Page 41 of In the Lonely Hour

His voice was softer than she’d heard it in a while. Leaning against the wall of her bedroom, Layla nibbled her bottom lip briefly.

“What do you want, Carlos?”

“I wanted to check on Dior and see how her first day went. It was today, right?”

With a scoff, Layla rolled her eyes. “Like you care.”

“Of course I care. She’s my daughter.”

“Yeah, the daughter you never wanted. The daughter you signed your rights over to.”

“She’s still my daughter, Layla. Just like you’re still my wi—”

“I’m hanging up.”

“Wait!” Carlos released a long sigh. “Me giving up my rights just means I don’t have to pay child support and I can’t make any legal decisions for Dior. That also means you can be with that nigga or anyone else you want, and I have no say. But she’s still my child, Layla.”

“What exactly do you want?”

“I told you I wanted to see how her first day went.”

“It was fine. She did well. Is that all?”

Carlos didn’t respond immediately, and as silence built between them, Layla’s heart beat wildly against her chest. The last thing she wanted was for Carlos to change his mind about staying out of their lives. He’d already gotten off without jail time, and though she was sure getting beat up by Andres and his brother was a hit to Carlos’s ego, it still wasn’t the full punishment he deserved.

“Yeah. Uh, how are you?”

“Carlos, I don’t want to talk to you. I don’t want you calling asking about my daughter either. You made your choice, and it wasn’t us. Now you have to live with the consequences. Please… leave us alone, and don’t ever call me again.”

“Baby, I—”

After quickly disconnecting the call, Layla blocked his number and made the mental note to have her number changed in the morning. There was nothing Carlos could say to make her believe he actually cared about Dior. She had no idea what his true intentions were, and she wanted to keep it that way. The last thing she wanted to do was uproot Dior, but she’d move to the opposite side of the Earth if she had to, to keep him away from them.

Once she was composed, Layla left the bedroom and met Andres and Dior in the living room. They were watching a movie after their family dinner, during which, Dior had told them all about her first day of high school. The sight of themtogether, so peacefully, put Layla back in her feelings. As soon as she snuggled against Andres, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and whispered in her ear, “You good?”

“Mhm,” she agreed quietly, gritting her teeth and fighting back her tears.

Her nostrils flared after she sniffled, and Andres leaned back to get a better look at her. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Shh.” Dior’s pointer finger went to her lips as she shushed them, making Layla laugh.

Andres stood and led Layla into the kitchen by her hand. He picked her up and set her on the island, then placed a kiss on her shoulder.

“Talk to me,” he commanded, massaging her shoulders. “Tell me who did it.”

For a moment, Layla considered not telling him, but she didn’t want Carlos to say or do something to insinuate their conversation was more than it was. Though she planned to change her number, Carlos showed her what he was capable of when he went and told Andres’s family about them. He’d come between them once, and Laylarefusedto let that happen again.

“Carlos called claiming he wanted to know how Dior’s first day went, but I don’t believe that for one second.” Andres’s frame hardened as a scowl covered his face. “I blocked him, and I’m getting my number changed tomorrow,” she added quickly.

Andres released a heavy exhale, then lifted his glasses and ran his hand down his face. “This nigga wants me to kill him. I tried to show mercy when I beat his ass, but I should have done it then.”

“Andres, please. I didn’t want to tell you because I knew you’d get upset.”

“Forget how I feel. How are you?”

With a shrug, Layla’s head hung for a brief moment. “I’m good. I was shocked more than anything and frustrated that hehad the audacity to call, but I’m good. I don’t want you to go after him. I just… want him out of my life completely.”

“I can make that happen.”

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