Want You to Want Me

“Stop being so cynical. Falling in love is a beautiful thing, Lucas,” Layla scoffed, grinning at him with that flirtatious smile of hers.

She was used to his pessimism and took it in stride.

“We need to work on your negative attitude before I let you anywhere near my vagina again.”

Lucas laughed. “You would dare deny my big boy all because of my attitude?”

“Try me.”

Lucas didn’t want to admit to himself—or her—the feelings that his stupid heart had been developing. It wasn’t something he cared for. He would only hurt Layla in the end, and that was not something he wanted.

If she knew just how many people he’d hurt in his life, or all of the bad mistakes he’d made, Layla would have to leave him behind.

“You aren’t really going to tell me that you make the best choices when it comes to men,” Lucas teased.

Layla didn’t take offense. “I’m aware of my past bad decision-making, Lucas, but maybe you’re a step up.”

“And what if I’m not?”

“Time will tell. Stop trying to push me away and just let life happen. I’ve said this over and over again to you, haven’t I? Are you even listening to me?” Layla cupped his face in her soft, warm hands.

Lucas didn’t dare pull away from her touch. “Why would you even consider being with me?”

“Why would I not? And don’t tap into that ‘hurting me’ bullshit. When have you ever hurt me?”

“But I will. One day, you’ll see that.”

“Are you a psychic?”

“I’ve been labeled psychotic.”

Layla smiled up at him, slowly removing her hands from his face. “When did the music stop?”

They’d been so wrapped up in each other that they hadn’t noticed the raffle taking place on stage.

Lucas didn’t let her go, and he didn’t care if the music had stopped. He felt better in her arms. He didn’t want to push her away, but it was going to happen—or at least that’s what his brain kept telling him.

“What’s the raffle for?” Layla whispered to Lucas.

“Tickets to that country concert next month and to go to Las Vegas for a weekend.”

Layla nodded and looked around the room, waving at Rosie, who lifted up her cup in salutation.

The man on stage read off some numbers, and Layla checked her ticket.

“Not mine,” she said, shoving the raffle ticket back in her pocket.

“But it is mine!” Lucas exclaimed, waving his ticket in the air, “Winner!”

Layla’s eyes lit up like the Fourth of July as Lucas pulled her onto the stage with him.

“Congratulations, Lucas, to you and your very lovely lady,” the man said, handing over the envelopes to Lucas.

“Thank you,” Layla said as Lucas lifted her up into his arms and carried her off the stage, dipping her in the middle of the dance floor, smashing his lips against hers.

He didn’t care who knew about them anymore. They weren’t an item, so what was the harm in having fun?

Whoops and hollers could be heard all around them, but Lucas didn’t care. He was claiming both of his prizes on that dance floor.

“That’s amazing, Lucas. You’ll have such a good time!” Layla said as they made their way back to the bar.

“~We~ will have such a good time.”

“We?”

“Who the fuck else am I going to take with me?”

Layla blushed. She hadn’t once thought it would be her, what with all the women Lucas could get his hands on.

“There’s no one else I want to annoy as much as I want to annoy you. I thought I made myself clear the minute I opened my front door.”

“Oh, hush.” Layla playfully tapped him on the shoulder as a few of their friends strolled over.

“Damn, Lucas! Getting pretty lucky these days, ain’t ya?” Lyle winked at Layla.

“I’m pretty lucky too,” Layla said without missing a beat.

Wanda eyed Rosie, who smirked at Shawna.

“Maybe we’ll carpool. Billy and I are going to the concert,” Wanda offered. “Unless the two of you have other plans afterwards?”

Lucas looked at the tickets. “Who’s to say I can’t get laid at the concert?”

Layla shook her head. “Lucas, I’m afraid to ask about all of the places you’ve gotten laid.”

Lucas leaned in to her ear so no one could hear him. “Instead of telling you, I’ll just show you.”

“Is this party over yet?” Layla half joked.

“It can be.” Lucas kissed the shell of her ear, sending a tingling sensation through her body. “I want you to want me just as badly as I want you, baby girl.”

Layla took his hand and led him away from the group as another slow song started to play. George Strait’s “I Cross My Heart” echoed through the sound system as the two took to the dance floor.

“Lucas, there hasn’t been a day that’s gone by since I trespassed on your property that I haven’t wanted you.”

He pulled her into him so she couldn’t get away. He honestly didn’t want to think of the day that that was going to happen.

“I’m not good for you, Layla.”

“Stop telling me what’s good for me, Lucas.”

“What are we doing here?”

“Dancing?”

“No.” Lucas shook his head. “I mean this. Us.”

“What do you want it to be?”

Layla caught Lucas’s thoughtful gaze, wondering if he was going to say what was really on his mind.

“I don’t know yet,” Lucas admitted. “All I know is that there’s something about you that makes me weak, and I don’t like to be weak.”

Layla nodded. “I get that, but sometimes weak is okay. It’s a different type of weakness, right? Like butterflies in your stomach? Or excitement when you get to be next to that special someone?”

“I don’t like feeling.”

Layla laughed. She couldn’t help it when it came to Lucas and his ornery attitude.

“You don’t like feeling? You will never admit that you’re a good person, will you? You keep telling me that I’ll find a good man one day, someone who’ll treat me like a queen, but you already do that.”

Lucas sighed. “Layla, I really don’t know what’s happening to me, but…”

“Then just let it happen. Why do you question everything? Why do you expect things to fall apart?”

“Because they always do, baby girl. Nothing works out for me. Nothing good.”

Layla rested her head on his chest. Lucas’s heart was practically beating right through it.

“I love the sound of your heartbeat, Lucas.”

“I love the sounds we make when we’re fucking.”

“Lucas…,” Layla sighed. “Always the charmer.”

Lucas snickered. “I aim to please.”

“If I fell in love with you, would you turn me away?” Layla asked, catching Lucas off guard.

“I’d ask if you had finally lost your mind.”

Layla breathed in deeply, but she didn’t look at him. She stayed buried in his warmth, his embrace, in the safety of his loving arms.

“Well, then maybe I’m losing my mind.”