Page 76 of So This Is Love

Zara rolls her eyes at me and in a joking voice says, “Lie detector has determined that’s a lie. Try again.”

“It’s not,” I argue. “You’re the one who always wants me to come out and have fun, and here I am.”

“I do, but I also want you to be happy and not just here because you’re trying to avoid thinking about that man that you’re mad at.”

“I’m not mad at him,” I say, sighing. “I’m just… sad. I feel like we were in this little bubble and then someone came and popped it, and now we’re out in the open for all to see.”

“It doesn’t have to be that way. There are plenty of celebrities who don’t share all their business and Sonny wasn’t one of them to begin with.”

“Maybe,” I reply, noncommittally.

Zara wants to argue more with me but she doesn’t. Instead she turns and flags the bartender down and orders us more shots of vodka.

Deep down, I know she’s right because truthfully I don’t want to be here. I want to be able to go back to two weeks ago before everything changed. But I can’t and I couldn’t stand one more second of wallowing in my apartment so a night out at Oasis with vodka shots and Moscow Mules was the next logical option in my eyes. It’s been almost two weeks since those pictures and articles came out and I feel like I’ve only just now been able to come up for air after being blindsided seeing my face all over the media.

I deleted all social media off my phone after one late night of reading mean comments about myself and besides work, I haven’t left my apartment until now. Tonight I’m determined not to think about any of it. I just want to have some fun.

We stay by the bar instead of finding seating somewhere else tonight. It’s not very busy and the vibes are good. We talk and drink and I finally start to feel myself relax and enjoy the night. Zara and I decide to take another round of shots, the last ones before we plan to call it a night.

“Next round is on me,” a voice says from my left.

I turn to see who is speaking to us and annoyance immediately sparks when I see who it is.

Devin is sitting on the stool next to me with a smirk on his face, a glass of Jack and Coke most likely, in his hand.

“I’m actually done for the night, so no thanks,” I say.

“Let me pick up your tab then.”

“No.”

I flick my hair over my shoulder and turn back to Zara prepared to tell her that I’m ready to leave when Devin interjects again, his tone filled with condescension.

“It’s just a drink Laila. No big deal.”

“I’m not interested,” I say.

“Why are you even here?” Zara cuts in. “Don’t you have a baby you need to be tending to.”

“I’m here talking to Laila,” he says.

“We don’t have shit to talk about,” I reply.

Devin takes a sip of his drink. “You’re fucking a new nigga and think you’re all that now huh? Only washed up singers do it for you now.”

“Get the fuck out my face Devin.”

Devin holds up his hands in mock surrender. “I was just trying to be nice, no need to be so hostile.”

“If you think that’s hostile you haven’t seen anything yet. Why don’t you go on and bother someone else.”

“I was just being nice and offering to get you a drink. Didn’t realize that was such a problem.”

I feel Bryce’s presence before he even speaks. The warmth of his body near mine brings goosebumps to my arms, his cologne in my nostrils so familiar.

“Your ears must need to be checked because you clearly can’t take a hint,” Bryce says to Devin. “I think it’s time for you to get up outta here.”

Devin chuckles and takes a sip from his drink. “Good thing I didn’t ask what you thought.”

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