Layla
I hope you enjoy! For entertainment only! =)
Chapter 4 – New Friend
After they all had celebrated Betty returning home and Layla becoming a part of the family while they ate and talked together, everyone falling in love with Layla like Betty knew would happen, Betty was cleaning in the kitchen when Hilda walked in.
"Hey mami"
"Hey" Betty said as she put away some food in the fridge. "Honey, sit down. You've been buzzing around like a busy bee since you got here"
Betty sat down letting out a sigh.
"What's wrong?" Hilda asked knowing that Betty was stressed out. Betty bit her lip "I'm so scared, Hilda. I don't know why. I know everyone is here for me, and Layla is such a great girl, but why was it me? I still don't understand why her mother trusted me like she did?"
Hilda placed her hand on top of Betty's and looked at her with a warm smile "It's because you're such a good person, Betty. She knew that girl would love you, and that you would be the best person to take care of her. Layla likes you and she seems to like our family."
Betty nodded.
"Layla loves Papi. Oh my God, I think Papi hugged her a thousand times" She said with a laugh causing Betty to giggle. "Even Daniel adores her. I think she's still talking to him"
Betty giggled.
"She is so happy to have a family. You can see the excitement in her eyes."
Betty felt her own eyes start to tear up again. "I can tell that she's filled your heart, Betty. Is that why you're scared?"
Betty wiped at her face and nodded "A little."
"Honey, it's ok. Everything will be ok. I promise" she rubbed her hand gently. Betty placed her hand on top of Hilda's and nodded.
"I'm going to sleep." Hilda said as she stood up. She came around and hugged Betty. "Good night, Betty."
"Good night, Hilda."
Betty remained sitting there for a few moments and took a breath before she walked over to the living room. She stood by the entryway watching Daniel play with Layla.
"Daniel?" she said as he had his arm around her. "Yes, princess?"
Betty felt butterflies watching them together. She smiled at his sentiment of calling her princess, and seeing how gentle he was as he stroked her hair made her melt.
"Will you come to my birthday?"
"I would love to come. When is your birthday?"
"In... 3 days" she said as she held up three fingers. Daniel laughed and kissed her hand "I will love to come. What should I get the birthday girl?"
"Mm...Can you get me..." she leaned closer to him and held her hand up by his ear "Can you get me a present for Betty?" she whispered.
Betty felt tears fill her eyes.
Daniel smiled. "Sure, I will. How about we both pick it out?"
Layla nodded "Yes. That's better." She said with a sweet laugh. Daniel smiled and kissed the top of her head. "Alright, princess"
He paused and then said "You know... Betty is my best friend?"
Layla nodded "Mhm, she told me."
"She did?" He smiled wondering what else Betty told Layla about him. She nodded "Mhm, she told me how she worked with you and how you are friends."
He nodded "yep, we were a great team!"
She smiled, his eyes lit up getting an idea "Hey! since you like fashion so much, maybe Betty and I can get you a tour at Mode? How would you like that?"
She nodded "Uh-huh! Thank you!" she hugged him.
Betty smiled watching them interact. They were so cute. "You are nice" Layla commented as if confirming a fact.
He laughed "thank you. I like to think so."
She laughed "Betty told me how you were always really nice to her. And she said that you were handsome and have magic blue eyes and always dress nice."
Betty blushed, wishing Layla hadn't said all that. She knew Daniel would tease her at some point. She couldn't deny how entirely handsome he was looking right now, in fact, with the light blue button up and black pants he was wearing.
He grinned "Really? What else did she say about me?"
"She said that you made her feel pretty"
Daniel smiled. He knew Betty was watching them. He could feel her watching them. "She did, huh?"
"Mhm"
"Do you know what I think?" Daniel whispered. "What?" she whispered back.
"I think Betty looks so beautiful. I always thought she was. A special princess, like you" he said with a smirk, hoping Betty heard him.
Layla smiled bright "You should tell Betty!" she said noticing Betty standing by the doorway. Daniel turned around and saw Betty who was smiling, holding her hands to her chest, her eyes glossy.
"I already did" he said with a grin.
Betty giggled "You knew I was standing here?" she said walking over to them.
Daniel nodded "Yep" he stood up and lifted Layla up holding her. Betty ran her hand through Layla's hair. "You should go to sleep, young lady. It's nearly midnight"
"Aww, but I love Daniel!" she hugged him around his neck. Daniel and Betty both laughed.
"I'm sure he loves you too, honey, but it's late"
"Aww" she had a sad look on her face and Betty didn't want to make her sad, but she didn't want Layla to think she could do anything she wants when she's older, so she stood by her statement.
"Ok..." she looked to Daniel who looked at her with a small smile. "Good night, Daniel"
He smiled "Good night, princess." He kissed her cheek and put her down.
Betty smiled at Daniel before she took Layla's hand "I'll be back down."
He nodded.
"Betty, I like Daniel!" he heard Layla say as they went up the stairs. He laughed. He already loved that girl. He knew he would.
He smiled and sat on the couch. He was actually excited to pick out a present for Betty with Layla. He wondered if Betty heard them talk about that, too.
When Betty walked into Hilda's room and tucked Layla in, Layla kissed her cheek. "Thank you!"
"What for, sweetie?"
"For sharing your family" she said causing Betty's heart to pull. Betty nodded and kissed her "I love you, sweetie."
"I love you, Betty"
"Good night. I'll be back in a little while, ok?"
She nodded with a smile. "You'll say good night to Daniel?"
Betty nodded, hoping Layla couldn't tell she was blushing. "Yes."
"He's nice. I like him!"
Betty giggled. "That's good." Betty kissed her again and left the room.
