Chapter 6
Layla grinned as the listened to Jasmine and Sabrina chatter in the backseat about the fun they had during pageant practice.
She was forever grateful that Jasmine and Sabrina had become friends.
Layla saw how hard the divorce had been on Jasmine.
Layla’s ex-husband had moved in with another woman and treated her son as his own before the divorce was finalized.
Jasmine had been so young when it happened that she hadn’t understood the details, but she’d been old enough to understand her dad had found a new family and didn’t come around as much anymore.
She only wished that the two girls had been brought together under better circumstances.
They’d both lost a parent only because the parent decided they didn’t want to be a parent anymore.
That was an emotional toil no child should have to bear.
In the days after her divorce, Layla wondered if she’d made the right decision to move out of their home and into a new house far away from where they’d lived.
But seeing Jasmine now, laughing and grinning with Sabrina as they shared stories and planned for how they wanted their hair done for the pageant, made her know the decision had been the right one.
Jasmine now thrived in a way she wouldn’t have been able to if Layla had tried to cling to her ex-husband.
“Ms. Layla, can Jasmine come to my house today,” Sabrina asked from the backseat.
“We’ll have to check with your dad, but I don’t have a problem with that.”
Sabrina’s smile dimmed a little. “Daddy said he’s busy this week because of budget prep at work, so he may not want visitors.”
“Well, if he’s okay with you coming over then you can come to our house.”
Jasmine bounced in her seat. “We really need to practice the dance routine for the pageant. If you ask Mr. Elijah nicely maybe he’ll let me come over?”
“If tonight doesn’t work then you can go another day. We’re almost home so let’s ask Mr. Elijah when we get there, but if he’s busy then we’re not going to complain, understand?”
“Yes ma’am.” Both girls said. They were silent for a beat before they started chatting again.
When she pulled into her driveway and noticed Elijah’s car in his driveway, her hands gripped the steering wheel.
She’d considered what Carolyn said all day, but wasn’t sure if she wanted to tell Elijah how she felt.
What was the point of doing so if he didn’t feel the same?
She wanted him to enthusiastically and passionately enter into a relationship with her.
Not say it was a good, practical decision.
Why should she try convincing him otherwise?
Didn’t that make her look desperate? No, she’d push her feelings deep down and keep things as they were. That was the best for everyone.
They got out of the car and made their way to Elijah’s front door.
He answered soon after they rang the bell, and Layla’s breath hitched.
He still wore the dark grey slacks he’d had on when she’d seem him that morning after she’s sent Jasmine to pick up Sabrina, but he’d ditched the blazer, white button up shirt and tie and only had a sleeveless t-shirt tucked into the pants.
The seconds their gazes connected a small part of her brain started whispering that Elijah looked as if he wouldn’t hesitate to pay full price for a bottle of water at the airport.
It didn’t help that he looked at her as if he was glad to see her.
Not because she was there with his daughter, but because it was her.
The gleam of interest mingled with a promise of seduction and a dusting of adoration.
That’s the thing that made it hard to kill this crush she had on him.
A woman could get used to a man looking at her like that.
“Daddy, can Jasmine come up so we can practice our dance routine for a little bit?” Sabrina hurried through the door and tugged on his hand. “I know it’s against the rules to have visitors on a weeknight but—”
“Sure, Beenie,” he said looking back at Layla. “As long as her mom doesn’t have a problem with it.”
Layla shook her head. “No, I don’t have a problem with that. The girls both let me know they got their homework done before pageant practice.”
“We sure did,” Jasmine chimed in.
“Even better,” Elijah said. “I’ve got dinner started. You two can practice your song until I finish.”
“Yay!” Sabrina called. She took Jasmine’s hand and they both took off toward the back of the house.
Layla and Elijah stood in the door staring at each other. All her I’ve got nothing to prove to Elijah bravado from earlier evaporating in the light of his gaze.
She took a step backward. “You can call me when Jasmine is ready to come home.”
He stepped forward and reached out as if to take her hand, but stopped before touching her. “Hold up. Do you have a minute?”
“What’s up?”
“I’d like to talk to you about something.”
