9

Layla

I missed John uncontrollably. He was all I ever thought about during my waking hours and my dreams. Everything my brother had said about him didn’t jive with the man I met. Then again, he meant to seduce me, make love to me and leave me with his baby growing inside me. After all, that would be the best revenge on your enemy.

I hated and loved the man all at once. For three months, I cried myself to sleep, barely making it to my classes. I was close to failing them. I never had such brutal grades and I didn’t care. Once Nate found out about the baby, I knew I would be done with school. There was no way he’d let me be that far from him because no matter how disappointed he would be in me, he loved me. I knew that and that he would do everything to take care of me and my unborn baby. If only John had been genuine.

I did my best to look healthy and happy since I would be meeting my brother for dinner later and I knew something was up with him. He didn’t need me falling apart in front of him. I would have to tell him sooner or later about the baby, but tonight wasn’t the time for it.

With my makeup, hair, and clothes perfect, I met the driver and hopped in the car to see Jason standing across the street. He made eye contact with me and then gave me a dirty look. As the car pulled away, I saw him with his phone to his ear. Fuck. I thought he stopped following me months ago.

A week after I ran from the dorm, I saw Jason talking to people outside one of my classes. I managed to get away before he saw me. On two other occasions, I noticed him first again. It was one of the reasons I ditched half my classes. I thought he was onto me. The last time I saw him, John was with him. He looked haggard and stressed, but I ignored it because it obviously must have been from losing another deal to my brother.

I thought about confronting him and demanding that he stay away, but then he disappeared. Three weeks later, I found out that John had managed to knock me up, and I cried. It wasn’t because I was going to be a single mother, but that I had fallen in love with the enemy.

I got to the restaurant early, but refused to look up from my menu. I couldn’t eat a thing even though I was starving, because I had the distinct feeling I’d been followed. Jason probably told John where to find me. Nate told me that someone had been looking into my whereabouts and he had no doubt that it was his enemy, but they didn’t have any luck. Nate had done an amazing job hiding me from the public all these years. It was his way of protecting me from the likes of John. Oops, it didn’t work.

When Nate walked up to the table, I was shocked how scruffy and sad he looked through his smile. I understood he was happy to see me, but that smile was pasted on. It was all a show.

“Wow, I didn’t realize you were that happy to see me,” he teased and pulled me into his arms.

“You know I missed you. I always do,” I said, smiling and taking my seat before he noticed my less than flat tummy. “So, are you going to tell me why you look like shit, or do I have to figure it out?” I didn’t pull punches with most people. The only one who managed to turn me into a nervous, submissive mess was the bastard who filled me with lies and his baby.

“You don’t mince words, my dear.” With a sad face, he undid his suit jacket and sat down.

“Well, it’s fucking clear that you look fuzzy and miserable. Who stole your cookie?” Something was bothering him and I hoped to high hell it wasn’t John.

“It was chocolate chip, and sweet,” he joked, but it was empty and his eyes told me it was about a woman. It wasn’t like he’d been in love before, but it was reminiscent of our father’s sadness. He’d killed himself after our mother died. He loved her so much that he couldn’t bear to live without her. Her death destroyed us all and Nate was the only one left to pick up the pieces and I would be forever grateful for it.

“Please tell me you’re not going to be like him, are you?” I asked. This bitch had a death sentence on her hands if I got a hold of her. Nate was too damn perfect for some broad to fuck over.

“Not as long as I have you.” Did he just say that? I ought to smack some sense into him.

“That’s not good enough,” I uttered, reaching for his hand.

Nate was about to say something when he froze. Then he turned to the waitress and I watched as he went through a bevy of emotions.

“What the hell? Jess? Dammit, what the hell?” Nate growled. Oh shit. This woman was something to him.

Her face transformed from hurt, to anger, back to hurt, before closing off all expressions and leaving me staring at her indifference.

“Is this her, Nate?” I asked indignantly. I stood and threw my menu down on the table. I wanted to punch her in the mouth for breaking my brother’s heart. No one was allowed to do that. I lost the only man other than Nate that I cared about because he was Nate’s biggest enemy.

“It was only kissing. Sorry if that messed up your relationship, Lola.” This Jessica woman obviously got the wrong impression of me. She thought I was Nate’s lover. Wow, that was kind of gross and could explain Nate’s behavior and this woman who had me vacillating between anger and sadness.

“Hold on,” Nate said to me, then I broke down into tears and plopped back in my chair. My emotions were a mess and reminding me of my mother was enough to let the waterworks flow.