When Betty went down stairs she saw Daniel hugging a cushion, his head against the arm of the couch, his eyes closed. She smiled "Daniel..."
"Mhm"
"I made my bed for you to sleep in. Come on" she took his hand trying to pull him up. But he tugged at her hand pulling her back. "Daniel..." she giggled "Come on!"
A smile formed on his lips, but he kept his eyes closed. He pulled her hand harder and made her sit by him. He finally looked to her with a smile. She shook her head. "You're a mess"
He laughed "So... you think I'm handsome and have magic eyes?" he said with a grin.
She blushed brightly "What? No! Who told you that?" she hoped he'd stop teasing her, but he placed his hand on top of hers causing her heart to skip. "Some princess told me."
She smiled finding that sweet how he referred to Layla. He grinned "I had no idea I had magic eyes! That's pretty impressive. Have my eyes cast a spell on you?" he teased.
She blushed, pushing his hand off hers "No! Stop making fun of me! I don't even like you that much" she teased.
He smirked, raising his eyebrow "Oh really?"
She nodded with a playful smile, her smile lighting up the room.
He shrugged "Well, that's too bad, because I like you."
She looked to him "You do?"
He shook his head "Nah, not really. I was joking."
She pouted looking away.
He laughed "Just kidding, of course I like you, silly! You're my best friend! You're beautiful and sweet and amazing! What's not to like?"
She looked at him in surprise, and bit her lip, her lip-biting driving him crazy. She smiled "I suppose I like you a little."
He laughed "I'll take what I can get"
She giggled, her laugh making his heart skip. She was so cute. "So...you made your bed for me, huh?" he said with a grin.
Betty rolled her eyes and got up "No. Shut-up, Daniel! I didn't mean it that way"
"Sure, you didn't, miss little mermaid" he said as he got up.
"What?" she asked in confusion as she started walking out of the room. He followed her up the steps. "I remember someone pretended I slept with them when I was drunk. In your bed? In your arms, remember?" he said with a grin.
She shook her head, letting out a nervous laugh. "I was joking. You freaked out."
"I didn't."
"Yes, you did. You practically had a heart attack when you thought we slept together" she said, her voice sounded almost hurt. He held her arm and stopped her in the hallway. "Hey, because I didn't want to be the idiot that took advantage of you; I thought I messed up. I did mess up" he said sounding more serious.
"I shouldn't have ever got involved with Sofia, and got drunk over her. It was stupid. What was worse was you taking care of your dumb boss on Thanksgiving."
"Daniel, I didn't mean-"
He shook his head "It's cool."
She bit her lip. He looked at her with a smirk draping his arm across her shoulders "You are more than welcome to sleep in my arms, Betty" he said with a teasing grin.
Betty shoved his arm, trying not to laugh "Shut-up, Daniel! You're crazy."
He laughed and moved closer to her, causing her to freeze. Her heart started pounding as he moved even closer to her. He had his hands on the wall on either side of her. She looked at him with wide eyes wondering what he was doing.
He shot her a smirk.
She bit her lip as she stared at him, she felt like her heart was going to actually come out of her chest with him standing so close, his intoxicating scent clouding her and his mesmerizing 'magic' eyes looking into hers with a mischievous light.
Daniel felt like his heart was beating like a drum in his chest. Her blushing and lip-biting and how her eyes were shining in surprise was making him want to kiss her.
He glanced over her and looked to her eyes with a grin "You do look incredible, Betty. You look amazing in pink. This dress is so pretty and gorgeous on you" he said in a low voice. He really dug the bright pink on her. It was definitely incredibly hot. He found himself staring at her several times during the course of dinner.
Betty felt like she was lost in time, his low rumbling voice and the look in his eyes were all making her get lost in time for a split second. Daniel was flirting with her, wasn't he? It was crazy. He'd been flirting with her throughout the night. She wasn't sure she could handle it. It was making her nervous.
"Thanks" She went under his arm and slipped away. She didn't want Daniel to know that she was in love with him. Even admitting that she 'liked him' was too much. "You know... Layla loves you" she said with a smile trying to talk of safer things.
Daniel smiled. "I adore her, too. She's my sweet princess"
Betty looked at Daniel, meeting his eyes in surprise. His princess?
He laughed "I know. I'm crazy. How can she be my princess?" he said turning around and leaning against the wall. He looked to her "She's adorable. She's not my daughter, but I love her like she is"
Betty looked at him and felt her stomach flip. "You do?"
Daniel nodded with a smile. Betty smiled.
They kept each other's gaze for a moment, but then Betty looked down shyly, "I should get to bed. It's late."
He nodded, watching her "Ok."
She felt hypnotized by the admiring gaze in his 'magic' eyes, but said "Good night, Daniel"
He sighed "Good night..." As she started walking away he said her name softly. "...Betty"
She felt such a tingly sensation from the softness of his voice. When she got to Hilda's bedroom door, she looked back to him. When she saw him still watching her, she smiled at him. He smiled back, but then looked down.
When she was inside she let out a sigh as she stood against the door. How was she going to control her feelings around him? He was already making her so flustered just from one night of seeing him again.
This was going to be a challenge.
Daniel closed his eyes and rested his head against the wall. He didn't know what was going on inside him. His heart was racing, his stomach flipped at that smile she sent him, he felt an insane rush from her, his brain was swimming with thoughts about how beautiful she looked and how he wanted to hold her face again, feel her warm cheeks, and kiss her beautiful lips.
He wasn't sure how he was going to sleep now.
It was going to be a long night.
AN: Thanks so much for your comment Sabrina! It means a lot to me ! 3 I hope you continue to enjoy my stories! lots of love!
and Thanks Rhian for all your love! I'm so glad you enjoy reading my stories, too! =)
