Chapter 21

Layla

My heart was like a lead weight in my chest.

Leaving the laundry in the basket, I left the main house. I was glad that Lucy was riding the bus home with a friend and spending the night. I didn’t have to worry about her right now. I didn’t want to think about Lucy or anything else. In fact, I was sure that my brain had shut down as some kind of defense mechanism so that I didn’t instantly shatter into a billion pieces.

As soon as I walked in the guesthouse I started tossing things around. If Jesse was breaking up with me, if Emmie was going to fire me, then I needed to pack. Moving on autopilot, I pulled my suitcase from the closet in the bedroom and started packing all of our clothes. I had saved a good amount of money since September. It would hold us over until I found another job…

Tears spilled from my eyes without me realizing it. I didn’t want to find another job. I wanted the one where I got to be with the people I had grown to love…people who obviously didn’t love me back!

Before I knew it, the big suit case was full and the closet was bare. I zipped up the case and dragged it into the living room. After placing it by the door, I headed back into the bedroom. The front door opened and Drake walked in, surprising the hell out of me.

He took one look at my damp face, saw the suitcase by the door, and went ballistic. “What the fuck are you doing?” he exploded.

I shrugged. “Packing.”

“No. No way.” He shook his head, making his over long hair fall in his face. His blue gray eyes looked wild. “Where is Angel?” He never called her Lana anymore. Everyone knew who he was talking about when he said ‘angel’. I guess to him she was his angel.

“I thought she was with you.” They were like each other’s shadow. Where one was the other was sure to follow.

“Jesse grabbed her and left. I figured she would be here.” Drake glared at me. “Why are you packing, Layla? Why are you crying?”

“Because we are leaving.” I told him and saw all the color fade from his face. It hurt me to hurt him like that, but I couldn’t stay. Not when I knew Jesse was about to crush me. Oh, fuck. I was already crushed. “Look, you will still see Lana anytime you want. Just because we leave doesn’t mean you have to stop being friends.”

“No. You aren’t leaving!” He practically shouted. “I can’t…You can’t…” He broke off, unable to speak he was so upset.

“Drake.” I took a step toward him, wanting to comfort him. Hurting him was the last thing I wanted. He had been through so much already. Finally, he had found something that made the world seem like a better place and I was going to take her away from him…

The door opened and Lana walked in. Drake saw her and nearly crumbled. “You can’t go, Angel!” He grabbed her hands tight. “Tell her!”

Lana looked from Drake to me then back to Drake. Seeing his pain she pulled him into her arms. “Of course I’m not going anywhere.”

He seemed to sag with relief. Somehow he made it to the couch, taking Lana with him. She landed on his lap, and he buried his face in her thick black hair. She stroked her fingers over his face, but her gaze when straight to me. “What are you doing, Layla?” she demanded quietly.

“Packing. We are leaving, Lana. Tonight.”

“Why?” she asked, looking worried. “Why do we have to go?”

“Because Jesse doesn’t want me anymore. I heard them talking today. Emmie and him. She’s already finding my replacement, and I bet he is too.” Scalding tears burned my face as they poured from my eyes. I scrubbed them away. “So we’re leaving.”

“You think that Jesse doesn’t want you anymore?” Lana jumped to her feet. “Have you lost your mind? Do you not see how much he loves you?”

“I know what I heard, Lana.” I turned toward the bedroom once more.

“You only think you do!” she yelled. “Go talk to him. Let him explain.”

“No thank you.” It was bad enough that I knew he didn’t want me anymore. I wasn’t going to embarrass myself by having him make excuses. “I’ve heard all I need to know.”

“Drake, go get Jesse. Get Emmie too,” I heard Lana tell him. “Tell them to hurry.”

“Don’t bother.” I called from the bedroom doorway, but he ignored me as he practically ran from the guesthouse. I glared at my sister. “This won’t change anything, Lana. We are still leaving. Make this easier on you and Drake both, and just help me so that we can go.”

She just stood there, crossing her arms over her chest. “I can’t believe you would doubt how much Jesse loves you. Even for a second. God, Layla! I get sick of hearing him say it, but I never doubt him when he does.”

“He hasn’t been the same lately,” I told her. “I can feel the emotions churning in him.”

“That isn’t because he has stopped loving you, idiot!”

“How the hell do you know?” I exploded. She opened her mouth to say something but I didn’t want to hear it. “I’m through talking about this. I have things to do.”

Behind her the door swung open. Emmie came into the living room like a little tornado. “Lana, seriously! What the hell have you done to Drake now?” she stormed. “I couldn’t make sense of anything he was saying except that it was about you.”

“I haven’t done anything!” Lana pointed at me. “Layla’s packing and apparently it’s your fault. She heard you and Jesse talking earlier today.”

Emmie’s eyes widened. “Then why are you leaving?” she demanded. “You don’t like the house? I can sell it and buy another one.” She frowned. “It isn’t as close, but if it’s what you really want…”

“This isn’t about the house,” Lana informed her. “She doesn’t know about the house.”

Emmie threw her hands in the air. “Then please tell me what it is about! Because I’m at a loss here ladies.”

They weren’t making much sense to me. I didn’t know what either one of them were talking about. “This is about you hiring another housekeeper. This is about Jesse leaving because he can’t stand to be around me.”

“Do you think I want you to leave?” Emmie put her hands on her hips, glaring at me. I couldn’t help but notice that she was looking more fit and beautiful every day. “Have you lost your mind? I would give my right arm to have you stay with me forever, Layla. There has never been someone like you in my life, someone who takes care of me and put ups with me, and still loves me like you do. You are my best friend, Layla!”