Stray

by Solveig Yrsa

  ***

  “Layla, look, I am not a warm person,” Matthew sighed while rubbing his face. “My son, he is obviously going through something, and we Williams’ men have a tendency to not deal with ‘things’ in the healthiest of ways. I don’t want that for Spencer, he is a good man, but I think he is lost and needs some time to figure himself out. I also believe that you need to figure yourself out too. You have, from what I’ve been told, had a very hard life up until now and have not been given any opportunities to better yourself, that is until you got here. And since then, my wife says you’ve excelled in your schoolings and take on responsibilities without even asking. I told you the last time we communicated, I am in need of someone to help run a charity for my company. I need one in both my US branch that is located there in California as well as one here in London. As you know, Samantha will be heading over here to take the lead on this project, I want you to come with her and be partners. The project should be up and running within a year, then we can relocate you back to California with Samantha where you can handle the project there.”

  Layla stared at the man through the screen. Her mind was blank. “Um… s…sir, thank you for the offer but I—”

  Matthew cut her off. “This wasn’t an offer. This is the plan that would best suit this family. Now, you have our name, are you a part of this family or not?”

  Layla looked over at Catherine and Samantha before turning back to the screen. “I don’t know if I could do this alone, and I feel like I should discuss this with Spencer.”

  “You will not be here alone, Samantha will be coming with you. As for my son, I cannot tell you what to do there. But I will tell you, I expect the two of you here, in London, come Sunday.” With that said, the screen went black.

  ***

  Layla rubbed her temples and groaned as she heard the knock at the door. She walked over and was greeted by the young floral delivery girl. “Hey Amber.” Layla smiled as she took the ridiculously large bouquet of red roses from the girl. Amber was in her late teens and had come to know Layla very well, having delivered a floral arrangement to her four times a day for the last three days.

  “Hey Layla, did you make up with Spencer?”

  Layla raised a brow. “I haven’t talked to him yet, why do you ask?”

  The girl shrugged. “Usually I’ve received the orders for the day by now and I haven’t gotten a call yet. I didn’t know if maybe you two had talked.”

  “No, the two of us haven’t.” Layla shut the door and set the vase on the counter.

  “I guess Catherine told him the news,” she whispered to herself as she stared at the velvet-like petals of the roses.

  Her heart began to ache. Leaving Spencer was the last thing she wanted to do. This is what is best for him. He can get better, this will relieve his stress and then we can move forward. Layla sighed, she didn’t believe that for a second. She knew that if she got on the plane, she and Spencer would be over. I just want him to be happy, and I feel like all he has done since I’ve been in his life is become more stressed and angry. I love him so much and I don’t want to let him go, but maybe, if I really love him, that is what I have to do.

  Tears flowed down her cheeks. She had no idea how she still had anything left to cry. She could forgive him, he was drunk, he didn’t hurt her, she knew that she could move past that moment. But what scared her, is what would happen the next time if he didn’t get help. Layla remembered when she was homeless, even when he first took her to the hospital, he seemed different back then, happier. Maybe he was just better at hiding it. Maybe I didn’t notice it.

  She ran her hands over her cheeks to wipe away the tears. She knew she was going to have to talk to him, she owed him that, but she just didn’t know when or how to do so.

  ***

  Samantha sighed as she tossed the last bag of luggage to the front door. She rolled her eyes as she looked over at Spencer who stood in the grand foyer, staring at her with his strong arms crossed.

  “Be pissed all you want, Spence, but at least you will have someone there to watch over her,” she said while tucking a fallen lock of hair behind her ear.

  “Yeah, that’s awesome, you can be there telling her what a bastard I am and how she should forget all about me, all while you get closer to her.”

  Samantha glared at him. “I told you to knock that shit off. I will never go after Layla because I love her too much as a person to do that to her. She needs a friend, someone to trust. And she already is in love with you. I’m not touching her, so fucking stop talking about it, you prick.”

  Spencer sighed, “I just want to talk to her, and no one will let me.”

  “Spencer, if Layla wanted to talk to you, we wouldn’t stop her. She is choosing this, no one is forcing her. Look, our flight leaves at five, alright? Meet her there, try to talk to her, but I’m warning you, don’t say anything stupid. And don’t try to force her into anything.”

  Spencer smiled and hugged his cousin before running to his room to get cleaned up. Samantha shook her head as she grabbed her bags to head to the car. There was no way this would end well.

  Spencer raced into his bathroom and quickly turned on the water, he hadn’t showered or shaved or looked at himself in the mirror in far too long. He grabbed his razor and shaving cream, and quickly began to remove his wild, untamed scruff before he walked over to the shower and stepped in. While going through the motions of scrubbing the days of filth off of his body, he began to go over what he was going to say to Layla to get her to stay. “I need to just tell her how I feel,” he said to himself. “Layla, I am…no…” he sighed as he rinsed the shampoo out of his hair. “Layla, you can’t leave because I’m… fuck, that sounds stupid too.” After washing his body, he stepped out of the shower and headed to his bedroom. He reached in his closest, pulling out a pair of black dress pants and a white button-down shirt. As he got dressed, he continued to go over different lines, trying to find the right one that would get her to stay.

