An Unexpected Love (Women's Fiction/BWWM Romance) by Stacy-Deanne Page B

Corrine.”
    “I don’t know if I can.”
    “Brotha…” Patrick pulled the keyboard
closer to him. “You don’t have a damn choice.”

 
    ****

 
    Layla laughed. “Stop, Cross!”
    He chased her to her room with a handful
of confetti.
    “Don’t throw that on me!” She opened her
door. “That stuff will be all in my hair.”
    He moved his hand as if he were going to
throw it on her. “I think it’ll be pretty.”
      “Don’t
you dare.” She grinned and backed inside of her room. “Where did you get that
from, anyway?”
    “The staff is throwing one of the nurses a
birthday party tomorrow night.” He poured the confetti from one hand to the
other. “They’ve been decorating the gym all day.”
    Layla sat on the bed and took off her sneakers.
“I hadn’t heard.”
      “Yep,
it’s gonna be fun.” He swiped his hands together, placing the confetti into the
trash. “Some of us can go.” He winked. “The less violent of the insane ones,
that is.”
    “I’m sure it’ll be fun.”
    She turned on the lamp next to her bed and
grabbed her Kindle.
    “You gotta go, Layla.” He sat beside her. “I’m
going.”
    “I’m not the partying type.”
    “I don’t believe that.”
    He made a silly face and she laughed.
    “Stop it. I feel like I’m having too much
fun…like I’m not doing what I need to be doing.”
    “ Living is what you need to be doing.” He scooted closer to her. “You know how you said
your husband held you back? You’re doing that to yourself now. Just because
you’re here…it doesn’t mean you gotta act like you hate it.”
    “I don’t hate it. I just feel guilty.”
    “It’s sad that someone has made you feel
like you don’t deserve to have fun.” He moved her hair out of her face. “I like
spending time with you. You make me laugh.”
    “Ha.” She poked his arm. “You’re the one.
I don’t think I’ve laughed this much in years…especially not here. Thank you.”
She kissed his cheek, desperate to linger in the moment but knowing that she
should stop. “You’ve made me feel so much better. When I first came here, I
thought it would be the same old shit: I’d go through therapy, be put on
different meds, talk to the doctor, and stay in my room like a zombie.” She
touched her hair. “You’ve made me want to
be here. That’s amazing.”
    “I can’t take the credit.” He rubbed her
hand. “You’re coming into your own. This is the real Layla coming back.”
    “It’s about time. I’ve missed her very
much.”
    “I can see why.” He stroked her cheek.
“She’s amazing, bright, and loveable. I haven’t known her long myself, but I’d
miss her too.”
    He went in for a kiss and she turned away.
    He reluctantly moved back.
    “It’s not you,” she whispered. “Don’t
think that.”
    His voice cracked. “Is it too fast?”
    “This isn’t the right time for me to even
think about a man.” She placed her hands between her thighs. “I need to get myself together. For twenty years I had
a man controlling me, and I finally got my life back.”
    “I’d never control you.”
    “I know.” She touched his cheek. “But I
can’t lose sight of what’s important. I need to focus on my life. I gotta make
things right with Aliyah before I lose her forever. Please try to understand.”
    “I understand.” He kissed her hand.
“Doesn’t mean I’m not disappointed, but I understand.”
    “You’re so sweet. You seem to be so into
me. Patrick was never like that. After a while, it was like he saw my illness
and nothing else.”
    “He’s a fool. If you were my wife, I’d
cherish you every day. Women like you don’t just fall off trees. You’re
special, Layla. And don’t ever let another man make you feel like you don’t
deserve the best…because you do.”
    She smiled and exhaled. “I wanna read for
the rest of the evening.”
    “Sure.” He stood, still staring at her.
“But the invitation still stands. You might not want to kiss