Layla (9 page)

John stared at me for a long time before he released his grip. “Let’s start over. I’m a different man. I’m sorry for everything I did to you.”

“I’ve moved on. Please leave me in peace.”

“No.”

“Then you aren’t as sorry as you claim.”

He shook his head. “I came all the way here to be with you. I tracked you down, searching for you endlessly. If that doesn’t say true love than what does?”

“Stalking is not a sign of love,” I snapped.

He glared at me, clenching his fists at his sides. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way. It’s your choice.”

“It doesn’t seem like it.”

He stepped closer to me, his shoulders tensing.  “We’re picking up where we left off. When you fight me, that’s when you get hurt. Just do what I say, and there won’t be any pain or problems.”

I tried to step around him but he grabbed me by the arm and pushed me back. “Where
are you going?”

“I left my kindle on. I don’t want to drain the battery.”

“That’s what’s on your mind?”

“It takes a long time to charge.”

He released my arm. I grabbed the kindle then closed the screen. He stared at me, watching my every move. “This is a nice place.”

“Thanks.”

“You live alone?”

“No.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Who else lives here?”

“My roommate.”

“Well, your roommate is never home. At least I haven’t seen anyone come here besides you and that guy.”

“You’ve been watching me? You’re so fucking psycho.”

“What did you say to me?” he said, raising his hand slightly.

“I’m not letting you do this to me again. Get the fuck away from me.”

“I’m the man. I call all the shots.”

“Then start acting like one,” I snapped. “Men don’t have to elicit fear in others to gain loyalty and respect. Now just go.”

“No. I’m not leaving.”

I turned and walked toward my bedroom.

“Where are you going?”

“Away from you.”

He stood in front of me and shut the bedroom door.

“So, I have to stay in your sight the entire time? I have a job.”

“No you don’t. You’re quitting.”

“I don’t think so.” I walked toward the bathroom but he grabbed me.

“You want to get slapped?”

“Can I take a piss? I was sleeping when you came to the door. Now I have to pee.”

He followed me to the bathroom then stood in the room.

“I’m not peeing with you watching me. What do you think I’m going to do? Jump out the window and plummet to my death? I admit that would be better than spending any more time with you.”

He glared at me then left, slamming the door behind him. I immediately locked it and pulled out my phone. Without thinking, I called the first person that came to mind.

“That’s ironic that you called,” Kyle said. “I was just thinking about you.”

I felt myself start to cry. “Kyle, please come to my apartment.” I whispered but my sobs came through.

John tri
ed the lock door then pounded his fists against it. “Open this fucking door!”

“Please,” I whispered. I heard something drop and keys jiggle.

“I’m coming,” Kyle said. “Call the police.”

“No, I can’t,” I said.

His breathing became deep and heavy. I could tell he was running. “Call the fucking police.”

“Just get here,” I said with a sob.

“Baby, I’m coming. I’m running as fast as I can.”

I sobbed on the phone while John slammed his body against the door, almost breaking it. I sat on the toilet and buried my face in my lap.
Kyle’s breathing was fast, like he was running a marathon. Time seemed to stretch so slow. John pounded on the door then walked away. I knew he was grabbing a knife to pick the lock. When he got through, I wasn’t sure what he would do. But I knew it wouldn’t feel good.

“I’m in the building,” Kyle said with a deep breath.

“Please hurry,” I whispered. “He’s going to break down the door.”

“I’m here.” He hung up. I heard the front door crash open as Kyle stormed into the room. “I’m going to kill you, motherfucker!”

John abandoned the door, leaving me alone. I got up and unlocked the door then ran into the living room.

Kyle looked angrier than I’d ever seen him. His eyes were wide with ferocity, living dagger
s flying out. His neck was covered in sweat and his arms were flexed, ready to rip John apart.

John held a knife in his hand, the one he used to pick the lock. “Let’s tango,” he said, spinning the knife in his wrist.

Kyle rushed him and I screamed. “Stop!”

Kyle grabbed his arm then bashed his head with his own, sending him back to the floor. He grabbed John by the collar then smashed his fist into his face, sending blood across the carpet. John’s head rolled back before he kicked Kyle, making him lose his balance.

