anything and everything

Nolan and Laila

Laila first

Laila finished her slice of pizza and picked up her plate. "would you like me to take yours too?"

She and Jay would always sit together to watch the football games. She didn't care much for the game but she liked being able to relax with him. Plus he was happier when she brought him beers.

"Nah, I'm still eating. You should be too." Jay dismissed her with a wave. It was ads so it was okay to speak.

"Well I," Laila looked down at her plate. "I'm good, thank you."

"I ordered pizza and now you're going to waste it? That's my hard earned money you know." Jay looked at her out of the corner of his eye.

"Im trying to diet. You wanted me to loose weight, remember?" Laila reminded him, fidgeting with the plate in her hands. "I'm down 5 pounds already, I don't want to gain it back."

"You should have said that before you asked for some pizza. If only I was going to eat I wouldnt have gotten a large."

Oh no, he was getting mad now. "when you're done eating I'll put it in the fridge. I'll take it to work for lunch tomorrow."

"And throw it away when I'm not home?"

"I promise I won't!" Laila didn't know what else to do but defend herself. She was trying to make him happy but  she kept messing up.

"And now you're yelling at me."

Laila took a deep breath. "I'm sorry Jay, that was rude of me. I. . ."

Laila walked over to his couch and took a seat beside his legs. "I'm trying to make you happy, you know? I love you so much and I just, I want you to be pleased with me."

Laila felt tears pricking her eyes and hung her head. She'd made a mistake. Jay sighed and gently rested his hand on the back of her head. "I love you too Laila. I'm doing this all for you, you know that right? I'm helping you be the best girlfriend you can be."

"I know." Laila gently took his wrist and kissed his hand. "I'm trying. I really am."

"I appreciate you trying. I know you can do better and I'm going to keep pushing you until you get there. Okay?"

"Okay."

"Good, now shoo. The games back on." Jay gave her a light push away. Laila took her plate out to the kitchen and loaded it in the dishwasher. She had a few more chores to get done today so she'd go start on those next.

He'd said he loved her, she hadn't heard those words in a while. It brought a smile to her face. At least he still loved her.

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"Hey sexy, I haven't seen you here before."

Laila shyly turned to look at the man who'd taken the open seat beside her. Jay took her out to a bar and had stepped away to go to the bathroom.

"I don't like clubs very much." Laila answered.

"Let me buy you a drink, doll." The man offered.

"No thank you, I'm here with my boyfriend."

"Well I don't see him anywhere." The man laughed. "come on now, what do you like? Just one drink to make me happy."

The man set a hand on Lailas leg and she shrunk in on herself. She hated confrontation. "Rum and coke, light on the rum. I have to drive tonight."

"One rum and coke please." The man said, waving over the bartender. The bartender nodded and made the drink, adding it to the man's tab before moving away. It was a busy Friday night, he didn't have time to linger.