Jake looks to the ceiling, his head shaking slowly. “When did I become the voice of reason for this team?”
“I don’t know, but now you have to help me. I’m falling in love with her, man. I can’t lose her,” I admit.
“Damn. Definitely didn’t expect that to come out of you,” Jake comments. His eyes appraise me as he asks, “Have you ever been in love?”
“No, not really. I think maybe at the time, I’d have thought I was in love. But what I feel for Layla is so different. I have to figure out a way to tell her the truth while also ensuring she stays with me.”
“And keeping both of your jobs.”
Shit. Clearing my throat, I chuckle awkwardly. “That too.”
“So you’ve got an online relationship with her, too?” Jake asks, and I nod. “Do you talk often?”
“Often enough. Why?”
“You’ve got a couple of options. You can tell her you want to meet in person, just as friends, to clear the air about your history. Or you can tell her you only want to be friends from now on because you’ve met someone. Or you can tell her you’re in love with someone, but you’d like to meet to say goodbye. Oh!” he yells, snapping his fingers, and a couple of guys around us turn around to stare. “Do you have anything of hers from that night?”
Shame burns my ears as I nod. “I may have absconded with her thong.”
“Tell her you’re in love with someone else, and to help you move forward with the love of your life, you need to clear out the things from your past. So you’d like to meet to hand over something you have of hers from your night together.”
Oh, that could work.
Thankful for wi-fi on the plane, I pull out my phone. I smile seeing her name, Layla Grace, as the contact in the app.
Me: Hey, Grace. Do you have a moment?
Layla Grace: Hi, Everett. I was actually just thinking about you. I was hoping we could talk.
Me: Oh, good. Great minds think alike.
Layla Grace: I guess that’s good. Do you want to go first?
I’m tempted to allow her to go first, hoping she’ll tell “Everett” that she can’t speak to him any longer, but I know this is all on me. In case things go badly when Layla finds out the truth, I need to tell her everything now.
Me: I haven’t been completely honest with you.
Layla Grace: Oh?
Me: Our night together rocked me. The connection I felt with you, and the chemistry, was mind-blowing. I couldn’t get you off my mind for weeks.
Layla Grace: It was the same for me.
Me: I felt like you understood my snark, and you matched my energy in the bedroom. You were a breath of fresh air.
Layla Grace: … There’s a “but” in here somewhere.
Me: You’re correct.
Me: Around the same time, I met someone.
Me: Like my experience with you, I felt completely shell-shocked. I couldn’t stop thinking about her. We work together, and seeing her all the time only heightened the feelings I had quickly grown for her.
Me: As soon as I realized I was falling for her, I should have ended our online relationship, Grace. It wasn’t fair to either of you, and I hate feeling like I’ve lied.
Layla Grace: While I appreciate your honesty, you don’t owe me an explanation. Our relationshipexists only online. I’m fairly certain Everett isn’t even your name. If you feel like you’ve lied, that’s something you need to handle with the other woman.
Me: I will. I have every intention of explaining everything the moment I see her next.
