Page 53 of What She Deserves
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Stop it. Stop lying to me right now! Stop treating me like I’m stupid.”
“I’m not treating you like you’re stupid. I had to stop by to pick up some things before I went into the office. That doesn’t mean I lied to you.”
Clutching her head in exasperation, Layla said, “I can’t believe you’re doing this again. I can’t believe you’re really going to stand there and lie to me, when you know good and well you didn’t leave this condo after you came up. Do I need to ask the manager for the security tape? If I do, will you just come up with another lie? Another excuse?”
“I’m done talking to you because you’re acting hysterical.” Rashad set off for the bathroom.
“I know who Deshawn Reddick is,” she called out.
Goose bumps popped out on Rashad’s skin, and he stopped moving. Tension pounded his neck and shoulders. Slowly, he faced Layla, his heart tripling the rate of its normal beating.
Tears shimmered in her eyes. “You.”
He didn’t say a word, waiting to see how much she knew.
“Nothing to say?” she asked.
“I don’t know what you want me to say,” he replied in a low voice.
She laughed, a bitter, caustic sound that conveyed her exasperation and fatigue. “At least you didn’t deny it. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You don’t have to know everything about me, Layla.”
She laughed again. “Thank you for that, because I was this close to falling for your bullshit again. I can’t do this anymore.”
Fear raged in his heart. “Do what? Of course you have every right—”
“No, you meant what you said, and once again your honesty has opened my eyes and made me realize where I stand with you, which is nowhere.”
“Don’t say that.”
“Why not? It’s true.”
“I love you!”
Her eyebrows flew higher, and she bit her lip as she struggled to keep from crying. “I’m not falling for that.”
She went into the closet, and he watched in horror as she pulled out her suitcase and the bags filled with clothes and shoes she’d purchased the day before.
“What are you doing?”
“I told you, I’m done.”
“You act like I’m so closed off, when I’m not. I’ve shared plenty with you this time around. You know Alex and know about Heather. I told you about my foster parents and my life on my own. What more do you want?”
“I want all of you,” Layla said.
“This is all I can give you right now.”
“Well that’s not enough,” she snapped.
“So you’re just gonna leave me?”
“What else is there to do, Rashad?” she screamed, eyes wild with anger. “You don’t listen. You don’t care.”
“That’s not true!”