“Okay.”
She didn’t think much of him wanting to talk.
They often updated the other on what was happening at work or if they needed to do something related to the girls.
With Sabrina mentioning he had budget preparations happening at work it probably meant he would need her to handle pick up and pageant prep more.
She also had a few upcoming late nights at work, and they needed to get their schedules straight.
“Come on inside.” He stepped back to let her in.
Elijah smiled and she swore her ovaries damn near melted.
She straightened her shoulders and pushed away the sexual attraction.
Sure, the man was fine. As meticulous as he was about his life and schedule she’d often wondered if he would be just as meticulous in the bedroom.
She bet he’d pay close attention to her reactions and ensure her pleasure.
She pushed that thought aside. Today was not a day to focus on that.
She followed Elijah into his kitchen. The smell of food immediately made her mouth water. “What are you making?”
“Enchiladas.”
She raised a brow. “I didn’t know you knew how to make those?”
He chuckled, and the low deep rumbling in his chest made her nipples hard. “Don’t sound too impressed. I know processed food is bad, but the pre-packaged kits make weeknight dinners so much easier.”
“Whatever it takes to get food on the table is what matters. Everyone doesn’t have the liberty to say they’ll refuse to eat pre-packaged options.”
“True, but it’s a criticism that stays in the back of my mind. Sabrina’s mom was big on making everything from scratch with natural ingredients. She always made sure the food on the table was fresh and healthy. It is one thing I miss.”
Elijah rarely talked about his ex. Over the years Layla had picked up that she’d left him with Sabrina, but she’d never gotten the reason why.
She wanted to know why? What would make a person walk away from their child.
She understood leaving a relationship. No one should stay if the relationship wasn’t serving them, but to walk away from the child?
Layla’s ex-husband had been a terrible spouse, but even though he’d gone on and adopted a new family he didn’t completely ignore Jasmine.
He still called her on birthdays and holidays, even if he didn’t spend as much time with her.
Layla had never seen Sabrina’s mother or heard Sabrina talk about speaking to her mom.
“When was the last time you two talked?”
“Last Christmas. She was moving to the west coast and wanted to let me know.”
She was again surprised he’d answered. She wanted to ask more, so she did. “You don’t talk about her much.”
He shrugged as he used a can opener to take the lid off the can of enchilada sauce. “There isn’t much to talk about.”
“Do you mind if I ask what happened? You can tell me to mind my business. I’d understand.”
He was quiet as he poured the sauce over the tortillas that looked as if he’d stuffed with seasoned chicken.
When he put the can down, he answered. “She just left. One day I got a call that she hadn’t picked up Sabrina from daycare.
She’d left a note saying she couldn’t do it anymore.
I got divorce papers in the mail a week later. ”
Layla sucked in a breath. “Damn.”
He chuckled and tossed the can in the trash.
“Damn is right.” He grabbed a bag of cheese from the counter and sprinkled it on the sauce covered tortillas.
“But, I also accept maybe I could have done things differently. Not that I forgive her for the way she left, but later, when we finally talked, I understood that we wouldn’t have made it. ”
“I’m sorry it ended that way, but like I said yesterday, I hope you can find some joy in your life.”
He finished with the cheese and glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. “About that, I thought more about what I said last night.”
“Which part? You said a lot.”
He put the dish inside the pre-heated oven.
Then wiped his hand on a paper towel. When he was done he leaned back against the counter and crossed his arms making the muscles in his biceps flex.
She swallowed hard and her thighs instinctively tightened.
This man was playing with her emotions without even trying.
“The part about us not being together because of the circumstances,” he said.
“Yeah, about that. Look I get it and honestly, I understand—”
“I shouldn’t have said that.”
That wasn’t what she expected him to say. “Why not?”
“Because, if I’m honest, I don’t feel that way.” His gaze was unwavering as he stared at her. “I am interested in you. I would like for us to consider dating.”
As far as confessions it was straightforward and as honest as one could expect. Her heart even fluttered that he’d admitted it, but she still couldn’t help but think if he was saying that because he wanted her, or because he wanted someone like her in his life.
“We can’t be together.”