Page 75 of Blind Date with a #FORMERPLAYER
Shaking my head, I step back, struggling to breathe and to process. “I can’t do this right now. I’m sorry Layla, but I can’t believe you would keep this from me. You made the decision to keep this from me. I’ve always said you’re a smart woman, so I know you understand the concept of omission is the same as lying.You lied to me.I need time to think.”
“Levi, I’m sorry,” she cries. Her apology feels hollow, no matter how desperate she sounds––like another betrayal.
Grabbing my shirt off the floor, I yank it on and step into my shoes, striding for the front door without a backwards glance.
Chapter 38
Layla
Icurl up on the couch and stare blankly at the Christmas tree sitting in the corner of my living room with tears in my eyes. The holiday came and went without anything more than a simple text from Levi, wishing me a Merry Christmas, but it was anything but merry. I cried myself to sleep, my heart aching and filled with regret.
Gabe walks in the front door and shakes his head when he spots me. Stomping towards me, he flops onto the couch by my feet with a heavy sigh. “You fucked up, Layla. Apologize.”
“I know I did and I already did. Many times.”
“Not to his face since the day he walked out. AnI’m sorrytext to someone who betrayed you is like a punch in the face.”
My gaze narrows on him. “Not helping,” I grumble.
“Women always want a genuine apology face to face. Men want that too and Levi deserves it. He asked for time and he’s had it. Stop sulking, clean your ass up and go beg for his forgiveness.”
Tears blur my vision and I ask, my voice barely a whisper, “What if he doesn’t forgive me?”
“You can’t live in fear Layla, you’re stronger than that. And I think he meant it when he said he needed time. You forgave him for being a dick, now it’s his turn to do the same for you. But if you don’t ever take a chance, you’ll never know if you missed out on what your life should’ve been.”
Forcing myself to move, I mumble my appreciation as I head for the shower, “Thank you, Gabe.”
An hour later I’m standing in front of Levi’s place dressed in a white skirt and a basic red polo with an apple pie in my trembling hands, scared out of my mind. Taking a deep breath, I raise my hand and knock. Barely a moment later, Levi yanks the door open and freezes.
My breath hitches as I stare at him dressed in black net shorts and a white Lions t-shirt, unshaven and his mouth open in surprise. “Layla.”
“Hi, Levi. I’m sorry to bother you, but I was really hoping we could talk. May I come in?”
“Um, yeah,” he mumbles and scrambles back. “Do you want anything to drink?”
“Maybe water? And I brought you an apple pie.”
He huffs and takes it from me. “Thanks, and thanks for the ornament too.”
My heart clenches hating the distance between us. He disappears into the kitchen with the pie and returns with a glass of water and handing it to me without a word.
Walking across the room, he sits down in the recliner, where there’s no room for me. My heart drops further, losing hope, but now that I’m here, I’m not going to leave without speaking up.
“I’m sorry, Levi. I know those are only words, but I am so sorry. I’m hoping that you’ll give me a chance to prove to you just how sorry I am.”
He sighs and runs his hand through his hair. “Look, Layla. I get that you’re sorry, and that you regret it, but what I’m struggling with the most is the fact that you didn’t trust me enough to evenhave a conversation with me. Now that you feel bad, you suddenly trust me? I don’t buy it.”
I flinch, understanding washing over me. Sitting down on the couch, I take a sip of water and begin talking. “You’re right. It doesn’t make sense, but what’s crazy is that I already did trust you.” He scoffs, but I keep talking. “I couldn’t come up with a reasonable solution and I was scared of losing you, so I said nothing at all. I tried to tell you so many times, Levi, but I chickened out every time.”
“Layla…”
Needing to explain, I continue, “My experience with a long distance relationship, even temporarily, has been my dad cheating repeatedly on my mom while my mom raised us and everyone worshiped him.”
“You know I’m sorry that happened to you, but I’m not him.”
“No, you’re not, but you were a player in the past. I know it’s not fair, but it hurts thinking about all the women you’ve been with or could be with and when I hear other women talking about you.” I flinch at the thought.
“It doesn’t matter if I’m not interested. Since I met you, you are all I see.”
