Something About Him

-45-

Christopher Brown

"Man, it's wild how all the problems that pop up in our relationship always goes back to you," I shake my head as Layla and I sit in the Sonic parking lot.

I swear we stay at this place.

"Um, what's that supposed to mean?" She asks me in response.

At first I don't say anything because there's honestly not an easier way to word this.

"I don't know, man. It's just that when a story is being told about what happened or something, it traces back to you."

"Like I said. What's that supposed to mean?" Layla repeats. "Are you saying I cause problems between us?"

"What? No," I deny. "Bro, stop putting words in my mouth."

"Then make yourself clear cause that's what it sounds like to me."

I sigh after thinking for a minute and then come out with, "I don't mean that you're the problem, Layla, especially because the two of us never even had an argument. We haven't even been close to a breakup."

"Then what do you mean problems go back to me?"

"I'm just saying that when some shit happens and it's explained, it sorta traces back to you. All that shit with Carter started cause he liked you. This shit with Gigi popping up cause y'all had an argument, am I right?"

"I mean... yeah, I guess, but that doesn't mean it's all my fault. I do-"

I cut her off because I don't want for this to lead to something bigger than it is.

"Just forget I said anything."

"I said I get it, Chris," she says back. "But this time around I feel like you should be the one talking to Gianna."

"And why is that?" I raise an eyebrow at her.

"Cause she's still in her feelings over you and that's been over for months. You've been mine for months," she frowns. "But whenever you do speak to her, I'm gonna be there. Friends or not. She can be sneaky."

I laugh and nod my head because she's right.

The very first time that I had sex with Gigi, she was the one who slyly convinced me to leave out of the room. Not the other way around.

Now whatever happened is done with. We can't change it now, but either way, the two of us having sex so soon was initiated by the both of us.

I obviously ain't all bad though cause just look at me and Layla. We're good and have yet to have sex. Not all the way at least.

"You right."

"Yeah..." Layla trails off. "But about the Simeon thing..."

"What about him? Don't tell me you're still talking to him, Layla," I clench my jaw at the thought alone.

It's hard to believe that I got over it so easily the first time, but if a second time comes around, a full blown argument is bound to happen between me and Layla and she needs to know that.

"I'm not, I'm not," she says back quickly. "Now I haven't texted him, but he texted me."

I suck my teeth in response and tell her to give me her phone.

"I haven't answered the message yet," she shares while watching me unlock the phone and go to her messages. "I actually haven't even opened them."

"When'd he text you?" I ask because his name isn't at the top of the screen.