  He placed his Rolex on his wrist and looked at the time. “Shit, I need to go.” Spencer headed out of his room and passed by Layla’s. He walked in and looked at the empty room, Samantha had taken come in earlier and taken the few items Layla had, along with her clothes. He looked over her desk and saw her sketchpad. He opened the pad up to the last page, it was of the sketch she was supposed to submit to her class for ‘inner pain’. He couldn’t stop looking at the drawing. It was of a thin girl, sitting with her head buried and her knees brought up to her chest, she was drawn in nice clothes and heels, Spencer noted the designer purse at her side. But the girl was the background. In the foreground was a small dented soup can with a necklace hanging out of it. Spencer recognized the star necklace. He sighed as he sat the drawing down. The inner pain she drew of was not of her starving, was not of her struggling to find safety. Her inner pain was trying to fit in to his world.

  “Fuck…” he growled as he turned away and headed to his car. He knew he had to talk to her, but he didn’t know how he was going to be able to do what he had to.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Layla fidgeted nervously as she sat in the limo that was pulling up to the air strip.

  “Don’t worry, dear, once you’re in the air, you won’t even notice.” Catherine patted the girl’s lap reassuringly.

  Layla gave her a small smile and looked out the window. Yes, she was of course terrified of the plane, after all she had never flown, and apparently when you fly in a private jet, they are much smaller. Layla was definitely uncomfortable with that. Being that high in the sky in a small metal can? That just sounded horrible. Her mind flashed back to watching a movie where the main character’s plane crashed and he was stranded on an island. She remembered voicing her concern over being stranded and Spencer, in his infinite wisdom, told her “Don’t worry, most people don’t survive plane crashes so it’s highly unlikely you would have to worry about being on a deserted island.”

  She felt her stomach twist into a tighter
knot. The thought of the plane ride definitely made her feel ill, but there was actually something else she was far more afraid of, more like someone. “He’s going to be here, isn’t he?” she whispered as she looked out the window.

  Catherine sighed. “Darling, you need to talk to him at least once before you leave. He needs to hear that this is your choice, or he will refuse to move on. We’ve respected your wishes for as long as we could. But if you care about him, you need to tell him that this is what you want. Hopefully, by hearing it come from you, he will accept it and not try to fight.”

  “What if…” Layla swallowed what felt like a rock before continuing, “What if, I do this. I leave him and he…he doesn’t get help? What if he gets worse? What if he… what if he decides he hates me and never wants to see me again?” The thought was almost too much to bear. All she kept thinking was what if this was a mistake?

  “Then he’s an idiot and you’re better off without him,” Samantha muttered as she started to get out of the limo.

  Catherine hugged Layla tightly. “My dear, you need to worry about yourself, just as much as he needs to worry about himself. You two cannot possibly grow together if you cannot grow on your own.”

  Layla looked down at her gray leggings. “Catherine, I love him. Even when he… did what he did, it didn’t change that. I just want him to be happy.”

  Catherine let out a slow breath as she tried to hold back the tears. “Layla, that is what we all want. And I deeply, truly believe that if anyone will make my son happy, it will be you. I just… I feel as though, right now, he has to figure things out, and learn that he doesn’t have to take care of everyone and everything.” Layla bit her lip and nodded before Catherine continued, “I also believe that you deserve to experience life so you can decide what it is that you truly want. I love that you care so much for Spencer, but darling, you need to get out there and find your purpose just as much as him. You need to find your happiness, and while I do hope that you find it with my son, that is not something that any of us should force. So you get out of this limo and get on that plane and you go and have the most wonderful adventure, Layla.”

  “I’m going to miss you,” Layla whispered as a tear rolled down her face.

  Catherine smiled as tears spilled from her green eyes. “Darling I will miss you with my whole heart. I cannot wait until you come back home. And regardless of what happens between you and Spencer, you better come back to your home, do you hear me?”

  Layla could only nod, for she feared if she were to speak, she would completely break down. She was terrified to leave Catherine. She looked at the frail woman. Layla had watched her get thinner and weaker all year. Her skin was become gray and almost transparent. She looked at her long, dark hair that was perfectly curled and cascading down her very slim shoulders, Layla hadn’t realized until Catherine had fallen and hit her head that it was a wig.

  “You’ll be here when I get back, right?”

  Catherine stared at the girl and gave her a warm smile. “It will take far more than this illness to keep me from seeing you again. I won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. I’m far too stubborn, love.”

  Layla gave her a small laugh and reached out and hugged her. “I love you, Catherine, thank you so much, you saved me. I’ll never be able to repay you for everything you’ve done.”

  Catherine broke the hug and wiped the tears off the girl’s face. “Yes you can, you get in that plane and you show everyone over there that you, my dear, are someone great. Don’t let your past hold you back. You deserve to be there, and you better show them that.” Layla nodded and hugged her one more time.

