“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 fuck 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 fuck 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 fucked me in her bed. You fucked 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 fuck 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?”

It was then, Rocky went in for the kill.

“I’ve never had an orgasm, except with you and, obviously, self-induced. I’ve had two lovers. My husband and you. I’ve kissed two men in my life. I’m thirty-eight years old, Layne, and I’ve kissed two men in my life. One I married, the other was you.”

He had no idea where she was going with that but it didn’t mean she hadn’t scored a direct hit.

“Baby –” he whispered.

“I’ve loved one man, and that was also you.”

“Rocky –”

“You’re beautiful and I see how women look at you. I also know what I did to you. You don’t think I wonder, especially when you bring it up all the time, when you’ll remember what I did to you and when you’ll wonder if it isn’t worth the risk. You decide it isn’t, I’ll be right back there, Layne, without you, and now without Tripp and Jas. And you’ll move on, you did before, you can have anyone you want. You’ll move on. But I won’t. I never did even though I got married, and you know it. But you did. Maybe not the same way, but you did. And you didn’t make the play for me. You would have carried on and you wouldn’t have to do it alone. You think you took a grave risk taking me back, what do you think I’m feeling, knowing, any time, your head can turn to someone who’ll know she’s lucky to have you, who wouldn’t do anything to rock that boat and you’ll decide I’m not worth the worry and you’ll be gone.”

Layne stared at her, completely stunned that any of that shit was in her head.

Then he said quietly, “Baby, that’s totally fucked up.”

“It isn’t,” she declared.

“It is.”

“No, Layne, it isn’t.”

“Come here,” he ordered.

“No,” she denied.

“Sweetcheeks, come here.”

“I said no.”

“Don’t make me come there,” he warned.

She shook her head. “Go home, Layne, I need to think.”

“Nope,” he replied. “No you don’t. ‘Cause you just told me what you’ve been thinking and every last bit of it is seriously jacked.”

“I’m being honest!” she cried.

“Yeah, I get that, but that doesn’t mean what’s in your head isn’t jacked.”

“I’m telling you what I think.”

“And I’m tellin’ you it’s jacked.”

“Layne –”

Layne had had enough.

“Christ, Rocky, I’m in love with you!” he shouted, leaning forward and putting his hands on the bar. “I’ve kissed more than two women and I’ve fucked more too, but I’ve only ever loved you. You cut me up, baby, when you left me. You cut me up bad.” She winced but he kept talking. “So, what’s it say to you I’d take this risk? What’s it tell you? You nearly destroyed me, Rocky, I loved you that much. Shit, I love you that much. I existed for eighteen years. Now I’m livin’ again. And I like it. I like it so much, it’s worth the risk. You are worth the risk. Yeah, you had to play me because I needed that statement from you, but, baby, I didn’t make you work too hard and you fuckin’ know it. You did that to me and you’re back in my life. Think about that, Roc, give that a second. What’s that say about how I feel about you? Does that say I’m ever gonna let anything turn my head?”

“Layne –”

“Shut it, sweetcheeks, you walked in here full of attitude and you just spewed some seriously stupid shit. You need your head straightened out and you’re gonna keep your mouth shut while I see to it.”

Her eyes were big when she whispered, “Okay.”

Layne went on. “Melody was in my house for maybe ten minutes at the most after you left. She called it, she knew it before I knew it. She knew who you were because she snooped and found the pictures I kept of you.” Rocky’s lips parted and Layne nodded. “Yeah, baby, I never let go of you. Never. I carried you with me everywhere.”

“Layne –”

“You were so freaked out, you didn’t see it but after my preliminary shock and, somethin’ else you didn’t catch, anger at seein’ a near naked woman in the house I share with my sons, she ceased to exist. It was all about you and your reaction. Melody caught it, you didn’t. So now, cast your mind back, baby, and see it through her eyes. That’s why she left because she knew why she never got in there and she knew it was because of you.”

“Layne –”

“And she told me to be happy before she left. She told me she hoped you’d make me happy again. That’s the woman who picked the bed you sleep in. She wasn’t the one because you are but she’s a good woman and she cared about me. I didn’t have you, you don’t love me enough to want me to have at least that?”

“You can stop talking now,” Rocky whispered.

“If I can, then get your ass over here and show me your head is straight and that you’ve let go of this shit so I can fuckin’ do it,” Layne returned.

She put her beer on the counter immediately but she walked to him slowly, she wasn’t working her strut, it was hesitant. She knew she’d pissed him off and she wasn’t sure what she was going to get.

The minute she was in reach, he leaned forward, caught her wrist and yanked her into his body after which his arms wrapped tight around her, caging her to him.

Her hands at his chest, she tipped her head back. “Um…” she started.

He interrupted her. “Don’t be cute, cute’s gonna piss me off.”

“Oh, okay, I won’t be… um… cute,” she whispered uncertainly.

“Roc, you’re bein’ cute,” he warned.

“Oh, well… okay, I’ll stop.” She was still whispering then she pressed her lips together, stared at him with big eyes and her look was incredibly cute.

“Fuck me,” Layne muttered.

“You’re still mad.”

“Baby… uh, yeah.”

Her hand slid up to his neck.

“Don’t be mad, I have my head on straight.”

“You gonna treat me to this shit again?”

“I’ll try not to.”

“That the best you got?”

“Uh…” her teeth worried her lip then she went on, “yes.”

“I’ll take it.”

Rocky blinked. Then she whispered, “You will?”

“Pay attention, sweetcheeks, I’ll take anything from you.”

“Layne –”

Time again to move the fuck on.