All the Way (35 page)

It was the moment Layla had been dreading.

Her brother stood before her in their living room, motorcycle keys in hand. Determination hardened his blue eyes as he met her gaze. Without seeking permission, he told her, “I’m going on a stakeout with Officer Waller.”

Layla opened her mouth, then closed it. She had no right to deny him his freedom. He was eighteen now, responsible for his own life, his own choices.

Just three days ago, upon returning to Cleveland from their incredible journey to and from Sturgis, Rob had shown up right on time for his court date. He’d been absolved of his past transgressions and celebrated his entrance into adulthood. Now that his record was clear, and he’d made the investment with his own money into Police
Academy training, he was signed up and ready to go in two weeks.

Shadowing an undercover police officer could be dangerous, but Rob had proven himself with the undercover mission that had led him to Sturgis. He had six months of field work under his belt. He was a capable, confident young man.

It was time to give him support as he struck out on his own. Taking a deep breath, she managed a smile. “Okay, Rob.”

He nodded. “I’ll be back when his shift’s over at two a.m.”

Layla folded her arms. “What about your curfew?”

Rob mirrored her crossed-arm stance. “What about it?”

The sound of a cork popping echoed in the kitchen. The clink of glasses came closer as Blake rounded the corner into the living room. Remembering what Blake had said—about sitting on her porch with her while she told him about her dreams, about the times he’d left his door open for her—she found herself momentarily distracted from Rob’s defiance.

Blake paused, taking in the siblings’ battle stances. He looked between the two of them, then wisely kept silent. He strode forward, champagne in one hand, two glasses in the other. Dropping a sweet kiss to her lips, he said, “I’ll meet you on the porch, baby.”

Her eyes narrowed on his retreating back before the screen door closed behind him. She could have used an ally here. But this wasn’t Blake’s issue, she reminded herself. He had no problem letting Rob have his own life.

It was she who had to face what she’d been dreading since their safe return. She had to learn how to love her little brother, and at the same time let him go.

Shoving her worries aside, she moved beyond her fears. She dragged her brother into a spontaneous hug. “Be careful out there, will you?” she said.

Rob gave her a quick squeeze. “You betcha.” He drew back, let go and ran a hand over his shorn head. Layla couldn’t get used to him with a crew cut, absent his mop of curls. Or the gradually closing hole in his lip where a silver hoop used to be. He grinned and told her, “One bad guy down, and now a fresh batch of villains to go.”

“And you nailed him,” she said, referring to Jack, who was staring out from behind bars. At his arraignment with his arm in a sling, Jack had been denied bail. Layla was officially free. She smiled at Rob. “Those criminals don’t stand a chance against you.”

Rob’s lips thinned, pressed together as though he were contemplating how to tell her something. Finally, he shrugged and blurted out, “Layla, I’m moving out.”

“What?” Her heart missed a beat. Now that they were home, her world was supposed to return to normal. Not spin off its axis yet again. “You’re leaving?”

“Two guys I know from the Dojo, in my judo class, are going into the police academy, too. The three of us are getting a place. We already gave the security deposit and first month’s rent. I’m moving out next weekend.”

“So soon?”

“What do you need me around for?” Rob nodded to the door Blake had exited through. “Blake’s good for you. With you two together now, I’d just be in the way.”

Layla shook her head, blinked against the threat of tears. “I need you, too, Rob.”

“Not anymore. Jack’s behind bars.”

“No, not for protection.
Which never should’ve fallen on your shoulders in the first place. I guess I’d hoped you’d stick around, so I can get to know the grown up you.”

“It’s not like I’m going far,” he said with a slight eye roll.

“But it’ll be so…different.”

“Change isn’t always bad.”

Still, it triggered old fears that clawed to the surface. Change could be positive, but it always meant leaving behind what she’d had, losing one thing in order to gain something else.

Trust
.
That’s what it came down to. No matter what new experiences this change brought with it, she had to trust that everything would work out for the best.

“You’ll still stop by, won’t you?” she asked. “For our Sunday spaghetti nights, and Mondays for
Sons of Anarchy
reruns, and our Saturday movie night bonanzas?”

“Sometimes, I will. Sure.”

“Promise?”

“Pinky-swear.”

Layla’s eyes widened. She gasped theatrically. “The unbreakable seal of the pinky-sear? Whoa, Rob. That’s pretty deep.”

He grinned. “I know.”

Layla smiled sadly. “You’ll always have a home here.”
In my life, in my heart.

The most serious expression she’d ever seen settled on his features. Reaching out, he squeezed her shoulder. “I know how much you gave up to raise me by yourself, Layla. That’s why I want you to be with Blake. He’ll give you the support you should’ve had all this time.”

His acknowledgement touched her deeply. She was silent for a moment, absorbing the enormity of his admission. She looked up at him with quiet appreciation. And, for the first time, they reached a true level understanding.

“I know he’ll make you happy. You deserve it. More than anyone.”

Throat tightening around the words, she murmured, “You’ll never know how much that means to me, Rob. How much
you
mean to me. I’m sorry for all the times I disappointed you—”

“Hey.” He frowned at her. “The only thing that would disappoint me is if you gave up something you wanted because of me. Don’t worry about what I need. I can take care of myself.” He nodded at the front door, where Blake waited for her on the porch. “Now it’s your turn.”

Layla pulled Rob into another hug before he saw that her eyes had moistened. Then she nudged him toward the side door where he’d parked his motorcycle. “What are you doing hanging around here? Don’t you have bad guys to catch?”

“That’s what I do.” His blue eyes sparkled. Purpose in his stride, he headed out the door to his new life.

“Goodbye, Robby,” she whispered to the empty room.

She may have lost the little boy he used to be, but in his place was a young man who deserved every ounce of pride she held for him in her heart.

With a twinge of sadness, she looked around her living room. This house wasn’t a home without her brother. What would she do with all this empty space when he was gone?

How do you stop living for someone else, and start living for yourself?

Suddenly Layla felt lost. She had made her home here, with her little brother—
for
her little brother. Soon he would be gone.

Where was home now?

“Layla.”

Blake stood at the threshold of her door, holding one hand out to her. She reached for him, and his warm strength enveloped her. Her heart swelled.

Where was home now?

She looked into his eyes. And found her answer.