“Fuck with me and I’ll kill you,” John said as he got up and grabbed the knife.

I ran into John and pushed him down, sending the knife flying under the couch.

Kyle got to his feet then pushed me back, sending me across the floor. He punched John again then kneed him in the stomach. John stumbled back then turned toward the door, knowing he had the lesser hand without a weapon.

Kyle rushed him but John slammed the front door closed then bolted down the hallway. When Kyl
e and I both reached the outside, he was nowhere in sight. Kyle remained still.

“The fire escape,” he said suddenly. “Stay here, Layla.” He rushed down the hall then looked out the window. “He’s already at the street.”

I breathed a sigh of relief, glad that the confrontation was finally over.

Kyle came back to me then grabbed me by both arms. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

“No, I’m fine.”

The relief flashed in his eyes.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.” His hands moved across my body, feeling me everywhere, checking for injuries.

“I’m okay,” I whispered. “He didn’t touch me.”

“We need to call the police right now.”

“And what will that do?” I said miserably.

“It’s called assault and breaking and entering.”

He didn’t break in. I let him in.”

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” he snapped.

“A boy was at the door,” I said. “I didn’t know he was tricking me.”

“We still need to talk to the police.”

“I’ve already been through this. I even got a restraining order against him. It doesn’t do anything. I can guarantee if you called the police it would have taken them at least an hour to get here. Domestic disputes aren’t important to them. Believe me.”

“So what?
That’s it? You’re screwed? I don’t accept that.”

“That’s why I ran away.”

He sighed, running his fingers through his hair. “We’ll figure it out.”

“Okay.”

Kyle grabbed my face and kissed me gently on the lips, breathing into my mouth for a moment before he kissed my forehead. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

My lips f
elt numb from his touch. “Yeah…”

He held me to his chest and ran his fingers through my hair. “I’ll never let him bother you again.”

“I know.”

He buried his face in my neck and held me close, saying nothing for a long time.

“I need to get a new apartment.”

“Yes.”

“And I need to do it now.”

“It can wait until tomorrow.”

“No. It has to be now. When I know for certain that he isn’t around.” I pulled away and then walked back into the apartment, grabbing my computer. “Start packing anything and everything. I’ll find a place.”

“Okay,” he said.

I grabbed my phone and called my two friends, telling them what happened and I desperately needed their help. Of course, they were there in a heartbeat.

When Janet saw me, she hugged me and started crying. “You’re okay?”

“I’m fine,” I said as I rubbed her back.

“Thank god,” she whispered. She pulled away then hugged Kyle tightly. “Thank you so much for being here.”

He patted her on the back. “Of course.”

Cassie came next, looking livid and insanely pissed. “I’m this close to getting a gun and shooting his fucking brains out.”

“I like her,” Kyle blurted.

“Are you okay?” Cassie asked.

“I’m fine,” I said. “We need to get moving. I want to be out of the apartment before tomorrow. This is the only way I know he won’t find me.”

“Let’s get moving,” Cassie said immediately.

Kyle picked up his phone and talked to someone for a few minutes.

We worked for an hour before there was a knock on the door. I flinched at the sound.

Kyle opened it and two guys walked in.

“T
his is my friend Jay and my brother Scott. They’ll be helping us,” he said.

I stared at them then extended my hand. “I’m Layla.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Scott said. “I’m sorry this happened to you.”

“Thanks…”

Jay shook my hand and nodded. He was even taller than Kyle. His light brown hair and brown eyes contrasted against Kyle’s. Scott definitely looked related to Kyle. They had the same color eyes and the same build.

We worked together and packed everything. The guys moved everything down to a U-Haul Kyle rented. I found a place a fe
w blocks away, closer to work and to Kyle’s. While the girls and I got everything together, the men moved the major appliances. Everyone was quiet. Perhaps it was because of the trauma I just experienced or because they were tired. I wasn’t sure. But it took us all night to move everything. At five AM everything was shoved into my new, better apartment.

After my girls hugged me, they left to go to work. Jay and Scott waved when they left. Only Kyle remained behind.

“Did we get everything?” he asked, blinking the fatigue from his eyes.

“Yeah.”

He sat on my couch in the middle of the room and leaned back.

