This Winter

Chapter 7

Leila's POV

Come on, come on, just one more minute, I thought as I looked at the clock. One more minute and I could be out of this place and with Devin.

"Hey Leila?" my manager called from her office and I fought the urge to groan.

"Yeah?"

"Are you leaving at exactly 10 o'clock or can you stay back a bit?" She asked with a fake smile letting me know she wasn't asking me. I was going to stay back whether I liked it or not.

"No, I don't have any plans."

"Great, I have a date so I need you to put away all the merchandise and lock up. Thanks, sweetie," she replied exiting her office in a short red dress before handing me the keys and patting me on my back before leaving the store. I rolled my eyes before grabbing the shoes and bringing them into the back and locking up the money in the safe. When I finally finished it was boarding 11pm so I slipped the store keys into my purse and headed out the door to my car.

The parking lot was dark, only a dim street light lit the area and even then it wasn't much. I headed to my car before noticing someone who looked familiar was leaning against it. It couldn't be him, I reminded myself. He doesn't even live in this city. But standing right before my eyes was the man who had broken my heart 2 years ago. 

"Emmanuel?" He turned his head in my direction and grinned brightly.

"Lei, damn girl you look good. Give me a hug," he said smiling as he held out his arms.

"I'm good over here. What are you even doing here?"

"I came to see my girl," he said frowning as he clearly didn't expect my response. 

"I stopped being your girl two years ago when you said you couldn't handle the 'distance.'"

"I couldn't before but now I can and I'm back."

"Well I'm not the person I was last year Emmanuel, you can't just show up and expect us to just jump back into a relationship," I said and he grinned before moving closer to me.

"You know to this day you're still the only person I let call me Emmanuel besides moms."

"How is she?" I can't help but ask.

"She misses you. To this day she still curses me for letting a good one get away."

"She isn't lying."

"She wants to see you, Lei, before she passes," he said quietly.

"What's wrong with moms?" I asked feeling my heart begin to hurt.

"Cancer. They don't know if she's gonna make it, she was doing well earlier but she made a turn for the worse and she has a surgery coming up."

"Oh my god."

"That's why I'm here Lei. With moms being in the hospital I knew the only girl-- the only woman I wanted by my side was you during this rough time and you know moms always wanted us to get married. She wants us to be together Lei and I do too."

"Oh hell no. Don't you dare bring moms into this and try to guilt me into getting back together with you."

"Leila-"

"No Emmanuel, that was low. Even for you."

"I'm sorry, I just miss you."

"Bye Emmanuel," I said feeling my anger getting the best of me. Pushing him to move I opened my car door and slid inside shutting the door and locking it. Putting the car into drive, I sped off heading into the direction of Harmony's place rather than my own. I couldn't deal with Devin right now. I pulled up to Harmony's new place and got out of the car before knocking on her door and waiting for her to answer.

"Who is it? Leila? What are you doing here, it's 11:30 at night," Harmony asked as she opened the door.

"Emmanaul came to see me."

"What!"

"His mom has cancer."

"Oh, my god. Leila come on in," Harmony said as she rushed me in before bringing to her couch. The place still had boxes everywhere but most things had been set up and it looked good. 

"So talk to me, what's going on?"

"She has a surgery coming up and he wants me to go with him to give her support but he wants us to go as a couple."

"After he broke your heart? Oh hell no!"

"That's what I said but she just means so much to me Harmony. Why her? She's such an amazing person," I asked feeling myself getting emotional before Harmony pulled me into her arms.

"She's going to be okay Leila," I nodded trying to believe what she was saying before the doorbell started to ring erratically.

"Looks like I'm just popular today, huh?" Harmony joked before heading to the door and swinging it open.

"Is Leila here? She was supposed to be home two hours ago and her boss said she left Leila to close the store. Fuck what if something happened to her," Devin rambled, too worried to even notice I had been sitting on the couch the entire time.

"Woah lover boy calm down, she's sitting right there," he turned his head into my direction before rushing and pulling me into his embrace.

"You alright baby girl?"

"Yeah I'm fine. Sorry for not calling, my phone died," I explained holding up my dead Iphone and he nodded before holding onto me a little tighter.

"So what did you want to talk about earlier?"

"Maybe we should discuss this another day," he said and I nodded agreeing. It had been a long day.

"Babe why did you get out of bed-- Oh hell nah! What the hell! I could've sworn we moved out what the hell is everyone doing here?" Joseph asked coming from the bedroom.

"Leila needed someone to talk to," Harmony explained kissing her fiancee.

"Don't yall know what goddamn time it is. Midnight. As in it is time for yall to get the hell outta my house."

"Baby don't be rude," Harmony said smacking his arm causing him to kiss his teeth.

"Yall couldn't just let a nigga get some. Everyone of yall is some cockblockers man," he groaned and I couldn't help but laugh. "Don't be laughing Leila, I'mma get ya ass back."

"You keep thinking that."

"It's too early for this shit, Harmony you coming to bed?" Joseph asked grabbing Harmony by her waist.

"No I think I'mma stay out here for a bit," Joseph groaned before plopping down onto the couch, bringing Harmony with him.

"Well it looks like it gon be one fucking long night and Devin whenever you and Leila stop fucking around and get together, I'mma be at your place every god damn day," Joseph muttered before we all busted into laughter. There was no one like Joseph!