  Catherine looked out the window to see Spencer’s Rover race up to the plane and stop. “Looks like it’s time, darling.” Layla looked out the window and felt a constriction around her chest. She took a shaky breath and got out of the limo.

  Spencer fought far too long with taking his seatbelt off as he got out of the car. He ran over to Layla who was making her way from the limo to the steps leading up the plane.

  “Layla, please!”

  She turned to look at him and her heart nearly exploded. He looked so breath-taking in his fitted dress pants, white shirt, and button up vest. His sleeves were rolled up his thick, strong forearms, she noticed his watch hitting the light of the sun. She looked up his strong chest to his clean-shaven face.

  Spencer removed his sunglasses and looked into her blue eyes with his piercing green ones. Layla watched as his jaw continuously clenched and unclenched. What was she supposed to do? Was she supposed to speak first? She bit her lip nervously as she stared at him, unable to speak.

  Spencer ran up to the petite girl, when she turned to look at him, he felt broken. Her bright blue eyes were bloodshot, her face was puffy and splotchy from crying, and her slender nose looked bright red. He looked her up and down. She wore gray leggings, a pair of sneakers, and a black hoodie that nearly engulfed her. He raised a brow That’s…that’s my hoodie.

  She still cared about him, he could still change her mind. He could fix this and they could get in his car, and they would be together.

  “Layla, I’m so sorry.” How many times had he said that to her this year? How many times has his heart hurt because he hurt her?

  I tormented her for a year, and then even after I got her help at the hospital, I blew up at her and she ran away. I allowed Rachel to belittle her, I held her like a prisoner, even now, I’m trying to figure out a way to smooth-talk her into my car. He ran his hands through his hair, before looking at her, he flashed back to the drunk night, the fear he remembered seeing on her face, it was glowing in his mind.

  “I forgive you, Spencer.”

  He was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard her voice. It felt like ages since he had heard it. It upset him that her voice that was usually so soft and sweet sounded so raspy, like it did when she was still on the street.

  ‘I HATE YOU! I NEEDED THAT SO I CAN EAT!’

  Spencer shook his head at the memory. I hate you was the first thing she had ever said to him. Now here he was, trying to figure out how to keep her here with him.

  She forgave him? Why? How? How could she forgive him when he couldn’t forgive himself?

  “I don’t deserve your forgiveness, Layla, I don’t deserve you.” He stared at the girl in front of him and suddenly, he went blank, everything he had planned on saying, everything he planned to do to get her to stay, it suddenly vanished. She didn’t deserve that, she deserved to make her own choice, without him trying to sway her.

  “Layla, is this what you want?” he asked softly, his body was shaking and his heartbeat was racing. He was terrified to hear the answer.

  Layla looked at him, he looked so lost and afraid. All she wanted to do was run into his arms, to hug him and tell him she wanted to go home. How was she supposed to do that? She promised to never leave him, and that was exactly what she was doing. She looked up at the sky and took a shaky breath. She couldn’t do this.

  “Lay?” Spencer’s voice caused her to look back at him. He needed this, she needed this, there was no other option.

  She choked back a sob. “No,” she whimpered. “I don’t want this. I don’t want any of this. I want to get in your car and go home with you.” Spencer looked at her with wide eyes, but his hope was crushed when she continued to speak. “This isn’t what I want, Spencer, but it is what we both need.”

  Spencer squeezed his eyes shut, this was really going to happen. She was really going to get on that plane and leave him here alone. He felt so defeated, he saw an equally defeated look on her face. He sighed as he stepped closer to her. “Is there, anything I can do, anything I can say? Because whatever it is, I will do it, anything you want, it’s yours.”

  Layla gave him a smile that broke his heart. “No Spencer, just… find your happiness, please. I’ll work on finding mine and hopefully, when I come back that’ll be enough.”

  When I come back that’ll be enough?

  Be enough for
what? No, she wasn’t, she couldn’t be. He felt the tears welling up, he wasn’t going to be able to hold them back much longer.

  “Layla, are you breaking up with me?” his voice completely cracked on him. He didn’t care, it was bad enough that they were fighting, that they were about to be apart, but the thought that she would actually break up with him. It was something that he truly didn’t think would actually happen.

  Layla bit her lip to try to stop the tears but they poured out, her small body shook. “I don’t want to,” she whispered between sobs. “But I think it’s best.”

  Spencer shook his head back and forth. No, absolutely not. If she left him, really truly left him, then what was the point? “Layla, you can’t… I can’t. Sweetheart, please.”

  Layla sobbed, she couldn’t handle this anymore, she had to end it and get on the plane. “I’m sorry,” she whispered before she walked up to him. She reached her hand in the pocket of the hoodie, then grabbed his hand and placed something in it. “Goodbye, Spencer,” she sobbed as she turned to walk up the steps to the plane.

  No.

  Spencer didn’t want to open his hand. He could feel what it was and he couldn’t handle it. He watched her walk up the stairs and into the plane. He waited for her to turn around, to run back down the steps, to run into his arms, kiss him and tell him she loved him. But it didn’t happen. They pulled the steps up and closed the door.