The Family

“I’m sure it’ll be a fun weekend.” Layla pried herself away from Liam just as Lucas walked in. On instinct, Layla pushed herself against Lucas, who didn’t seem to mind.

He held on to her shoulders protectively and talked to Liam for a few more minutes. Liam continued to graze Layla with his eyes and she kept avoiding his looks.

“Let me help Courtney unpack.” Liam nodded at Lucas and Layla, brushing Layla’s hand as he walked by.

Layla jerked her arm away, but Lucas barely took notice.

“Are you doing okay?”

Layla nodded. “Oh, yeah! They seem nice.” She smiled warmly. “Are you sure you want me to stay here?”

Lucas frowned. “Do you not want to?”

“I can’t stay in your room.”

Lucas shook his head. “I don’t want to risk the sponsorship.”

Layla stiffened when Liam and Courtney joined them again. Courtney held some jars and bottles filled with goodies.

“My wife’s famous hot sauces and jams!” Liam winked at Layla, who was getting so uncomfortable that she almost threw up.

Taking this as a sign, Layla excused herself and headed out to the porch for some fresh air.

Lucas was busy with his family so she didn’t make a scene, but something wasn’t sitting well. Where did she know Liam from, and why was he hitting on her?

“Hey.” Liam walked out to the porch. “While they’re arguing about what sauce is hotter, I figured I’d get to know you a little better.”

Layla gripped the railing. Her heart was racing, and she was breaking into a cold sweat.

“There’s not much to tell.” Layla smiled. “I work as a crisis dispatcher, and Lucas wanted me to sponsor him.”

Liam moved closer, causing Layla to take a step back.

“Pretty girl like you and y’all expect me to believe you’re just his sponsor?” Liam smirked. “There’s no shame in the game, Layla. Lucas would be stupid not to take you in multiple positions.”

“You’re being very inappropriate right now and I don’t appreciate it.” Layla stood tall. “I’m going to tell Lucas.”

As she walked past Liam, he grabbed her by the elbow and pulled her into him. “I wouldn’t do that. You know he’s got a temper.”

“Are you worried about his feelings or him kicking your ass for coming on to me?”

Liam chuckled, releasing her from his grip.

“You’re a feisty one. I like it.” Liam licked his lips. “Lucas must like it too.”

“Stay away from me.”

Layla made her way back into the house, making sure she stayed close to Lucas or Courtney at all times.

Dinner went off without a hitch. Lucas seemed to relish his family’s company, but Layla wondered if he knew Liam’s antics.

Surely if Lucas knew how she’d been accosted by his cousin punches would have been thrown.

The kids were friendly, Courtney seemed nice, and Liam and Lucas were deep in conversation about their childhood.

Every now and then, Lucas would glance over at Layla and smile or wink at her, or he’d glide his hand underneath the table and caress her thigh.

She felt incredibly safe when he was around, but once nighttime fell, all was quiet in the Foster house.

The others showered and readied for bed, including Layla, who was staying in the middle bedroom between Lucas’s and Liam’s rooms.

Lucas pulled her into his room at one point and held her close. “You seem distant tonight,” he said, stroking her cheek. “I know you’re not a fan of what they did to me as a kid, but Liam grew up.”

Layla nodded. “Of course. I’m just tired, but I swear I know your cousin from somewhere.”

Lucas frowned. “He used to visit every summer. We were both pretty strung out half the time, but you would have been just a little thing then.”

He often forgot the age gap between them, and Liam was five years older than Lucas.

“Maybe it was at Cole’s or something.” Layla shrugged. “I mean, the two of you look nothing alike, so it’s not that.”

“He can be a gruff guy too, but he means well. He’s been trying to get me on the straight path for a while to no avail.”

Layla just didn’t see that. She saw a predator in Liam, someone she was afraid of, someone she didn’t trust at all. Lucas was different. He was a protector and her weakness.

“Of course,” Layla said cheerily. “I’m so happy you have them in your life. It’s good that you have more support.”

Lucas smiled. Her approval mattered to him, and this was a great start to the weekend, a weekend he had always dreaded, until Layla came along.

“I’m going to shower and go to bed,” Layla said, hoping the night would end soon. “I’ll see you in the morning?”

Lucas leaned in and kissed her passionately. She didn’t want to let him go. She wanted to stay in the warmth and safety of Lucas’s arms.

“In the morning, baby girl.”

***

Thunder shook the house, startling Layla awake. She sat up and looked around the room, glimpsing the bright digits on the clock. A little after three.

She had made sure to lock the door, but now her mouth was dry and she needed a drink. Slipping on her robe, she scurried down the hall and into the kitchen, only to find Liam sitting at the table, nursing a beer.

“I knew you couldn’t leave me alone.” Liam’s drunken state was evident as he slurred his words. “Girls like you are just cockteases.”

She decided not to give Liam the attention he craved, drank her water, and headed back to her room.

Layla knew she’d have to tell Lucas. There was no way she couldn’t.

Suddenly, her door swung open and there stood Liam, swaying from side to side.

“Don’t be like that, Layla. I’m sorry. I just find you so fucking attractive. My dick is unbelievably hard for you right now. You want me just as much as I want you, and you fucking know it.”

“What the fuck is going on?”

Courtney.

“Oh my God! This isn’t our room?!” The lie rolled right off Liam’s tongue.

Layla was curled up in the blankets by then as she listened to Courtney scold her husband for being drunk and wandering into another room.

“Layla, please forgive my husband,” Courtney said, closing the door. Clearly, she hadn’t heard the extent of Liam’s advances.

Layla quickly jumped up and locked the door. She crawled back into the bed and pulled the covers over her head. In the morning, she’d tell Lucas and then go back to her parents’ house.

Her heart was racing fast, but Layla eventually drifted off to sleep—only to have nightmare after nightmare.

The boogeyman was real, but now he had a face and a name:

“Liam…”