Page 93 of Power Play

“This guy…he doesn’t love you. I don’t know why he’s with you, but it’s not because he loves you.”

I try to push him away. Anger poisons my thoughts, a dark energy surging through my body. “You don’t know him. Eli is?—”

“I heard him talking on the phone with some girl. He called her Jessie. They were making plans.”

My heart leaps into my throat. I can’t even utter a word.

“It didn’t sound friendly. They were planning a date. I swear, Layla, I’m telling you the truth.”

I know who he’s talking about. I know who Jessie is. But I thought that was all in the past. Eli swore he stopped seeing her.

“Layla, look at me.” Clay tilts my face up to him. My tear-filled eyes collide with his, and he lowers his head to mine so our foreheads touch. “I’d never lie to you. All I care about is you and your happiness. He doesn’t deserve you.”

“I’ll talk to him,” I whisper. My voice is hoarse and weak. “And if what you said is true, I’ll break up with him.”

“Promise?” he asks. I nod. “Promise me if you break up with him, you’ll come to Chicago. That you’ll stay with me, and we’ll finally tell everyone the truth. Promise me.”

“I promise.”

A small smile lifts his lips. He bends down, ready to kiss me, but I turn away.

“No, Clay. I don’t want to be a cheater.”

“I’m sorry,” he says on an exhale. He presses his lips to my forehead and lingers there, inhaling my scent. “I looked up a few real estate agencies in Chicago. Some are hiring.”

I chuckle, winding my hands around his torso. “I’m not sure that’s what I want to do. I recently got into floristry, and it’s been bringing me joy.”

“Then floristry it shall be. I’ll support you with anything you need.”

We stay in each other’s embrace, holding tight. My eyes are closed, and the beat of my heart is calm and steady. Our relationship reminds me of a pendulum, never settling in one direction, always finding its way back. Always finding our way back to each other.

I’ll always love him, no matter what.

“I need to get back,” I tell him, stepping away reluctantly. “I don’t want anyone to suspect anything with both of us gone.”

He gives me a smirk that reminds me more of a grimace and says, “Yeah, especially not Drake. They aren’t quite ready to hear our story, right?”

“They aren’t.” I head for the door.

“Layla?”

I glance at him over my shoulder.

“I’ll wait for you. I’ll always wait for you.”

With a nod, I flash him a small smile. Then I turn away and unlock the door. Straightening my spine, I walk down the hallway and into the backyard. I’ll talk to Eli tonight.

Eli pacesour hotel room as I sit on the bed. I watch him, biting my bottom lip. He mutters something under his breath, but I barely hear him. He’s pissed, that’s for sure. But I don’t understand why.

“So let me get this straight,” he growls, stopping abruptly in front of me. “Your ex tells you that he wants to be with you. Tells you that I don’t love you. Tells you that I’m fucking cheating on you with Jessie. All because of the phone call he heard. Did I get it right?”

His blue eyes stare at me menacingly. His usually beautiful face, with its strong jawline and high cheekbones, is contorted in anger.

“Yes.”

He throws his head back, laughing. It reminds me of a hyena’s yelp, and I shiver.

“Layla, baby, I love you. Only you. Why would I ask you to move in with me if I weren’t serious about us?” He takes my hands in his, scrutinizing me. “Why would I ask you to be my girlfriend if I wasn’t over Jessie? It doesn’t make any sense.”

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