Page 30 of The Dark Elf's Secret Baby
I open my mouth, intending to ask that. Intending to ask one of the million questions on the tip of my tongue but for some reason, the first thing that comes out is, “Is that my son?”
“Excuse me?” Layla asks, crossing her arms and glaring at me. “What in the name of the gods are you doing here and what makes you think you can just show up out of nowhere like this?”
I close my eyes briefly. Shit. I didn’t mean for that to be the first thing I ask. It just came out. I open them again and breathe in and out. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to spring all this on you. Can I come inside? We can discuss everything, I promise.”
“Anything you have to say we can talk about right here,” she says. “You can start by explaining why you’re here.”
I’m taken aback. What did I ever do to her to make her treat me this way? This isn’t fair. I’ve only come to talk to her. I don’t even know why she disappeared in the first place. I thought maybe she felt like she had to leave because of her disease.
She didn’t even bother to tell me goodbye, and now I show up and she acts like I’m the one who left? I feel pain in my entire body. All I want to do is grab her and kiss her and she’s acting like I broke her heart.
“Myjobbrought me here,” I tell her, snapping right back. “Why are you attacking me? You left without giving me any warning or explanation, Layla!”
“And you have no right to just show up here demanding answers, Kerym,” she shoots back. I loved the fiery side of her back then but right now all it does it make me want to bang my head against a wall.
“Why did you leave without telling me?” I ask instead. “Is it because of your son? Is that our son? Tell me the truth!”
“I have nothing to say to you,” Layla turns up her nose. I can’t believe that she would do this to me. I feel so betrayed.
“Layla, please, talk to me,” I beg. “I don’t understand why you’re so angry with me. Help me understand!”
“You did tell me that what was between us was purely physical,” she says, tone going icy. “I don’t know why it matters.”
I want to lash out. I’m so angry right now. It’s like she’s trying to push my buttons. “You don’t get to throw that at me. You agreed to it!” I tell her back.
“So why did you show up here?” she asks. “Did you not find a suitable replacement? Because I’m not going to just fall back into bed with you.”
“I never asked you to!” I yell. “Gods!” I run a hand through my hair, trying to figure out why this conversation is going so horribly wrong.
“Then don’t worry about me,” she shrugs. “You’re here to work. I suggest you actually go work.”
“Fine!” I cross my arms. “I will!”
I turn and stomp away, my entire body hot and fuming.
What is wrong with Layla? Why is she acting this way? Why is she trying so hard to push me away? I don’t understand. Is she trying to protect me from seeing her while she’s ill?
Her comments keep swirling around in my mind.I’m not just going to fall back into bed with you.Did you find a suitable replacement?
It was never like that for me. I’m not some ladies man who flirts with everything in a skirt, she knows that about me. I thought what we had was special.
Tears sting my eyes and I wipe them away furiously. I can’t believe she would accuse me of traveling across the sea just to coerce her back into my bed. Why does she think that?
None of our conversation went how I wanted it to go. I didn’t even get to tell her I love her. She just accused me of ulterior motives and pushed me away. I don’t even know where to go from here.
The only thing I know for certain is that her kid is my son. She wouldn’t be so defensive, so protective of him if he weren’t.
If he wasn’t mine, she would have just told me instead of avoiding the question. She wants to keep him from me and I don’t know why.
My heart aches. I need to see him again. That’s my son in there, my child. He shares a part of me, just like he shares a part of Layla.
I can’t believe she didn’t even tell me about him. I don’t know whether to be angry or feel hurt or betrayed. I know we agreed to keep things purely physical but she should have known me, she should have known that I would have done the right thing by them if I knew she was pregnant.
My heart is heavy in my chest as I head back to my quarters. I can’t believe all this is happening. Layla is sick and she’s got a kid and it’s my kid and...I don’t know what I’m going to do about it but I do know that I’m not going anywhere any time soon.
19
Kerym