The house is quiet. I pull Graystone from his shelf and bury my face against his fur. Today is the day I promised BJ and Dom I will break the news to Jake. And today is also the day I break my great secret to BJ. With a heavy sigh, I get out of bed and open my bedroom door. ‘Is that you, Layla?’ my mother calls from the kitchen. ‘Morning,’ I yell back from the top of the stairs. ‘Brush your teeth and come down for breakfast. Your ride will be here in an hour.’ Even the thought of breakfast makes me feel sick. ‘I don’t want breakfast, Ma.’ I hear her footsteps come from the kitchen. Her face appears at the bottom of the stairs. ‘Are you sick? Why don’t you want breakfast?’ ‘I just don’t feel like it, Ma. I think I’m nervous about today.’ My mother frowns. ‘Nervous about today? Why? You’ve been bridesmaid loads of time. Besides, it’s your cousin Ella.’ ‘Yeah, you’re right,’ I concede. ‘Hurry up then. I’m making you pancakes.’ I get ready and go downstairs.
