DON’T STOP (Lila and Darrell) novel Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Ryder

I went upstairs quietly, steps soft on the carpet so Martha wouldn’t hear me from downstairs. The house felt will as supporting my movement. I reached Lila’s door and paused. My hand hovered over the woud I didn’t want to wake her if she was asleep. I didn’t want to scare her if she was crying. But I needed to see her. Needed to know she was okay after everything I’d said and done.

I knocked lightly. Just two gentle taps.

A soft sniffle came from inside. Then silence.

The door opened slowly.

Lila stood there. Her eyes were red and glassy, lashes wet like she’d been crying for a while. Her cheeks were flushed. Her hips trembled just a little.

My eyes widened. Surprise and worry hit me at once. “Hey, what happened to-*

I didn’t finish. She slammed the door in my face.

I reacted fast enough. My hand shot out and caught the edge before it could close completely. “Lila,” I whispered through the crack. “What’s happening?”

“Go away,” she said. Her voice cracked.

I sighed softly. Pushed the door open gently but firmly. She backed up fast, ran to the bed, and buried her face in the pillow Her shoulders shook.

I closed the door behind me. Locked it. Walked over slowly.

“What’s going on?” I asked quietly. “Do you want to tell me why you’re acting this way?”

She turned her head just enough to look at me. Anger flashed in her eyes – raw, hurt, sharp. “Do you want to end our relationship?” she asked.

I swallowed. “Did you hear the discussion between me and your mother?

She nodded once.

“Now tell me…” Her voice trembled. “Are you planning to end this relationship of ours?”

I sighed again and sat on the edge of the bed. “You aren’t speaking, Ryder. Anyway, if you don’t want to answer me, just go away. I don’t want to see you.”

“Yes,” I said finally. “I wanted the relationship between us to end.”

She sobbed softly. Turned fully toward me now. Tears spilled fresh down her cheeks. “Why? After everything we did some hours ago, this is how you decided to end it?”

I blinked. Confusion hit me. “Wait a minute,” I said. “The relationship I meant was the uncle-niece relationship. I don’t want to be your uncle anymore. But your lover.”

Her mouth dropped open. “What?”

in key eyes oftened

I reached out slowly Brished a tear from, bez eberk with my thumb. Tront ending wrong. The part that keeps me up at night making me feel like I’m betraying ev

the guilt. Without the lies just us.”

She searched my face. Her breathing was shaky. “You mean that?

“Yes,” I said. “I mean it’

She let out a small, broken laugh – half sob, half relief. Fresh tears came, but these looked different Softer.

I leaned in. Kissed her forehead. Then her cheeks. Then her lips-slow, gentle, full of everything I hadn’t said before She kissed me back. Small at first. Then deeper. Her hands slid to my shoulders. Palled me closer.

When we broke apart, I rested my forehead against hers.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I whispered. “Not unless you tell me to.”

She nodded against me. “Don’t go.”

“I won’t.”

We stayed like that, her in my arms, breathing together, the room quiet except for the soft sound of her calming breaths.

Lila sighed softly, her breath warm against my chest. I rubbed her cheek gently with my thumb. “What’s wrong?” I asked

She looked up at me. Her eyes were still a little red, but calmer now. “What about Delaney?… What will you do about her?”

Silence settled between us for a moment. I stared at the ceiling, the faint outline of that old hole still visible in the dim light Then I spoke quietly.

“I noticed something last night.”

She shifted closer. “What?”

“She didn’t sleep at all. She was awake the whole time, on her phone. I pretended to be asleep, but I could see her screen. She was chatting with some man. One of those guys she used to bring home when I couldn’t… you kiłow.”

Lila looked up at me. Her eyes widened slightly. “I’m sorry about that.”

I laughed short, dry, without much humor. “Why should you be sorry? You didn’t do anything wrong.” I shook my head “It’s not like she’s the only one fucking around.”

She waited. I could feel her watching me.

“Anyway,” I said, “guess what?”

“What?” she asked softly.

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