“Thank you for helping me. And for having your friends help.”

Kyle patted the seat next to him, beckoning me to him.

I sat down and he pulled me to his chest, holding me.

“You don’t need to thank me,” he whispered. He kissed my forehead then ran his fingers through my hair. The touch made my spine shiver. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. First we were holding hands and now he was kissing me. It was unexpected.

“I should get ready for work,” he said.

“If I weren’t new, I’d call in sick.”

He laughed. “I’ve been there for a long time and I still can’t call in sick.” He sat up and looked at me. “Will you be okay alone?”

I nodded. “I feel much better now that I’m in a new apartment.”

“How did he figure out where you lived?”

“I don’t know. I worked at the bar for a long time. I suspect he started there.”

“That makes sense,” he said. “I’m glad you have a new job. That should throw him off. New York is a big place. He’ll have a hard time finding you, especially when I’m
around.” He clenched his fists together, making his knuckles turn white.

I opened the door and let him out.

“I’ll see you soon,” he said, kissing me on the forehead again. I felt paralyzed by his touch. He turned down the hallway and left. I shut the door and felt the confusion flood my body. I said I didn’t want to date him and be in a relationship but I felt like that was exactly what happened. It made me feel panicked. After what just happened with John, I wasn’t ready for that.

9

When I got to work, I was a total zombie. Joanna asked me to help her with her solitaire game and I was totally useless. I couldn’t even see the cards. I went to my office and worked at a snail’s pace. I had to double check all my work because I had a strong suspicion I made a lot of errors.

Kyle came to my office for lunch. “There are sandwiches in the break room.” He placed one on my desk and sat across from me. “So no, I didn’t buy it for you,” he teased.

I nodded but didn’t say anything.

“What do you want to do tonight?”

“Uh, nothing.”

“You want to come to my place and watch a movie?”

“I’m just going to lay low tonight.”

“You want me to come over?” he asked.

“No, it’s okay.”

He watched me, suspicion clouding his mind. “What’s on your mind, Layla?

“I’m just tired.”

“Well, there’s this new French restaurant I want to try. We should go tomorrow night.”

“Are we in a relationship now?” I snapped.

He abandoned his sandwich and put it aside. “Sorry. What?”

“You’re kissing me…and…expecting to see me every night….and I just don’t want that. I said I didn’t want to date you and you just did it anyway.”

Kyle stared at me for a long time, his eyes empty and dead. He rubbed his chin then ran his fingers through his hair. Finally, he stood up then closed the door to my office. He marched to my desk and stared me down. He took a deep breath before he exploded.

“You better be fucking kidding me.” His voice was low so he wouldn’t be overhead, but the anger and menace in his voice made me flinch. “
I just risked my life to protect you, attacking a guy with a goddman knife, and this is how you are acting? That’s just…wow. I only kissed you because I knew you wanted me to. Perhaps this is a news flash for you because you are only aware of your surroundings but nothing that has to deal with you personally, but we’ve been in a relationship since the day we met. You’re one of those annoying people that can’t stand labels, but that’s exactly what we are. We’ve been on dates, we’ve spent time together, we are intimate together, and you love being around me. There’s absolutely no reason why you can’t trust me. None whatsoever. So pull your head out of your ass and stop acting like a child.”

I stood and glared at him. “I said I didn’t want to date you. You manipulated me anyway.”

“Yeah. What’s your point? I knew I had to take things slow with you. That’s exactly what I did. And to be honest, most guys wouldn’t put with this, Layla.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?
No one else would ever want me?”

“No, it means that I really fucking like you if I went above and beyond for this relationship. I know you have feelings for me and I know you want me. Just accept me. Stop making it complicated. Stop ruining it. Just be happy, Layla.”

“I’m not ready for a relationship.”

“Why?”

“It’s none of your business.”

He came around the desk an
d pushed me into the chair, leaning over me and blocking me in. “Yes it is my fucking business. Was that guy your ex-boyfriend? So you were in an abusive relationship and you finally got out of it and left? I suspected it that night you asked me to walk you home. I was prepared for something like that to happen. Don’t let him ruin your life, Layla. I’m not like him. I’m not controlling, abusive, or even mean.”

“I—I don’t know.”

