I smiled as I said, “Good-bye, ladies. ”
As I walked down the steps and toward my truck, I wanted to turn around and see if Whitley was watching me walk away.
Play it cool, Layton. You’re not interested in her.
As I rounded my truck, I glanced back at the living room window. My heart jumped up into my throat when I saw Whitley standing by the window, watching me. She gave me a small smile and a quick wave. I waved back, jumped in my truck, and decided I’d have to maybe have that talk with Misty soon.
Ah hell, Layton, what are you doing? You don’t even like this girl. You’re not interested in getting caught up in that shit again.
I started my truck and pulled away, heading toward the bank.
At the bank, I saw Richard and walked up to him to shake his hand. It was too bad the whole time Richard was talking to me, all I could do was see Whitley’s green eyes looking into mine.
I needed to get her out of my head, just like I needed to get Liv out. I only knew one way to do that.
I pulled out my phone and sent Misty a text, asking if she could come back to my house tonight, while Richard took a quick phone call. I quickly received a reply.
Misty: YES! I thought you’d never ask! I was getting tired of fucking on the pool tables.
I sighed and put my phone back into my pocket. I ran my hands through my hair. What in the hell am I doing?
“Layton? Are you even listening to me?” Richard asked as he snapped his fingers in front of my face.
I looked up and smiled. “Yeah, sorry, Richard. I’ve got a lot on my mind. ”
“Well, you seem pretty preoccupied. Let’s talk about this another time. It’s a lot to take in, I know, Layton. ”
I nodded as I stood and held out my hand. “Thanks, Richard. I trust you to do what you think is the best. Invest it as you see fit. ”
“Layton, I’d like you to have an idea of what we’re doing with your money. ”
I sucked in a deep breath. “It’s my brother’s money, not mine. Just keep doing what he wanted you to do with it. Honestly, I trust you. ” I said reaching my hand out toward Richard.
Richard took my hand and shook it. “Okay, I’ll just keep investing it on the plan Mike and I had laid out. ”
I nodded again and gave him a forced smile.
Richard and I started to walk out, and as we got to the front door of the bank, it opened, and Whitley walked in. My heart immediately slammed in my chest, and I couldn’t help it, but I smiled.
“CG, you couldn’t stay away from me. I knew that would happen,” I said with a wink.
She looked me up and down and rolled her eyes. Then, she walked past me and up to the teller, and Richard and I walked outside.
“You know Miss Reynolds?” Richard asked.
I laughed and nodded. “I had the pleasure of meeting her today and helping her out with something. ”
Richard sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “Girl is a tough cookie to break. I’ve been trying to ask her out for two weeks now, ever since she first walked into the bank. She’s polite, but she just completely turns me down flat every time. ”
I was surprised at the surge of jealousy hitting me out of nowhere from hearing he’d asked Whitley out…and then I was surprised at how relieved I felt from knowing she’d told him no.
“Huh…well, honestly, dude, don’t bother with this one. I think she hates men,” I said.
“Really? She seems sweet. ”
I shook my head and looked back into the bank. “She’s kind of a bitch. ”
Whitley walked out of the bank and smiled slightly at both of us.