“Layla is in danger. I can’t go into the details, but I’m worried about her.”

“Worried as a friend or something more?”

“You know the answer to that already.”

“So that’s what’s got you so wound up?”

Hunter let out a frustrated groan. “Layla’s still upset about the past. She’s focused on the present, which is a good thing as far as her security goes, but when she looks at me, I can’t help but feel like she’s staring right through me.”

“What did you expect? That she’d just fall willingly back into your arms?” Elijah shook his head. “No way.”

“I get that. It’s just all business between us. Like we’re partners working an investigation.”

“Isn’t that exactly what this is?” Elijah pulled the ottoman forward and propped up his feet.

“Yes, but you know that’s not what I want.”

“Do I? And more importantly, does Layla?”

“Obviously I haven’t broached that topic.”

“You need to be patient. If the two of you are ultimately meant to be together, then it will happen.”

“You’re not going to start preaching at me, are you?”

“Do I ever preach at you?”

“Sometimes.” Hunter laughed. “Seriously, though, you’ve respected my feelings on that front. For the most part,” he added quickly. Elijah was as rock-solid as they came in his faith, and Hunter was on shaky ground at best.

“I know I’ve given you some room to work through your faith struggles, but ultimately God is still there waiting on you. You just have to look in the mirror and ask yourself what it really is that has you so wound up. You have to be truthful with yourself, because I feel like you’re in denial.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Just because he was having doubts didn’t mean he was in denial. “I’m facing this thing head on. It’s just that I don’t like what I see. What I feel.”

“You were never that good at the feelings thing.”

Hunter leaned back in the armchair and sighed. “You wear yours on your sleeve, and I keep mine wrapped up tightly in a box.”

“That, my friend, is the problem. Look at me right now and honestly tell me what has you so angry.”

“Decisions I’ve made.”

“Be specific.”

“What happened with Layla.”

Elijah raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you mean what you did to Layla? How you cheated on her and broke her heart? No need to sugarcoat it.”

“Right.” It was much more of a tangled web than that, but now wasn’t the time or place for that discussion.

“It seemed to me before like you had taken personal responsibility, but now, hearing you talk, I wonder if that’s not completely the case.”

“It’s more complicated than you know.”