Chapter 27 : Layla POV As the seconds pass and Xavier isn't answering me , my anxiety starts growing . I honestly was trying to be the bigger person by inviting him over - it is his house as well , after all . The fact that I also can't read his facial expressions right now , is not helping . The guys all look at each other and just as I'm contemplating withdrawing my offer , Cade speaks up , " Come on dude , join us ? Maybe we can bribe Moira into baking us her famous sugar cookies with the caramel drizzle like in the old days ? " His exuberant comment is infectious , and I can't help smiling at him . Xavier's lips hitch up in a subtle smile and his shoulders lose some of its tension . He quickly cuts his gaze at me , and I give him a delicate nod to confirm that I'm OK if he wants to join . " Sure , why not ? I'll meet you guys there , " he says before he turns around and walks off in the opposite direction , presumably towards his car . Hunter looks between us and then a huge smile spreads across his face , that one dimple on his right cheek making an appearance , and my heart skips a beat . " Well , well , well , who would have known . " Hunter's mysterious comment has my one eyebrow hiking up in question and he chuckles at me . " It's been ages since Xavier deigned to have a movie night with us . According to him , it wasn't " cool " anymore . " Hunter makes finger - quote motions when he says cool , and I snicker at him . AJ is next to give his two cents , " I wonder if it has anything to do with who invited him . " As he puts extra emphasis on who , he waggles his eyebrows at me , and I stick my tongue out at him . As we stroll back to the car , the guys ribbing me about getting Xavier to join us , I can't help but wonder what has caused this sudden change in his attitude towards me . I'm apprehensive but ultimately decide to be optimistic . As we near my car , AJ steps up to the passenger door , opening it with one hand and offering his other hand to me . " I remember a certain someone promising me that she would sit next to me on the way home . " He smirks at me , and I roll my eyes at him as I slip my hand into his . He suddenly pulls me against him and my breath hitches as I'm pressed up against his chest , my other hand gets caught between us as I try to steady myself , inadvertently landing on his stomach . His very taught , very muscular stomach . Is that a six - pack I feel ? Yes , please ! His next words rumble through me , and the air around us is suddenly charged , " Did you just roll your eyes at me , Cupcake ? " Everywhere our bodies touch , my nerve endings feel as if they have been set alight . My core pulls tight , and I can feel a sudden dampness at the apex of my thighs . His hand , which was on the car door , slips to 1/3 Chapter 27 : Layla POV my hip and he pulls my lower half even closer to him . " Because that's not something a good girl would do , and you want to be my good girl , right ? " His voice , which has dipped in volume and timbre , has the blood in my veins heating up to a boiling level . Holy mother of all things pickled . * His eyes are hooded as they peer down at me , and I feel him getting hard against my lower abdomen . I squirm against him to try and relieve some of the tension between my legs but realize my mistake when he growls at me . " If you don't want me to bend you over right here , right now , you might want to stop doing that , Cupcake , " he rumbles , and I immediately go as still as a deer caught in headlights . The honking of a car , a couple of spaces down from us , breaks the spell we were under , and I step away from him before I slide into my seat . He closes my door and walks around the front of the car . He catches my eye through the windscreen , adjusts himself , and then winks at me . I dip my head in embarrassment , a grin playing at the corners of my mouth , and reach for my seatbelt . " Everything okay there , Sunshine ? " Cade's teasing voice comes from behind me , and I startle - when did they get in the backseat ? " Asshat , " I throw over my shoulder at him , making him and Hunter chuckle . AJ gets in , buckles up , and sets off toward my house . As if it is the most natural thing in the world , his hand slips onto my thigh and he slides it more towards the inside seam of my jeans as well as upwards , stopping just below where the ache is that he caused . It's intimate and teasing but not overtly sexual . On the rest of the way home , my left hand lightly plays with the skin on the back of his upper hand and wrist as I peer out the side window , the guys ' banter background noise to my internal thoughts of how happy I am for the first time in a long time . Xavier's Charger is in the driveway as we pull up and the front door has been left open , presumably in anticipation of our arrival . Moira and Xavier's voices can be heard as we walk inside . Moira giggles at something he says , and I smile , glad to hear they are on better terms again after their little spat that morning in the kitchen when Bianca was here . As we round the corner into the kitchen , my phone rings and I pull it from my back pocket . My mom's name flashes on my screen and my stomach drops . What now ? I step to the side towards the patio doors , turn my back to the room , and slide my finger over the screen to answer the call . 2/3 Chapter 27 : Layla POV " Hi Mom , how's the honeymoon ? " I hear everyone behind me go quiet , most likely to listen in on my call , nosy bastards . " Hey Layla , the honeymoon was good , we just landed and we're on the way home . Make sure you're there . We have things to discuss . " Before I even have a chance to reply , the phone goes dead in my ear . I'm so stupefied at her rudeness and bluntness , that it takes almost 20 seconds for me to come to my senses and pull the phone away from my ear . I hear someone's phone chime in the background , and I feel a hand lightly pressing between my shoulder blades . " Everything OK , Beautiful ? " Hunter asks , concern evident in his tone . I slowly turn my head in his direction , ready to tell him I'm fine , but then Xavier lets out an irritated " fuck " and storms out of the room . Cade is hot on his heels , likely to find out what happened and to calm him down . I go over to the fridge and pull a bottle of water out , unscrew it , and take a big gulp , all to give me a few seconds to wrangle my thoughts . As I turn back to face the others , they all have various looks of concern in their eyes . AJ is seated on a barstool at the island and his right leg is bouncing up and down with anxiety . Join the club , buddy . " My mom and Michael are on their way home . I need to make sure I'm here because we have things to discuss her words , not mine . " A hush falls over the kitchen and I groan . Knowing my mom , she is about to screw with my life . Again . Chapter Comments 19 POST