Finding Laila: Some Changes Are Necessary Part 10

His smile is back in place and he reaches down to take the booster in one hand and picks up my sister in the other. "She wants to be my girlfriend," he tells her with a huge smile on his face.

I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out.

"But I'm your girl, Haden," she pouts.

He kisses her cheek and she laughs. "Yes you are. But your sister's been my girl for longer. She just didn't know it."

Luka's little lip juts out, but she nods her understanding and laughs when Haden blows a kiss onto her cheek. I lose myself watching him buckle her in, and find the last twenty-four hours to be the most active and confusing of my life.

"You comin'?" he asks when he's buckled Luka in her seat.

I nod and smile before making my way to the pa.s.senger side, but he beats me to it.

"What are you doing?"

"Being a gentleman." He winks.

He opens the car door, but before I can get in, he takes me in his arms and gives me a simple kiss-that is not so simple at all. Those b.u.t.terflies everyone talks about when they kiss, the s.h.i.+vers I've read about in books, the hot flashes-yeah, I have every single one of those things happening to me at one time.

We've officially taken the leap that could spell disaster for our group of friends and our friends.h.i.+p. Yet the fact we are both willing to take it makes me feel like maybe it will work out.

"Thank you." I lean up to kiss his cheek but he turns his head and my lips are on his again.

"Gross," Luka calls out, interrupting the moment.

"Yeah, Haden. Gross," I mimic her tone and slide into my seat, but not before mouthing to him, 'Later.'

He shuts the driver side door, fires up the car, and I turn to see Luka covering her ears because the radio is too loud. Haden turns the volume down and looks through the rearview mirror.

"You okay, Lukadoll?"

She shakes her head and I turn to look at her, too.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing." She looks down at her lap and I see her little lip stick out again.

"Luka? Do you not want to go?"

She shakes her head no, but refuses to look up at either of us.

"Haden, can you give us a second?" I ask and he nods his head before stepping out of the car. I wait until he's away before turning back to her.

"Why did you take him away?" Her voice cracks like it does when she's about to cry.

I never feel guilty for the things I say or do to Luka, but this-her little heart breaking-is too much for me.

"I didn't mean to. I know you love Haden, but he's been my friend for a really long time. I know it's hard to understand, but I we've always loved each other. I guess it's just a little different now."

"What about me?"

"Haden loves you, you know that." I reach back and rub her knee until she finally looks at me.

"Do you?"

I am the worst person in the world.

I know I'm a jerk to her and she's done nothing to deserve it, other than being born.

"Of course I do," I finally say and actually mean it. "Will you still love me if I'm Haden's girlfriend?"

She nods and gives me a small smile but I know her heart is still hurt.

"What if I make you a deal?"

"What?" She widens her eyes and waits for my offer.

"As soon as you're old enough, you can have Haden. I'll just be his girlfriend until you're older. Okay?"

"Really?"

"Really." I smile. It's a simple solution to an unrealistic crush and she seems to accept it.

"Thanks, LaLa," she smiles.

I look over at Haden's who's been watching the entire time, and since the window is down, I'm pretty sure he's heard the entire exchange.

He walks back to the car and sticks his head in. "Can I come back?"

Luka nods her head. "LaLa is going to be your girlfriend until I'm older, and then I get you back."

Haden looks at me like he's trying not to laugh, but I widen my eyes and shake my head, silently pleading for him to get in the car and drive us to Cole's house.

He seems to understand my cues and does exactly that. They only live a block away, so he leaves the windows down and plays Luka's favorite song as we go. I'm caught off guard when he reaches out and takes my hand in his.

We've been friends for so long and we've held hands.

We've hugged.

I've kissed his cheek.

This is not any of those; this is new and different, but I'm excited to see where it takes us. I thread my fingers through his and catch him glancing down at our hands, but my bliss is interrupted all too soon when we pull into the Camerons' driveway half a mile down the road. Luka unbuckles her seat belt and hugs the headrest of Haden's seat.

"Can we go in now?" She rocks back and forth until Haden lets go of my hand and turns the car off.

"Yep, let's go." I clap my hands and open the door before leaning the seat up so she can get out.

I step aside so she can get to Haden, but she surprises me when she stays by my side and holds my hand instead.

