20. Layla
LAYLA
“What’s this about, Layla? What do you mean you dated—fake-dated Cruz to get close to…”
Now, he can’t even stand to bring up his name.
Unreal.
Before, I was furious with Cruz for taunting Briggs.
Now, I’m livid with myself to no end for even imagining that my Uncle Ben would accept this. That he would see that Briggs made something out of himself, despite what he did in the past.
I spent the last nine-ish years wasting my relationship with Briggs for this.
An uncle who can’t seem to get it together and stop judging one guy who doesn’t even live here anymore.
“Uncle Ben,” I start, grappling for patience I don’t have right now. “We need to talk about this.”
“Damn right we do,” he chides with a huff. “What is going on? Why would you say somethin’ like that?”
“Because it’s true. You would never allow me to see Briggs on my own—”
“That boy is a troublemaker, Layla. I didn’t want ya to get hurt.”
“Well, don’t worry, I did that for both of us.
” He frowns deeply, and I lean back, trying to take some comfort in something that isn’t this conversation.
“I think I’ve loved Briggs since I was sixteen.
He did nothin’ to pursue me; he always kept a distance.
Sure, we were in the same circles with some people.
This town is too small to fully be out of someone’s orbit.
But, if you wanted me to be isolated from one boy, we should’ve moved out of Magnolia Ridge. ”
He’s silent for a few beats before he claims, “I didn’t want that. I wanted you to grow up in a community.”
“And I did. However, you put so much pressure on me to stay away from Briggs that I never felt like I could live freely as myself here. I never wanted to disappoint you, still don’t, but that man has done nothing but show me he’s committed to me.”
“Why would he be committed to you?” he asks slowly, as if already becoming suspicious of the answer. “He hasn’t been in Magnolia Ridge since he was eighteen.”
Ompfh.
The answer to that will blow everything out of the water. It’s also the worst time to discuss it because the moment I’m telling him we’re married, I have to follow up about the divorce.
“Because he loves me,” I evade. “And I’ve loved him for years—”
“Layla,” he warns in this low, authoritative tone that has me suddenly more anxious. “That boy isn’t right for you.”
“How so? Give me one—”
“’Cause all he does is fight.”
“And all he does is get hit with the ball by Cruz Weston when he is up to bat. I know you men talk about it. You know he’s provoked.”
“Men are accidentally hit all the time—”
“You can really sit there and say that you’ve never put two and two together?”
He hits me with an exasperated stare because, clearly, he doesn’t want to give any credit where it’s due. And, clear as day, this isn’t going to be overnight, where he admits that Briggs had a right to do what he did.
I don’t like him fighting, but he’s gotten a lot better since our talk about how many times Briggs should get hit before he hits back.
It’s not ideal, obviously. However, I’d never tell him to never stick up for himself.
“He doesn’t have a lot of support, but his sisters,” I explain, crossing my arms along my chest for some sort of shield to protect me from his words or thoughts.
“You can have thoughts about his father all you want, but it wasn’t right what happened to him, and you know that.
Regardless of what he did as a teenager, he got out his pain the only way he knew how. ”
“And that was to make everyone else suffer?”
“Lettin’ out a few chickens and—”
“Now you’re condonin’ his actions and think it’s okay for him to go out of his way and make more work for other people?
” He shoves his chair back and stares at me like I’ve failed him for most of my life.
That I’ve, somehow, turned into someone he doesn’t know anymore.
“I taught you better than that, and if you’re gonna sit here and try to explain to me why that’s okay, then you need to sit down and take a look at what you’re sayin’.
That boy decided to go against my word and go after my niece after I’ve made it perfectly clear that she was off-limits.
Now, you’re gonna tell me what, Layla Jean?
That ya love him? I know you’re a grown woman, but you’ve worked hard at what you have.
He’s a professional baseball player with women around him all the time.
So, what do you think he’s been doin’ this whole time?
Stayin’ faithful? If he told you yes, then maybe you’re a bigger fool than ya thought ya were.
Because there’s no holdin’ that boy down.
And there ain’t no woman here that’s gonna do that.
He left for a reason, money for his family, but that’s handled now, from what I hear.
So where is he? Still playin’. So, ask yourself, Layla…
he loves you so much, why did he stay away? ”
“Because,” I mutter, feeling absolutely defeated. “I told him to.”
His face tightens, and I see his jaw tick once before he turns on his heels and walks away.
He’s never left mid-conversation on me before, and in his defense, I should’ve knocked this out a long time ago so he could sit on it for all the years that have passed.
Nonetheless, he still would hold his grudges.
He’d still dislike everything Briggs says or does.
He still wouldn’t support it.
And that, to me, was and used to be everything.