I knock on the Scotts' front door and wait impatiently for it to open. Within a few minutes, Holly appears at the door. Layla had symptoms of being sick the past few days, so I haven't been able to see her. With only a few hours open to go see her in between school, homework, and baseball practice, it's been harder to make it over to her house. Especially with my dad down my throat about keeping my grades up.

Finally, now that It's Friday and I have a break from baseball practice and homework, I don't hesitate to go and see her.

"She's been asking how you've been," Holly tells me as we walk through the house.

I shake my head. "Seems like it should be the other way around. Is she feeling okay?"

"A little. She seemed to be feeling tired today, and I'm afraid her immune system isn't going to be as strong with how weak she's been," she gives me a sad smile. "I hate to do this to you, but I don't think it's a good idea for you two to be touching or... anything else."

I laugh at the way she adds that last part. She's not ashamed to say exactly what she's thinking. Still, my heart sinks a little. I want nothing more than to just be around Layla, but if it means risking her health, I can't do it.

"Oh," I say. "I could just sit outside her door or something if that would be better."

Abe walks around the corner then, two walkie talkies in his hands and grin on his face. "I have been looking for these bad boys all day since Layla said you were coming."

I take the one he hands me and press the button on the side. It buzzes to life and dies off when I release the button. Memories come flooding back from my friends and me playing with walkie talkies when we were younger. Even Jordan would join in on our little missions around the backyard.

"This is a pretty good idea," I tell him. Abe walks over to Layla's room and opens the door slowly. I carefully walk over to the door and peek inside to see a lump on her bed covered by her large comforter. She rolls over to sit up and talk to her dad.

She smiles when he gives her the walkie talkie and her eyes turn towards me. I smile at her, and she smiles back, holding the walkie talkie up to her mouth and pressing the button.

The device in my hand comes to life. "Can you hear me? Over."

Abe gets up and leaves the room, shutting the door behind him. "I'm sorry that this is what we have to do. It's just you've been around snotty kids all day and... we don't want to risk her getting sick.

I nod my head eagerly. "I understand, trust me. I agree with you guys."

He pats my shoulder before he and Holly head to another part of the house. I slide down so I'm sitting against her door and press the button on the side of my talkie.

"Loud and clear. Over."

"Good," Layla whispers.

"ten-four," I say with a laugh.

"Oh, so we're truckers now?" She giggles. I can't help but smile a big stupid grin, pressing the talkie against my forehead for a moment to compose myself. She's here, she's talking, she's in good spirits, and I couldn't be happier.

My smirk only grows. "If you're a trucker, I'm a trucker."

I can hear her laugh from outside the room, and then her door moves slightly from behind me. It doesn't open, but I have a strong feeling we are sitting back-to-back. I'm tempted to just press my ear against the door.

"If we're truckers, we have to have nicknames," she says matter-of-factly.

I lean closer to the door. "Like what?"

"I don't know... you could be something like... Loverboy."

I scoff. "Lame."

I can hear her sigh through the door. "You go for it, then."

"How about..." I trail off, searching for some kind of nickname to give to her. "You remind me of Pooh. You're cute and sweet as the honey you eat."

"I don't like honey, though," she chuckles.

I shrug my shoulders. "Well, you should. It's healthy for you."

"Fine," she quickly interrupts. "You're definitely Abu."

"Who?"

"Abu. Aladdin's monkey sidekick?" She asks as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. The memory of a big, blue genie slithering out of a lamp comes to me.

"Ohh, yeah I remember him. Why does he remind you of me?"

"Because he's feisty and opinionated, he's also caring and an amazing friend to Aladdin. He can do hard things, but he's also so soft-hearted when you get to know him."

I can feel my smile softening as she talks. This girl knows exactly how to worm her way into someone's heart without even trying; she's just herself. I think about the word "friend" for a moment, and my humor dies away.

I love this girl.

"Are we more than friends, Layla?" I ask quietly. "Or are we just... sidekicks that are ready to go rob the world of all its gold and honey?"

The static comes to life on my talkie as she prepares to reply, but then it goes away.

I hold it back up to my lips. "Layla?"

"I'm here." I don't say anything as I wait for her to answer. But after a few minutes, I grow too anxious. I stand up and face her door, pressing my hand against it to keep myself up.

"I love you, Layla." Before the words even finish leaving my mouth, the door opens and Layla is standing in front of me. I want nothing more than to wrap her in a hug and kiss her, but I force myself to refrain.

"I'm afraid that you'll get hurt." Her eyes never leave mine.

I carefully toss the talkie on the ground and reach for her hands, despite the situation. "I'm tougher than you think."

"Jonah..." She attempts to pull her hands away but I clutch them tighter.

"What are you afraid of?"

"What if I hurt you?"

"How could you?"

For a moment she lowers her gaze, closing her eyes and pressing her lips into a thin line. I know exactly what she's thinking, but what she doesn't want to say.

"Layla," I say, but she speaks first.

"What if I don't make it through this? In a few years who knows if this is still going to work?"

I reach up and hold her face in my hand, demanding that she hear the words I'm about to speak.

"If there is one thing this whole new experience has taught me, it's that life isn't permanent. You just live from day to day. I'd be so honored to spend every one of those days with you, no matter the number. Any one of us could go one day, but I have a strong feeling that it's not going to be like that."

"I don't know what to say." She all but stomps her foot as she pulls away and crosses her arms over her chest. I drop my hands to my side as I watch her defeatedly.

Despite her pulling away, I reach for her again and she surprisingly allows me to pull her against me. I wrap my arms protectively around her and kiss the top of her head. Out of nowhere, I get the strongest feeling in my chest to say something. I close my eyes, completely aware of the moment of desperation I'm in.

My voice comes out barely above a whisper, "God, I know I don't talk to you often. I know I don't deserve your help or your love. But Layla does. Just... take away her doubts. Remind her that you are here just like you were on her good days. Please. And, um... thank you. Amen."

After a few moments of just holding each other, Layla leans away so she can look up at me, her eyes red.

"I love you so much, Jonah Woods."

A smile the size of Texas crosses my face and I want nothing more than to kiss her, but I refrain and kiss her forehead instead.

Behind us, we hear something, and I release Layla immediately. We both look around, unaware of what it was. It then dawns on me that the TV is on in the living room only a few rooms away. Dismissing it, I turn around smile down at her.

"If you ever, and I mean ever, need me, I will come no matter the circumstances. There's no point in feeling like you're going to let me down because I'm already all in. Okay?" I say to her quietly, brushing a strand of hair out of her face.

Layla buries her head in my chest and hugs me tightly against her. I don't hesitate to do the same, feeling her heartbeat against mine.

"I'll see you later, right?" I ask her as I lean her back to look at her.

"Of course." She kisses my cheek gently. "I always want to see you."

"How about I see you on a date when you feel better?" I want to facepalm at my sad attempt.

Layla smiles anyway and kindly ignores how unsmooth that was. "I would love that."

I kiss her forehead one more time before I finally let her go. "Go get some sleep, okay? I'll call and text you later."

She nods her head and turns to walk into her room, but she stops before she shuts her door. "Jonah?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

I grin from ear to ear. "I love you, too."

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Thanks so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed!
I apologize for the 100th time about how late I'm updating.. this is the first book I haven't updated weekly. I hate doing that, but life is crazy!
Thanks for understanding!