Page 18 of Stalking His Target

My throat is dry. I swallow hard.

“Speaking of which. Why is it that I’ve never been to your work before?”

I force a laugh. Another lie. “Why would you want to come? There’s nothing too exciting about a construction site. Most of the time it’s just guys standing around waiting for something to be done so they can get back to work.”

Layla nods. She’s not buying it. “And the guys you work with? How come I’ve never met any of them? It’s okay if you want to invite them over here, you know. I wouldn’t mind.”

Jesus, she’s so sweet.

Here I am, lying to her about having work friends at my fake construction job, and she’s trying to shoulder some of the blame for why I haven’t brought them around to meet her yet.

“That’s sweet of you, love,” I say, finding the strength to smile as my heart races. “But this isn’t exactly the right environment for them. They’re more of the bar and beers kind of guys, if you know what I mean.”

More lies.

Layers and layers of lies, like a building built on a rotten foundation. And what happens when that foundation finally collapses?

“I’m just saying,” Layla says sweetly. “That if you ever wanna bring them by here–”

“I know what you’re saying.” I smirk, snatching her shirt off to reveal her perfect, perky tits. “And if I ever want to bore you to death, I’ll take you up on the offer.”

I press my face between her perfect breasts, causing Layla to gasp as I move my lips to each nipple, sucking gently as though they were the most perfect little gum drops. This time, she lets me reach out and turn on the water, and I continue stripping her out of her clothes until she’s gorgeous in her nakedness, her smooth skin sending warmth through the rough skin of my hands.

The pure decadence of her body is overwhelming, and I groan as my pants drop, releasing my painful erection. Being away from her today was agonizing, but I didn’t realize until I was back in her company just how excruciating it truly was.

I step under the warm water with her, running my hands up the delicious curve of her lower back. “All I know, Layla, is that I love being here with you.”

She raises her gorgeous eyes to mine, and I see her still trying to work out if there’s something up with me. “I know that, baby.”

“I just wanted to make sure.” And that’s not a lie. Pablo’s birthday is in two days, and I can’t predict how things are going to go down there. Even if I’m able to successfully execute my objective, that means finally revealing my truth to Layla.

And how she reacts…

Well, that’s just another thing I can’t predict.

“I love you too, Taylor.” She smiles, using my false name.

Ryder,I want to tell her.Call me by my real name, my love.

But I can’t. For now it’s Taylor. I’ll continue to live this false life, this lie. And I’ll continue to hope that somehow, Layla and I will be together when all is said and done. Because I know I can’t live without her. Not anymore.

7

LAYLA

I liein bed looking up at the tiny crack in the paint that’s formed over the last few weeks. It started small. Just a black dot that I thought might be a spot of mold. But since then, it’s grown larger, expanding out as though it’s trying to make it all the way to the wall.

Will a little paint fix it? Or is it a crack in the actual ceiling?

Geez, I need to calm down. Of course it’s just a small crack, and here I am about to have a nervous breakdown as I debate in my mind whether or not the entire apartment building is going to collapse around me.

I know what’s wrong.

Something’s eating at me. Gnawing at me like a splinter in my thumb that’s not yet ready to come out. I’ve been doing my best to ignore it, but my heart won’t let me.

I didn’t even want to confront Taylor last night for the second time. I was so nervous. I’d already asked him once if there was something bothering him, and he told me no. I asked him a second time, and he gave me the same answer. But for some reason, I still don’t believe him.

Is it something in his eyes? Something in the way he’s been holding me lately? Tighter, closer, like he thinks I’m going to justfloat away if he loosens his grip. Or like he expects to wake up one morning and find me suddenly gone from our bed.

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