Page 53 of Falling for the Guy Next Door

“I’m not your girlfriend, Dustin.” Layla’s quiet, shaky tone made my throat tighten.

I had no idea how long they’d been standing out on the driveway, but I was glad, now, that we delayed the meeting.

“I told you, Layla, we just need to talk about it and smooth things out. We had a good thing.”

Layla shook her head. “No, no we didn’t.”

I took a step toward him, and he backed up defensively. “If you come near me, I’m calling the police.”

“Don’t you see? You’re trespassing on Layla’s property. Maybe youshouldcall the police. We’ve got something to report.”

Dustin backed up another step. “Just leave. I’m only going to talk to her.”

I shook my head. “You’re the only one leaving. She’s told you no. She doesn’t want to talk to you, and showing up to harass her and scare her is not going to force Layla to change her mind. You’re only pushing her away more. She obviously wants nothing to do with you.”

“Oh, I see, you’re planning to make your move on her. Well, she’s taken.”

I actually started to feel sorry for the guy. He was really detached from reality.

“Dustin, just go,” Layla said. “Otherwise, Iwillcall the police.”

Dustin looked over at her. “You don’t mean that, Layla.”

Tears were rolling down her face. She nodded. “Yes, I do. We are never going to be together. Never. Please move on.”

Dustin’s eyes darted toward me.

“You heard her,” I said.

Dustin grumbled something under his breath as he marched down to the road, climbed in his car and drove off. I turned around, and before I could say a word, Layla threw herself into my arms. She sobbed for a few minutes and was still trembling when she finally caught her breath.

She peered up at me through teary eyes. “You hear about this happening to other people, but you never think it’s going to happen to you. He was blocking the path to the front door. I was contemplating getting on my bike and riding away, but I think he might have chased me in his car and that seemed scary. I’m glad you got home when you did.” She pressed herself against my chest.

I wrapped my arms around her. “Me, too, Layla. Me, too.”

ChapterThirty-One

Layla

Iwas so shaken; I couldn’t sit still. Nash had walked me into the cottage. I paced around the small living room. “I can’t believe he showed up here. I don’t think he meant me any harm.” I looked at Nash. “Do you think he would have hurt me? Admittedly, for a few seconds there, I was scared. Okay, more than a few seconds.”

“I’ll be honest, Layla. I think you should talk to the police. Maybe you need a restraining order.”

I knew he hadn’t meant to scare me, but I could feel the color drain from my face. “Restraining order? That’s what they do in the movies, on detective shows when someone psychotic needs to be kept away from a victim. Surely not in this case.” I looked at him, hoping he’d say “you’re right.” But he didn’t.

“Let me get you a glass of water,” he said. “You look pale.” He walked to the kitchen.

“That’s because you mentioned a restraining order. That sounds so big, so legal, so dramatic.”

Nash filled a glass with water and returned to the living room. The look of concern on his face only made my heart ache more for him.

“I’m sorry I mentioned it,” he said as he handed me the glass. “It’s just that the guy standing on your driveway a few minutes ago needs help—some serious help—and in the meantime, we need to make sure he stays away from you.”

The pacing was only making me more agitated, so I finally settled into the comforting, worn cushions of Nonna’s big chair. Sometimes I got lucky, and the lightest scent of her lilac hand lotion would puff up from the chair. I really needed that lilac scent right now. I drank the water.

“He seemed like a regular guy,” I said. “If he hadn’t upset me so much, I’d almost find it in my heart to feel sorry for him.”

Nash sat on the end of the couch closest to the chair. “I agree. It’s just hard to work up too much sympathy because he was so harsh and angry.”

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