Press thought

"When we talked..." Ethan chews the corner of his mouth slightly, "She told me that she thought you didn't want to be in her life."

Layla's lip twitches slightly. "Hm."

Ethan watches her closely for a moment. Layla is thinking, the gears turning in her head so obviously they couldn't possibly be missed. What exactly she's thinking about she doesn't seem to keen to share, although eventually, she shares at least a small piece of it aloud. "Does she still think that? After talking to you?"

Ethan takes a beat. "I don't know..."

Nodding slightly, Layla exhales. "Right... Well, if it comes up..." she looks Ethan right in the eye, "I very much want to be in her life."

Filing that thought away, Ethan gives Layla a small smile. "I'll tell her... if it comes up."

"Only if." Layla sighs, then rubs her eyes, "God. I work tomorrow... I need to go to bed."

"Ah," Ethan recalls the hour, "Sorry to end on a down note."

"It's fine," Layla pulls herself up to her feet, stretching out her shoulders, "It won't ruin my sleep any more than usual. Good night, Ethan."

Pulling himself up to his feet, Ethan gives Layla a small nod. "Good night."

Stepping off the porch, Ethan makes his way back home. He glances back when he hears her door opening, only returning his gaze forward when Layla disappears into her house. He lets out a yawn, still not able to shake the tired feeling set deep into his bones. Walking up and onto his own porch, he briefly glances back over at Layla's house before heading inside.