Baggage Claim

The Truth

Chapter Sixteen:  The Truth

"How long have you known?"

His aqua eyes widened in shock at Layla's accusation. Layla herself was shocked that she had the courage to confront him, but she needed to know how long he knew, if he had already known when he first mistook her for Aman.

"What?" The butcher appeared torn between disappearing from her and finishing the customer he was servicing. 

"You heard me, how long have you known about Aman?"

The customer he was helping turned away; forcefully avoiding the scene they were creating at the meat counter, while the rest of the Stafford's deli staff peeking out from behind the glass window that separated the raw meat.

His expression remained stunned for a moment before he registered understanding, at which time he held up a finger signaling Layla to wait, returning his attention back to the scared client with a smile.

"Is there anything else you needed Mrs. Ingrassio?"

The woman shook her head silently and held her hand out for the wrapped package, scurrying away the moment she grasped it.

"Why did you act like you barely knew her?" Layla could feel the sickness of her sister’s written words still coursing through her as she impatiently waited for his response.

"I'm going to take a break Nick, be back in thirty." He flicked the comment behind him haphazardly as if Layla was not standing angrily in front of him, removing his gloves quickly before he motioned for her to follow him.

She watched his walk as he led her out the back doors of the supermarket; the slow drag of his heels as if it hurt him to walk upright. He stopped just short of a small bench in the alley, the surrounding area littered with cigarette butts from other employees.

Layla crossed her arms as she watched him motion her to sit on the bench. "Did you bring me out here because you’re ashamed to be seen with me too?" 

He sighed and landed heavily on the stone as he waved Layla to continue.

“I know who you are.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t know right away.”

“Aman never told me she was dating anyone.”

His head bobbed up and down haphazardly. “Right, she had mentioned that I guess.”

“She had mentioned that? You make it seem like her feelings didn’t matter to you, too full of yourself to listen to her I guess.”  

“I wouldn’t say that.”

His aloofness drove the volume of Layla’s voice to its max in resentment. "What would you say then? Cause you don’t seem to be saying much now! She loved you, did you know that? She thought you were her knight in shining armor, and then you just left her there for the hyenas to pick apart. She held herself out to the one person she thought would help her, knowing you could see past the blind ignorance of everyone else and yet you just walked away. You never deserved her."

"I know." His whispered response barely registered through Layla's onslaught.

"What?"

"I know I never deserved her, and yes I knew she loved me, I loved her too."

His brazen words released the last bit of hold Layla had on her anger. "Love does not leave someone to a malicious mob, it doesn’t turn it’s back when someone needs you! Love does not leave someone to hurt so much they kill themselves, love does not..."