"My life wasn't worth living until you."
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When Layla Greene struggles to handle the death of her best friend, her father decides to uproot and move her family to California in aims to keep her on the right track he put...
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Song for this chapter: Eastside
- Benny Blanco, Halsey and Khalid.
I walk into the kitchen, after a full day of lessons, finding my dad in the middle of cooking something that smells delicious.
"Hey sweetheart." My dad says, pecking my forehead, leaving his preparation of the food.
"Hey, how was your day?" I ask, as I climb up into a barstool.
"It was good. You happy with salmon for dinner?" He asks and I nod my head, leaning my arms on the island as I stare at my dad preparing the vegetables.
"Hey dad?" I start, watch as he turns his gaze to look at me. I wanted to finish the conversation we had at the hospital, "how do you know Grayson is good for me?"
"Hmm, for starters that huge smile that's on your face every time he's here." He grins, "to be honest, Layla. I don't think I've seen you happier than you are right now. I didn't realise it until now, but Mason brought you down - I never remember you being as happy as you are with Gray. Looking back now, comparing that girl to who you are now scares me, because I didn't see how much you changed when you were with Mason." He sighs, turning off the stove and walking around the island to sit on the barstool next to mine. "When you were younger you had this constant smile on your face, you were always happy. My happy little girl. Mason was a good friend when you were younger, but time changes people and so do the people around them. Mason held you back, he made comments that made you question every little thing about yourself, he made you anxious meeting new people and making friends. He was controlling but yet didn't like having you at the same time. I didn't see him for what he is back then, but I do now."
"This move was the best thing that could've happened to you, I just wish we'd have done it sooner because then you wouldn't have had to go through everything you have."
"And as a father, I failed you and I'm so sorry. It's my job to protect you, but I didn't even know these things were happening to you. After Cleo died, I saw how it took an even bigger part of you away than being with Mason did. But being here, with Grayson and Lydia has healed what her death broke. You're my little girl again - happy, carefree. It feels great to see you be you again."
"You did not fail me," I say as a tear falls down my cheek, "you couldn't have done anything to stop what happened and especially after mom left you. None of the blame falls onto you, dad. You've been there for Connor and I without a fault since she left. Being a single dad is hard, and yet you've taken it on despite being heartbroken. I love you so much." I wrap my arms around him as I cry into his shoulder.