"Aren't you going to walk with Haden?"

"I wanna go with you," she says and hides behind my hand. Haden watches the exchange and is as confused as I am. I shrug and he starts walking and meets me in front of his car.

"You ready?" He nudges my elbow.

"Not at all," I say truthfully.

"Good. Let's do this." He grabs my hand but I pull it back and watch disappointment take over his face.

What are the guys going to say?

"Not yet." I shake my head slightly. "Let me talk to everyone first. I want to give them a heads-up."

He relents and waits for me to walk ahead of him. "Fifteen minutes, then I tell everyone myself." He grins and walks past me, grabbing my little sister-a.k.a. my s.h.i.+eld-along with him.

"Hey, she's with me," I protest.

"Nope, she's my date now." He grins and continues walking off.

Cole opens the door and I'm frozen where I stand. Haden carries on like it's any other day, swooping Luka into his arms and walking past our friend, offering a brief h.e.l.lo.

"I need to talk to you," Cole says and walks toward me. Haden stops to check but I wave him on and he continues without another word.

"Something wrong?" I ask, unsure why he's acting so weird.

"Yeah, what's up with you and Searle?"

I don't have to pretend to be shocked, because I am shocked. "Cole-"

"No." He puts his hand up to stop me from speaking. "I don't want to hear it."

"Okay," I concede.

"No wait, on second thought, I do want to hear it."

"I'm as shocked as you are," I start, but then he starts laughing. "Wait, who told you?"

"Um, Joey?"

"I had no idea," I drag out slowly.

"Where have you been?" He walks over and wraps an arm over my shoulder, and walks me to the steps. "He's always liked you."

"Why is it that everyone knew but me?"

"Because you were too busy being, well-you."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Lai, you are always so worried about everyone else and looking after everyone. But you don't see when things are happening to you. It's actually kinda cool because you don't realize how awesome you are."

"So it doesn't bother you?"

"Nope. Just don't let me see y'all making out all the time and we're good. Oh yeah, and you still have to set me up with someone."

"With who, one of my many, many female friends? Oh wait, I don't have those." I stand up and walk into the house with him hot on my heels.

"C'mon, Lai, take one for the team, and by 'team' I mean 'me.' There's gotta be someone who doesn't hate you, right?"

"Thanks, Cole," I deadpan.

"I'm kidding," he drags me into the kitchen where his mom and stepdad Chris are waiting.

I walk over and give them both hugs. They ask about my parents and I let them know they'll be over later, but Cole drags me away before I'm wrapped up in parental conversations. When we step out onto the back deck, Luka runs over and drags Cole with her to talk to him and Joey about being Haden's girlfriend.

My new boyfriend-it's so weird to even think of him like that-walks over to me to see how I'm doing.

"Just waiting to talk to Brax," I tell him before he walks over to join the conversation held by my sister.

"Hey pretty girl," Braxton calls from behind me, and I turn to give him a hug. "Be careful, I don't want Haden getting all jealous."

"So you already know, too?"

"Yeah, but it's no surprise, really. Just a matter of time."

"Well thanks for filling me in, don't I feel like the idiot."

"You should. I can't believe you didn't know. I figured you were just playing along for the sake of the group, I didn't know you really had no idea."

"Brax, I thought he was gay," I mutter from the corner of my mouth. "I mean, he hasn't dated anyone, how was I to know?"

"I can't argue with you there," he smiles. "Maybe it was just obvious to us because we knew about it for so long. I think he did a good job of keeping things low-key."

"You think?" I almost yell as I stare out to my three friends who are chatting with my little sister. I look up at Braxton. "What about you? Anything I should know?"

"Nope, sorry Lai. As much as I'm sure you wish I was into you, I'm not." He winks and I kick at his foot.

"That's not what I mean," I laugh. "I'm learning that everyone has secrets, and I thought we shared everything."

"Where's the fun in that? Everyone needs a little mystery. Otherwise, what's there to learn about each other?"

"Yeah." I shrug. "Well, don't keep your deep darks too deep and dark for long. Okay?"

He gives me his signature one-arm hug and kisses the top of my head. "You got it."

"Let's go rescue Luka from those three," I say as I step toward them.

"Since when do you care about your sister?"