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

hall.

 
    ****

 
    Layla followed Cross into the dark
courtyard.
    “I don’t think we should be out here
without them knowing.”
    “It’s cool.” He convinced her as they walked
down the steps. “I come out here all the time at night. They don’t care. We’re
not the craziest of the crazy.”
    When he made another silly face, she
nudged him and said, “Stop. We can’t throw stones.”
    “Yeah, but there’s a difference between us
and the people on the fourth floor, Layla. That’s why they’re shackled to their
beds and locked in.”
    “Be quiet.” She nudged him again,
grinning. “They don’t lock folks down in here.”
    They walked underneath the security lights,
which lit up selected spots of the courtyard.
    “You’re talking about one of those
psychiatric hospitals like they show on movies,” Layla said. “I’ve never been
in one of those, thank God. Luckily I never got that bad.”
    “I’ve been in one of those.”
    She watched him as he walked. “Did I
offend you?”
    “No.” He poked her arm. “A woman as
beautiful as you could never offend me.”
    She grew warm like she always did when he
complimented her. “The party was fun. I’m glad I went.”
    “I’m glad you went too.” He rubbed up
against her. “You smell good.”
    She tingled, saying, “Thanks.”
    “I wanted to tell you that when we were
dancing but didn’t know if it was appropriate.”
    They walked to what seemed to be Cross’
favorite tree—the spot where he’d spread out the picnic for her.
    She stood beside the tree. “Why do you
feel it’s appropriate to say now?”
      “I
guess I wanted to say it so bad that I didn’t care.” He sat on the grass and
lay down, with his hands behind his head. “Come on.”
    “Come on what? I’m not lying on that nasty
ground.” She touched her skirt. “I’d mess up my clothes. Plus, it’s
disgusting.”
    “Who cares if you mess up your clothes?” He
leaned up on his elbow. “I didn’t realize you had an appointment to meet the
Obamas.”
    Layla smirked. “Funny.”
    He grabbed her and pulled her to the
ground. She stumbled as he pulled.
    She continued to fight, “Cross.”
    “Lie down and stop whining.”
    He lay back down as she straightened out
beside him.
    Layla was in awe as she looked up at the
sky. “Look at all those stars.”
    “ Mmm hmm.” Cross
pointed to them. “That’s why I like to come out here at night. I love looking
at the stars. I told you I was an outside person.”
    The stars collided together, presenting a
chaotic collage of bright dots.
    “It’s so beautiful,” Layla said.
    “So are you.”
    She wiggled against the grass. “Cross,
stop.”
    “Stop what?”
    “Stop saying I’m beautiful.”
    “Why?” He propped up his leg. “You are .”
    She turned over on her side, facing him. “How
come you don’t ever talk about yourself?”
    He kept his gaze on the stars. “What do
you mean?”
    “Every time we’re together, we talk about
me.” She put her hand under her head. “How come you don’t talk about your life?”
    “I don’t know.” He turned over on his side
and faced her. “You got the prettiest dark brown eyes.”
    “Don’t change the subject.” She pinched
his arm. “Tell me something about you. Tell me about your childhood.”
    “I spent most of my childhood in foster
homes.”
    “You didn’t have parents?”
    “I was with my mom until I was eight. She
was an alcoholic. She could barely take care of herself, so she certainly
didn’t know what to do with a bipolar kid. She was afraid of me when I started
having the mood swings.”
    “What about your father?”
    “Your guess is as good as mine. I never
met the man, and my mom didn’t even know his name.”
    “What?”
    He hunched one shoulder. “He was just some
guy she screwed one night when she was drunk, like she always was.”
    “Are you serious? Your mother didn’t know
your father’s name ?”
    “Believe me, I wouldn’t joke