David's

"Hey sleepy, what do you want for breakfast?" Layla asked from her big spacious kitchen.

"Nothing. Coffee will do" I said walking upto her and sitting on the kitchen stool.

Eric entered from the backyard door, coming from his morning run. He patted my back before getting a cup of coffee.

"So, why did you surprise us with your presence this weekend? I didn't know you were coming."

"Me neither" Layla added

"I just felt I needed to be around family." I shrugged "although thanks for cancelling tonight's plan. Very selfish of you, my sister's pet" I eyed Eric who just shrugged which made Layla really happy.

"Dude, I'm spending the entire day with my girls. It is much overdue. Moreover, I thought Rafael was coming. What happened to him?"

"Don't know. Something came up."

I took a sip of coffee as Eric prepared the breakfast while my sister help. It was nice to see them like this.

"I miss Rafael too" Layla said. I nodded

Rafael is our first cousin. We all grew up together, went to the same school, had the same after school activities, almost same anyway. We three were more friends than siblings. Now being a travel blogger and chef himself, Rafael is always travelling which meant spending less time with us. We are all very proud of him but we miss the good old days when he was here.

"Uncle Dav!" I heard my niece shout. I turned and saw my two adorable nieces running towards me. They both jumped at the same time and I caught them giving them a tight bear hug.

After whatever happened with Ashley I couldn't be near her. I needed space, she needed space. I decided to crash my sister's weekend and spend time with her and these little munchkins. My almost three year old nieces are way too adorable and smart to be Layla and Eric's children. They're the light of our family. We've spoiled them so much, it is unbelievable.

"You know, when I was coming over, I found a vending machine and they were restocking it so I bought a tons of sweets for you. It is unbelievable how much sugar rush you can have" both of them gave me a toothy smile and kissed me.

"You're the best, Uncle Dav." Erica said

"I loves youu" Chloe added

"Thanks, uncle dav" Layla glared me. Her kids become little monsters on sugar. It is adorable to watch them torture my sister.

"Okay, sweet will have to wait because my girls are going out with me today." Eric said and both of them nodded their heads enthusiastically.

"Come, eat breakfast and then we're off for a fun day. You'll be okay with your sister?" Eric asked me

"I'll survive"

"We will see you, Uncle Dav. Loves" Erica said and they both kissed me goodbye before leaving with their father.

The kids left with Eric after having breakfast. It was nice having breakfast with the family.

I was sitting on the couch scrolling through my phone when Layla came with another cup of coffee.

She handed me the cup and sat next to me. I took a sip of the coffee and coughed.

"Dude. What? It is still morning"

"Oh come on, a little bourbon isn't going to kill ya. We're having Irish coffee this afternoon. Also, I don't have my kids the whole day and I'm pretty sure you've a sob story waiting for me."

"Nice parenting"

"Says the guy with no children."

I smiled and she told me how her kids think that santa comes everyday so they insist on wearing Christmas pajamas and hanging stocking everyday and how she has to get up early every morning to leave some candy in their stocking so they don't stop believing in Santa.

"Now quit stalling and tell me already" Layla said putting her coffee mug down.

"Tell you what? Nothing to tell"

"Oh please. You literally crashed last night which means you weren't exactly planning on spending the weekend with your sister and her family. What did you do this time that you're running again?"

I rolled my eyes. My sister knows me way to well to bluff. I sighed and decided to tell her willingly before she forces me to spill my guts. That ain't pretty.

"There is this girl-"

"This is about a girl? Shocker" she said with a straight face.

"Are you going to let me complete the story or I've to hear your colour commentary throughout?"

"Fine. Sorry. Go ahead."

So as we sat there sipping our Irish coffee I told my sister everything. I told how I met her years ago. She fired me and yet I ended up living right next to her. I told her what happened last night and why I was crashing at her place.

I could see Layla's eyes twitching and her fingers playing with the handle of the mug. She wanted to comment on something so badly.

"It's crazy how you went through the entire narration without saying anything. You're improving."

She rolled her eyes "oh bite me, David."

I laughed and then we both became quiet. Layla was processing the information and I was just reliving it all again. Narrating our story made me miss Ashley. It was how much control that woman has over me.

"Do you think it is because of her failed marriage that she's so distant?"

"I don't know. Could be or it could be something more than I can comprehend. I mean I know her marriage didn't work out, I figured that much but I don't know if that is the only reason. She doesn't have any pictures of her husband anywhere, she doesn't talk about him. Maybe he's dead or maybe he left her for someone else or maybe she left her but all I got is a bunch of maybes and nothing to go on with."

"Whatever it is, you can't force her to be okay. She has to be okay with her being okay without you pushing her. She's in this void where she's scared or maybe in a lot of pain because of what went wrong in her past, whatever that is but you can't expect her to just let it all go when you have no idea what she's holding onto."

"I guess.. yeah. I just.. I don't know.. I see the sadness in her eyes and it looks so heartbreaking. I just want her to have that no care in the life laugh for once."

Layla smiled and nodded at me. My sister has always been a great support. We didn't had a father growing up. It was just my mom and my sister. It wasn't ideal but my sister became my confidant through the years. She understood me, my girl problems, my fights with my mother. She has someone glued us all together. I know Ashley will love her when, if, she ever meets her.

"Do you think her past affects how you feel about her?"

"How do you suppose I answer that question without sounding like a dick? Ofcourse it effects me and whatever I'm feeling about her. I'm not the guy from the books who says, nothing matters as long as you're here. I'm a ordinary guy who's confused and conflicted and can't be okay, just like that. I might be okay or might not be but I won't know that until I know what is bothering her. I can't crack a hole in her wall until I don't know why there is a wall." I ran my hands through my hair. It was frustrating and exhausting.

"She can't tell you that she's not okay because for some people it is more difficult than others. You just need to make sure she's the one you want so badly, that you're willing to stick to the end."

I nodded. She moved closer to me and put her arm around me. "Look, David, if you don't want her as much as you think, just pull the pug, okay? I'm saying this in the best interest of you and her. If you crack that wall and don't like what you see, if you leave her after that, she'll crumble and you'll feel responsible forever. That's not something you wanna feel forever."

Layla was right. She doesn't deserve a half ass attempt to show I'm there. I can't just give up because it is difficult. I feel something for her which is worth fighting for.

"Now, get up, help me cook dinner before my menaces return." Layla said as she pulled me from the couch.