Loves Deception

Chapter 16

You're just full of secrets and surprises tonight huh!" Xavier yelled as he stormed into the condo with Layla following behind. "Me? What about you! How come you never mentioned New York and this big opportunity?" She threw back at him. He sucked his teeth and waved her off. "It was during my trip and yes, I turned it down because I got a better offer here with our own firm. You act as if I snuck off and went behind your back!" She lowered her eyes. Shit. She was guilty of that.

"Well...Well you still could have told me!" she said grasping at something, anything that would take the attention off her while she thought of how to plead her case. "Oh please. Your not even upset so just cut the bullshit now Layla!" He roared. "Fine! What is it that you want to know?" She yelled. Oh so now she was mad. Tough shit. That made two of them. "What in the hell is in Chicago and when were you planning on telling me? After you fucking moved!" He demanded. "No!... Ok someone needed a cool head. She lowered her voice. “I just applied for a job there. I wasn't getting any leads here so I went with my second choice just in case. They called me a few weeks ago and… I flew up for an interview.” She whispered. "You what?" Xavier heard her even though she had practically whispered it. She sighed deeply. "Ok... A couple of weeks ago I flew up to Chicago when I told you I went to visit my family." She waited for him to go off. Silence. "The interview went good or so I thought but I haven't received a response back so it's nothing. I'm back to square one." She threw her purse on the table and flopped down. "Do you want to go Chicago?" he whispered.  "Honesty… I don't know.” She looked at him sadly and could see that her answer wasn’t the right one. "Before you came into my life that was the plan.” “And now?” “Now it’s not so simple... If I go, I’ll be choosing between you and my career and if I stay I'm homeless, and jobless. I haven't recieved one job offer here Xavier. I have one month left in my apartment. I have savings but not enough to last a couple of months and I refuse to move back home. Most of my family is doing ok, but I can’t depend on them to support me. I've been stressed out because I just don't know what's coming next. I don’t have that bubble of security anymore and I realize that I’m out here in this world and its either sink or swim... I thought I was ready but nothing’s going right for me." She broke down and cried. "Baby” He groaned and walked over and pulled her in his arms. "Baby please stop crying." He hugged her to his chest. "I can't.” She blubbered. "I just feel so sad and angry and happy. All these damn feelings and I don't know what's going on." She cried harder. He pressed her closer. "Oh god baby, you’re killing me. Please stop. Its ok. Everything is going to be fine. I told you I got you. Whatever you need baby I-" That's the problem Xavier!" She pushed out of his arms.  "You are always here for me fixing everything, buying me everything! I need to be able to do this on my own. All I heard tonight was how I hit the jackpot and I better hurry up and marry you. I don't want to be kept! I see you working hard every day towards your dreams and I am proud of you. But I don’t want to lose my dreams because I’m so in love with you that suddenly my life isn’t as important. I can feel it happening. I love you so damn much that I’m scared I’ll lose myself in you. Do you understand me? I feel like my life has come to a complete standstill. Everyone is moving forward except me! Hell even Xion found a job.” She knew she shouldn’t lash out but she was angry dammit! "I have worked so hard, struggled so much and I just want what’s due to me."

Xavier swiped a hand over his fade.“Is that what this is all about? That I’m going to make you choose between our relationship and your career? That you are going to end up being just some girlfriend or housewife with a degree that doesn’t mean anything?” he scoffed. “Layla I know our relationship took off pretty quickly after everything that happened and I know we barely talked about our plans after college but you have to know that I have absolutely no desire to domesticate you. At least not yet. Baby I’d never make you choose because I know that you love me just as deeply as I love you. And it wouldn’t be fair because I came into your life unexpectedly and I don’t just expect you to change your goals to fit mine. I told you we are in this together. Whatever you want, or need I got you. You’re my woman and if I want to take care of you then I will, not giving a damn what anyone thinks! She shook her head. “Layla, if I didn't want you here at my place then I would have found some excuse to avoid having you here all the time. I could have just as easily hung out at your apartment like before. I want you here with me because I love you.