“I’ve been fighting for you for a long time. I’ve never dated someone who treated me so poorly. I’ve been putting up with it because I know you need that time, but I’m not doing it anymore. Accept me as your boyfriend and let’s take this slow. I’ll be as patient as you want, as understanding as you need, but don’t push me away and act like I don’t mean anything to you. That’s just wrong, Layla. So it’s up to you. You can be my friend or you can be my girlfriend. What’s it going to be?”

I averted my gaze and looked at the desk.

He grabbed my face and forced me to look at him. “No, you need to look at me when you say it.”

I wasn’t ready for this. It happened so quickly that I didn’t notice it. Kyle did mean something to me, but I was too weak to be in a relationship. What if I just repeated all of those same m
istakes? And I couldn’t let my past hurt Kyle. John shouldn’t be able to find me but what if he did? Kyle would be his first fatality. I was an empty vessel, feeling rejection over and over. I couldn’t handle it if Kyle hurt me. I wasn’t strong enough, whole enough to care for another person besides myself. “I—I’m just not—”

“Got it.”
He released me then left my office, not looking back once.

I watched the open doorway, processing what just happened. I tried to get back to work but I felt distracted the entire time. The time passed slowly until my shift was over. I felt sick to my stomach, knowing that I hurt Kyle profoundly. When the workday was over, I turned off the lights and locked my office.

Kyle’s door was already closed and the lights were off. I wasn’t sure why I was surprised. It wouldn’t make sense for him to wait for me. With a heavy heart, I left the building and went back to my apartment. When I got inside, I lay on the couch and stared at the ceiling. My bedframe was in the room, but the mattresses were in the living room and the blankets were in a box. I didn’t feel like getting everything ready. Instead, I closed my eyes and started to cry.

My phone rang and I looked at it, hoping it would be Kyle. It was Janet. I ignored it. But she called agai
n because she knew I was off work.

“Yeah?”
I said quietly.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“You expect me to believe that?”

I sniffed.

“Are you crying?”

“A little,” I whispered.

“I’ll come over.”

“Okay.”

“See you soon.”

“Bye.” I hung up.

A half hour later, there was a knock on the door. When I looked through the peephole, it was Janet. I opened the door and let her in.

Janet looked at me with a saddened expression. “Is it John?”

“No,” I said as I shook my head. “It’s—Kyle.”

“What happened?”

I walked to the couch and sat down. “We
kinda broke up, I guess.”

“What? Why?”

“It was moving too fast. He kissed me and kept holding me. I’m—I’m just not ready for that. I told him I didn’t want to date him or being in a relationship, but he did it anyway.”

She shook her head. “It takes two people to be in a relationship, Layla. If he was there, so were you.”

“I just don’t want that.”

“But you clearly do.”

“No, I’m not ready. I—I can’t go through that again.”

“Layla, he isn’t like John—at all.” Janet shook her head. “Don’t throw him away for something so stupid.”

“I can’t be in a relationship with him when I’m this messed up. That’s not fair either.”

“If you were honest with him, I’m sure he’d be fine with it. It seems pretty clear that he really, really cares for you.”

“Well, he shouldn’t.”

Janet shook her head. “Don’t be like that, Layla. You’re an amazing girl. Don’t let your past ruin your future.”

“I’ve made my decision.”

“Well, it’s a stupid one,” she snapped. “You’re really going to let this guy get away? I’ve been single for a while. Believe me, there aren’t too many guys like him. I would have dated him in a heartbeat. Shit, if he was willing to go to such great lengths to protect me, I would die from happiness. You’re my friend and I love you, but I’m sorry, but you’re being so fucking stupid right now.”

“Thanks,” I said bitterly.

“I say this to help you. I don’t want you to make the wrong decision.”

“Well, it’s too late.”

“When he starts seeing someone else you’re going to regret this, Layla. And by then, it’ll be too late.”

“You should go,” I whispered. I stared straight ahead, avoiding her look.

“That’s how it’s going to be?” she asked, glaring at me.

“I want to be alone.”

“Fine.
Shut me out like you do to everyone else.” She stood up and walked to the door. “I hope you get off your ass and make the right decision, Layla.” Janet shut the door behind her and left me alone in the dark.