Chapter 16

Nathan

It seems that calling Layla by her first name has finally gotten through to her, because she's stopped in her tracks but hasn't yet turned around to face me. I don't even mind. I just want to talk to her.

I go over to the other side until I'm directly facing her, and she's already glaring at me. Whatever it is that's going on inside her head, this is my moment to finally break the ice between us. I can only hope she doesn't walk away right now.

For a start, I relax my shoulders and say the one thing I've wanted to say to her for a while now.

"After hiding from me for three years, I've finally found you." My eyes scan her from head to toe.

"I wasn't hiding. I was simply living my life without you," she scoffs at me, crossing her arms.

I'm not even offended by her response. This is exactly what I needed to hear from her. She's just broken the barrier and now I can finally speak more freely with her.

"It doesn't matter if you were simply living your life without me, because here