An Unexpected Love (Women's Fiction/BWWM Romance) by Stacy-Deanne Page B

“Hey…I…” He stared at the
suitcase and the rest of the clothes stacked on the bed. “What’s going on?”
    “She’s leaving.” Gertie stuck her head in
the door. “Yup, party time is over for Layla.”
    “I don’t know about it being a party,
Gertie.” Layla put more clothes in the suitcase. “But thanks for having me.”
She winked.
    “Always a pleasure, but I hope you don’t
have to come back anytime soon.” She smiled.
    “Me either.” Layla avoided looking at
Cross. “Can you give us a moment, Gertie?”
    “Of course. I’m sure you wanna say goodbye
to each other.”
    As Gertie walked out, Cross slumped to the
bed with a dumbfounded expression.
    “You were getting ready to leave, and you
weren’t gonna tell me?” he asked.
    “Of course I was.”
    “Exactly when were you gonna tell me? When
you’re getting in the damn car?” He picked up a blouse and threw it down. “You
were gonna shout out the damn window?”
    “Cross.”
    “You’re leaving ?” He leaned over on the bed to where his face was only
inches from hers. “You’re really leaving right now?”
    “I didn’t know how to tell you.”
    “How about just open your mouth and say
it?” He moved from the bed. “Is this what you normally do? Get people to care
about you then you just leave?”
    “I tried so many times to tell you, but I
didn’t know how.” She grabbed a blouse. “This is hard for me, too. I’m gonna
miss you a lot.”
    He stood against the wall with his arms
crossed. “Right.”
      “I’m
serious, Cross. You don’t know how deeply you’ve touched me. Because of you, I
feel better than I have in years.” She caressed the blouse. “But I can’t hide
in this place forever. I got a life and two young ladies who need me and…damn
it…” She threw the blouse in the suitcase. “It’s time I’m there for them. I
can’t keep disappointing them or myself.”
    “What am I gonna do?” His eyes filled with
tears. “You’re the only thing in this place I look forward to.”
    “You know what you have to do.” She walked
to him and rubbed his arm. “You’ve gotta leave, Cross. You can’t keep hiding.
You know damn well you don’t belong here.”
    “It’s so hard.” He wiped tears. “Out there
I have nobody.”
    “That’s not true. You have your son and
even your mother.” She touched his face. “And I told you that you have me too.
When I make a promise, I keep it.”
    He hugged her. “You’re the closest friend
I’ve had in a long time.”
    She put her arms around him. “I care about
you very much.”
    He kissed her cheek. “I’m in love with
you, Layla.” He let her go. “I’m so damn in love with you.”
    She turned and walked to the bed. “My
mom’s throwing a party for me tonight. She always does when I get out.”
    “Did you hear what I just said?” He marched
to the bed and turned her around. “I said I’m in love with you, Layla.” He
pulled her into a passionate kiss that stole every breath she owned. “I wanna
be with you.”
    “How would that be possible if you’re
hiding in here?” She closed the suitcase and picked it up. “You said the world
was my oyster. Isn’t it yours too?” She got her purse off the dresser and took out
a piece of paper. “Here is my cell number, house number, and email address.” She
scribbled the information and handed it to him. “I’m only a phone call away.”
    “ That’s too far for me.” He folded the paper and put it in his pocket. “I don’t suppose
I can interest you in a game of dominoes? If I win, you stay?”
    “If you want to see me again, then you
have to see me outside these walls.” She kissed him. “Goodbye, Cross.”

 
    ****

 
    “I mean it.” Warren Whitaker maneuvered
his fat body around the kitchen table as he examined the German chocolate layer
cake. “I’m sixty-five years old, and that’s too old to be having any drama tonight.”
    He peeked over his glasses at his
stepdaughter Valerie.