Golden Trail (The 'Burg #3)(208)

Fuck, he was getting pissed.

He controlled it and replied, “She picked it, I paid for it, I sleep in it, it’s my bed, Roc.”

“Did she sleep in it?” Rocky shot back.

“Don’t do that shit,” Layne returned.

“She slept in it,” Rocky muttered, dropping her head and moving into the kitchen.

He followed her but kept his distance, stopping on the other side of the bar.

“Like I said awhile ago, sweetcheeks, I wasn’t in suspended animation when we were apart.”

She was at the fridge and she’d pulled out a fancy-ass beer. She opened a drawer, popped the cap, tossed it and the opener on the counter and turned to face him, resting her waist on the edge of the counter, lifting the beer and taking a pull.

She dropped her hand, her eyes hit his and she said, “You know, I’ve been thinking.”

What he knew was that was not good.

“Rocky, don’t do this,” he warned.

“And what I’ve been thinking is that, awhile ago, you were right. I played you.”

Layne was silent.

Rocky was not.

“You were right as well that I didn’t know it but, thinking about it, I did. I played you.”

“Where you goin’ with this?” Layne asked even though he really did not want to know.

“So, I asked you the other night, if I made that pass, would you have accepted it and you said you didn’t know. Which means no.”

“You don’t know what it means. I don’t even f**kin’ know what it means,” Layne returned.

“It means no.”

“Rocky, god damn it.”

“Because she was in your life.”

Layne shook his head, barely controlling his temper and feeling his patience ebb. “I explained that too,” he reminded her.

“How long was she in your life?”

“Point is, she isn’t now.”

“She thought she was, surprising you like she did.”

“Honestly, you wanna process this?”

“I’m putting two and two together, Layne,” she announced.

“And, sweetcheeks, you’re comin’ up with five.”

“I’m not.”

“Baby, you are.”

“You wouldn’t have done it,” she stated in a way that he knew whatever the f**k she was referring to was important.

“Done what?”

“Made the play.”

“Made what play?”

“For me.”

Fuck!

“Roc –”

“You had your Melodys, your Cassies, you didn’t need me and you wouldn’t have made that play. Thinking about it, thinking about the way you spoke to me that first morning I came to your house, you had no intention of finding us again.”

Layne clenched his teeth and when he won the battle for control, he reminded her, “Rocky, you were married and you still are.”

Her eyes narrowed and she returned, “You knew it was over when we were sitting on Merry’s couch and you knew it had been over a long time. You knew it was bad. And you still walked away from me.”

“Now I’m standin’ right here so what the f**k does it matter?”

“It had to be me that made the play.”

That was when he lost it.

“Yeah, Rocky, it had to be you because, sweetcheeks, you left me. I wasn’t gonna swing myself out there again, not unless I knew I’d find a different ending this time.”

“There it is,” she announced. “You’re throwing it in my face again.

“Jesus Christ,” he muttered and his eyes locked on hers. “You’re workin’ for it. You want this. I’m givin’ it to you but, warning, Rocky, you told me last Friday not to let you do this shit and I’m not gonna let you do this shit. There is nothin’ here for you to be pissed about. You’re just pissed to be pissed because you’re scared as shit.”

“I’m not scared,” she stated.

“Baby, you’ve spent two decades controlling everything in your life so you wouldn’t feel what you feel right now with me. And I’m not stupid, I know why.”

“Yeah? You do? Enlighten me, oh wise Layne, why?” she asked with deep sarcasm and Layne’s body got tight.

“Raquel, fair warning, I’m already pissed, don’t make me mad.”

“You’re pissed?” she asked, leaning forward, her words a hiss. “You’re pissed? You f**ked me in her bed. You f**ked me in your closet wearing her clothes. And you’re pissed?”

“I do not give a shit about furniture and clothes. You want, build a bonfire in my yard, toss it all on and replace it. I do not care. It means nothing to me.”

“Melody meant something to you.”

“Yeah, she did, and clue the f**k in, Roc, it wasn’t enough or I wouldn’t be here right now.”

“You should have told me,” she snapped.

“Yeah? When? When I had you against the wall moaning for me, do I whisper in your ear, ‘By the way, baby, Melody bought me this suit.’ Or, when you’re locked in your head because of Ma’s games and I had to talk you out of that shit, ‘And since we’re discussing Melody, you should know, she picked out this bed.’ Jesus, Roc, seriously?”