Chapter Three
It was in the parking lot when it happened.
I couldn’t move. Please let me be imagining things. Please, please, please just let me be dehydrated and hallucinating. Life couldn’t possibly be so evil, could it? Ryan was fumbling with his keys in his pocket, but he stopped when he realized he left me behind. I was carrying Layla now.
“Sweetheart, are you alright? You don’t look so good.” Ryan asked, but I couldn’t speak. There were no words. I was carrying Layla!
What if she... no, no, no, she’s too stupid! She would never put two and two together, would she?
Ugh!
Why the hell is she headed our way? She wouldn’t dare say one word to me, right? As soon as I asked myself that question I heard a high-pitched happy voice call “Ryan?”
What the Fu...?
My eyes swung to look at Ryan who was now facing the Bitch-From-Hell that nearly ruined my life! “Hey Dest, how are you?” Ryan asked then wrapped an arm around her shoulder to give her a half hug. I gasped out loud. I literally had to suck air into my mouth to breathe.
Are you fucking shitting me?
Ryan turned back to me and his arm dropped away from “Dest.”
“Lex, what’s the matter with you? You’re worrying me,” Ryan sounded genuinely concerned. I didn’t even look his way. I’d deal with his ass later. I couldn’t do anything, but stare at “Dest.”
When she saw me she grinned. “Hey Alexis, long time, no see, huh?”
Oh no she didn’t! What a bitch! I wanted to pound her face in, but I couldn’t! I forced myself to bite my tongue.
“You two know each other?” Ryan asked curiously looking between us. Hell-to-the-yes I know her! The Bitch!
I continued to ignore him. What could I say? I had Layla in my arms and the last thing I wanted was for Destiny to see her. Luckily she hadn’t even glanced at Layla.
“Mama, who’s that?” Layla asked. “Her voice sounds funny,” she added in her five year old version of quietly. Gotta love kids’ brutal honesty.
When a frown appeared on Destiny’s face and her eyes quickly switched over to Layla, I knew she heard her. Oh man. I tried to turn my body in an effort to conceal my little girl who was the spitting image of Landyn, but it didn’t matter.
Layla and her pink frufru outfit stood out like a sore thumb. Not to mention she was already tall for her age, just like her daddy. When Destiny’s head tilted to the side I knew she was studying her; hard. I felt sick to my stomach.
“Hey Dest,” Ryan called, breaking into my thoughts. “Tell Anthony I said ‘Hi,’ alright? Lex and I really need to be somewhere right now.” When Ryan spoke Destiny didn’t look at him.
Her eyes hit mine. “Sure Ryan, I’ll tell him,” she responded and in the blink of an eye, her frown turned into a smirk; an evil, catty little smirk. Then she turned on her heel and flounced away.
Her statement wasn’t meant for Ryan, it was meant for me.
Fuck!
“Lex, you’re really starting to worry me. What the hell is going on?” Ryan asked. I quickly turned away and walked toward Ryan’s jeep. I opened the back door and buckled Layla into her booster while Ryan turned on the air and radio. I spoke to Layla loud enough for Ryan to hear…
“Baby, Ryan and I are going to talk behind the jeep for just a minute, okay? I need you to stay right here, but I’ll be watching you.”
“Ok mama. Who was that lady? She stared. I didn’t like her. And her voice was funny.”
I smoothed down her unruly black hair affectionately. “Don’t worry about her, baby. I knew her a long time ago. You want me to tell you a secret?” When she nodded anxiously, I whispered low enough so she would feel like this secret was just between us girls, “I don’t like her very much either.” Layla grinned at me so I kissed her on the cheek. “Be right back.”
I waited at the back of the jeep. As soon as Ryan made it to me I hissed in his face. “Did you fuck her too?”
“What?” His eyebrows rose to his hairline and he sounded completely caught off guard.
“I said, ‘Did. You. Fuck. Her. Too?’”
“No Alexis! Jesus! She’s Anthony’s sister. I’ve only met her a few times. What the hell is wrong with you? You didn’t even say a word when she spoke to you and it was obvious you knew her. You look like you saw a ghost.”
Anthony? That was interesting; he was Trish’s favorite boy toy. Oh man, this is going to be very, very bad!
“How the hell is Destiny Anthony’s sister? I went to school with her and I never knew she had a brother. His last name is Lopez and she’s definitely not a Lopez.” I paused. “And why the fuck would I speak to the bitch that ruined my life?” I was trying so hard not to shout because I didn’t want Layla to hear, but my voice was rising.
“I don’t know, they have the different mothers or something...” he trailed off “Wait, what the hell are you...?” he paused and looked down. He was deep in thought.
“You mean, that was her? The one from high school and the whole cheating ex-boyfriend thing?”
Cheating ex-boyfriend thing. Sheesh!
“Of course it was her. How many damn Destiny’s can there possibly be in the world?”
“Wait just one fucking minute. It’s been over a year since I last heard that name so why the hell would I remember that? I’m not the one still stuck in the fucking past,” he hissed. I could tell he was getting worked up.
Without warning, his hand shot out and wrapped painfully around my upper arm. “What the hell do you mean she ruined your life?” he asked belligerently. “Are you telling me you’re still holding on to that shit? That you’re still not happy?”
“What?” I asked, my voice shaky. Now I was confused and distracted by his strong grip on my arm.
He continued. “We’ve been together two years, Lex. After all this time, are you telling me you’re still hung up on some asshole who hurt you in high school? Don’t you think it’s about time you let that shit go?”
I sucked in a breath because I wanted so badly to tell him, “Of course I haven’t let it go. How could I? I see Landyn’s face in my daughter every single day! I see his mesmerizing, amber eyes first thing every morning and I kiss the same plump lips before bed every night! How could I just let it go? Layla is his twin!”
But there was no way could I tell him that.
“Let go of me Ryan.” I ordered. He looked down at his hand and it fell away immediately. When he looked back at me, regret was written all over his face.
“Of course I’ve let it go. It was a bad choice of words, okay?” I lied. “But you really need to watch how you speak to me and don’t ever grab me like that again.” I stared him down for a minute.
He shook his head as if to clear it. “I’m sorry, Lex. I just can’t stand thinking you’re still hung up some asshole that you were with years ago.”
I really wanted to punch him in the mouth.
“Ryan, the only thing I’m hung up on is that little girl waiting inside your jeep.” I looked away from him to try to calm down. When I turned back, I asked softly, “Can we please not argue about this anymore?” His answer was to wrap his arm around my shoulder, pull me close and kiss the top of my head. “I’m sorry, Lex.”
I rested my forehead against his chest as I let everything sink in.
“What am I going to do Ryan?” I asked quietly. “Destiny’s going to tell Landyn. I don’t know what happened after I left town. I don’t know if they’re still together, but she’s going to tell him. She could be calling him as we speak. What if he tries to take my angel away from me?” The tears started running down my face. “I can’t lose her, I just can’t. I’ll die before I lose her. Just thinking about it makes me sick.” Ryan held me closely and rubbed my back soothingly.