallowed. “I don’t want you think I don’t want to do this, because I definitely do but uh, I might not be good or whatever, and–”
“Laylah.” Avery held out her arms. “Come here.”
Laylah laid in Avery’s arms and closed her eyes.
“We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do,” Avery whispered.
“I thought you were about to explode.”
Avery laughed. “That may have been a slight exaggeration.”
Laylah sat up and rolled Avery on her back. Avery’s face flushed, and when Laylah touched her stomach, she whimpered and arched her back.
“Fine,” Avery said breathlessly. “It wasn’t an exaggeration. But I meant what I said.”
Laylah unbuttoned Avery’s jeans and slowly pulled down the zipper.
Avery’s breath hitched. “You don’t have to do this for me.”
Laylah peeled down the top of Avery’s jeans and dipped her fingers under the band of her panties.
“Are you s-sure?” Avery asked, her pupils the size of quarters.
Laylah kissed Avery softly. “Yes, I trust you.” She lowered her hand and slowly entered Avery.
Avery cried, and as they moved together, Laylah had never experienced anything so pure and perfect in her life.
Soon Avery’s cries became deeper and her movements more erratic, and as she crested against Laylah one last time, she screamed Laylah’s name before going limp in her arms.
After a few moments, Laylah tried to roll off, but Avery held her in place.
“I’m crushing you,” Laylah whispered.
Avery looked up at her with bleary eyes. “Never.”
But a few minutes later, Laylah felt Avery stir beneath her. She smiled. “I told you I was too heavy.”
Avery stared coyly at her. “It’s not that.”
“Then what?”
Avery’s smile widened, and she rolled Laylah onto her back.
“What are you going to do?” Laylah asked.
“Everything,” Avery said.
“Hmm.” Laylah raised an eyebrow. “That’s a pretty big promise.”
Avery narrowed her eyes. “You don’t think I can deliver?”
“I don’t know,” Laylah said smiling. “But there’s only one way to find out.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Evelyn Dar is a full-time writer who specializes in the lady-loving-lady variety of romance. She’s been known to curse like a sailor, but never in front of polite company. She grew up in South Florida and currently resides in North Florida because she doesn’t believe in the middle ground.
When she’s not writing, she’s probably reading, or watching re-runs of Broad City. She’s strangely active and enjoys long walks with her pooch, shorter runs on the treadmill and making her friends play organized sports.
She is the facilitator of a once-a-month girls night out, which she’s extremely proud of and insisted go into this bio. Apologies.
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