Page 82 of Severed Heart (The Ravenhood Legacy #2)
“Exactly.” she smiles. “I’m thriving and happier than I’ve ever been.
And though my fiancé is a moody asshole most days, he treats me like gold.
He’s fiercely protective of me, ridiculously jealous, and at times, it drives me crazy.
But after what I went through, it makes me feel safe that he’s possessive.
So, frankly, I don’t give a rat’s ass that we need each other so much. ”
“Rat’s ass,” I laugh, and she grins. “I like that.” I bite my lip. “So ... how do you know Denny won’t hurt you the same?”
“I don’t,” she answers easily. “I don’t know.
” She pauses, staring down at me where my head remains in the shampoo bowl.
“We don’t get to know, Delphine. We just have to trust ourselves to know better, and that’s the scary part.
But it’s been a long time, and I’ve forgiven the younger me for putting up with those hard years of abuse.
The younger Layla just wanted to be loved. ”
“This is what I try to do every day in therapy. Forgive younger Delphine.”
“This is a very good step in helping to do that—taking care of her again emotionally and physically. I’m glad you’re doing it. But if I may say.” She leans down, her voice barely above a whisper. “I think you already know that Tyler is the very best of men, and you’re as safe as you can get.”
My eyes bulge at her admission.
“Sorry, honey, but I’m a mother hen, and I make it a point to be aware of every bird’s personal business, whether they like it or not.
I’m just as protective of them as they are of me.
But I didn’t get this information from anyone inked.
I saw you two together one day years back.
You were at a snow cone stand. I had just pulled into the parking lot when I spotted you both in line.
I saw the way he looked at you when you turned your head.
I had known Tyler for years already and had never seen that look.
So, I kept watching,” she admits sheepishly.
“Not long after, I saw the way you looked back at him . I could see so clearly that you two were in love.”
She shrugs as I wince that we were so obvious.
“Unfortunately, it’s one of the costs of living in such a small town, but it was the sight of you two that really made a lasting impression on me. You especially. You looked so beautiful and happy. I even remember you were wearing a light blue sundress with tiny straps.”
My eyes water at her admission. “I do not look like that, like her anymore.” I blow out a long breath.
“For so long, I never wanted to be the beautiful woman people told me I was. Ironic now. All I want is to look a little like her again. So”—I wince, shaking my head and palming my face—“I’m an imbecile. ”
“No, honey, you’re not,” she whispers, gently pulling my hand away. “You want it back, for yourself and maybe from him?” she prompts.
I nod, my neck heating. “Very much.”
She gives me a wink. “You’re nowhere near as far gone as you think you are. Keep coming to me, put a little more weight on between visits, and I promise that you will see the difference. Okay?”
“Okay,” I agree, hope lighting in my chest.
She scans my face. “But you and I both know Tyler doesn’t love with his eyes, Delphine.”
“Oui. I know.”
Stopping the water, Layla draws a towel from the cabinet behind the sink above me, wiping her hands dry before taking a few steps to stand in front of me. Shielding me with her body from prying eyes, she grips both my hands.
“You’re still very beautiful, Delphine. It will take a few weeks to show the full effect, but I can tell already it’s kicking in a bit.
” Her smile grows as her eyes light up. “After we’re done here, we’re going to walk down to Retro Stitch, a little dress shop my friend Tessa owns.
She owes me for her last color, and so we’re going to find you another blue dress.
Then you and I are going to get a pedicure— together— because I could use a little tender loving care myself.
“That’s too much,” I say. “Too much effort—”
“Honey, it’s not enough. Girls like you and me owe it to ourselves to take our power back in any way we deem necessary.
That’s what you’re doing today. Like I said, I live for stuff like this, so let’s go a little crazy together.
Make a day of it? I promise it will be just as much for me as it is for you. ”
I nod, feeling self-conscious about my emotions as my tears fall.
“I’m going to take these tears as a good sign,” she says, brushing them from beneath my eyes before pulling me to stand and guiding me back to her station.
“Yes, they are the very good kind.” I sniff and smile as I take the seat.
“I’m so excited.” She gives me a wink as my own excitement builds, and I admit as much.
“You are making me very excited, too,” I tell her.
“Good, then it’s a date,” she continues, cradling my dripping hair with a towel and gently pressing it to my head to soak up the water before pulling it away. As she does this, I gape at my reflection as her eyes light.
“Mon Dieu,” My God , I say, disbelieving of the differences of the slight effect of the facial, wax, and hair color.
“Told you,” she boasts proudly. “The miracle of modern cosmetology, and we’re nowhere near done,” she assures as she starts brushing out my newly black hair.
A mischievous glint twinkles in her eyes as she lowers her head next to mine in the mirror, her chin an inch above my shoulder.
“Oh, to be a fly on the wall when he sees you tonight.”