Chapter 237

Chapter 237
Carla's POV

Savannah, Josie, and I were all sitting on the couch, watching as Kade argued with Jessica about the correct way to tie a tie. Asmodeus was in the bathroom probably hyperventilating- and I had already tried a few times to get him to let me in, but I also knew that sometimes he just needed his own little space bubble to get himself together.

It took me a while after we started dating to actually understand that and know that that was okay, but I did now. It was just how he was, and how he always had been. I think that through our relationship he's started to understand himself that that's okay, too.

Layla was in her room getting ready- only the three boys were going now, and the rest of them would go up in a bit. The three of them needed to be there earlier apparently since Jessica and Kade were testifying. Layla originally had wanted to testify, but ultimately didn't trust herself to keep it together enough for it to not backfire on them. And Jake, well, I was currently holding him on my lap, and he had barely uttered a word all day.

"Jessica can you help me with my dress zipper real quick?" Layla peaked her head out of the door, and he finished fixing his tie in the mirror before walking over. She quickly pulled him into her room and he let out an unexpected laugh as she shut the door behind him.

"They're cute," Madison commented, smiling to herself.

"They're weird is what they are," Kade corrected, plopping down on one of the seats. "I see Layla and think little sister.. I still don't know how the hell he sees her any different."

"Stewart's get all the hoes," Madison joked with a shrug, and I burst out laughing.

"Please, the child," I covered Jake's ears, but he giggled and reached up to take them off.

"Speaking of said child, we gotta get going," Kade said and stood up, sighing and making his way to Layla's room. I laughed to myself as I heard her react to Kade barging in, and him returning a moment later tugging a slightly disheveled Jessica behind him. Layla followed shortly after, her hair slightly messed up as she crossed her arms at Kade.

"He was helping me with my dress," she told him as he let go of Jessica, who then wiped a little bit of lip gloss off his lips that had clearly transferred over from her and fixed his tie.

"You're not wearing a dress," Kade said, and she looked down at her outfit, which was in fact not a dress.

"Well I was trying to put one on, that was the point," she replied stubbornly and sat down on the seat that Kade had been on before.

"Mhm, sure, we'll go with that. Anyway, we'll be in the car, Carla can you hurry your boyfriend the hell up?" Kade said as the two of them made their way to the door.

"I'll try," I replied, and they said goodbye before walking out. Jake went over to sit with Layla after I got up to knock on the bathroom door. "Hey Asmodeus, Jessica and Kev just went out to the car," I told him.

"Alright, one sec," he responded, and I frowned at the nerves clearly riddling his voice. When I sat back down on the couch, I looked over at Layla as she started talking.

"I don't get it, he's such a good kisser," she commented, thinking about Jessica out loud, and I chuckled.

"Oh, they know," Madison told her, and both Josie and I choked on air, our faces reddening slightly as she cracked up. I did us both the favor of shoving her in response to that little comment.

"Oh my god, right, sorry if I just made that awkward," Layla's hands went to her cheeks as she awkwardly smiled.

"You didn't," Josie chuckled, and Layla looked a little relieved.

"Yeah, besides, your brother's better," I commented with a mischievous smirk, and Josie hit my leg as Madison laughed and Layla let out an 'ew'.

"Is this what girls always talk about?" Jake asked with a confused little smile as Asmodeus finally came out and walked into the room.

"What are you guys talking about?" He asked casually as he passed by.

"Kissing your best friend," Madison answered for us, even though none of us were going to say anything. We all basically face-palmed, Layla chuckling.

"Ugh," his face scrunched in utter disgust, making me laugh a little, "he is truly ridiculous."

He said bye to Jake and Layla, and then the rest of us, but I got up to follow him out and say another goodbye, since I wasn't going to be seeing him again until after.

"Asmodeus," I said when we were outside the front door, reaching up and cupping his face with both hands to have him look me in the eyes. "You won't lose custody, but even if you do, you still would never lose them." I affirmed, and he nodded, still seeming nervous. There was some distant resolve in his eyes, though, like he understood that what I said was true.

I had also told him that if worst came to worst, my mom could always adopt them, and that it would all be okay, but I was pretty sure it was just the principal of the thing that had him so messed up.

I got on my tip-toes and pressed my lips to his, and he kissed me back, wrapping his arms around me and bringing me into him.

"Hey- you guys are really cute and all but we should probably get there on time if we're gonna pull off the whole 'looking more responsible than we actually are' thing!" Kade yelled over, sticking his head out the car window. We chuckled and pulled apart.