Layla by E. L. Todd Page A

nothing for a long time.
    “I need to get a new apartment.”
    “Yes.”
    “And I need to do it now.”
    “It can wait until tomorrow.”
    “No. It has to be now. When I know for certain that he isn’t around.” I pulled away and then walked back into the apartment, grabbing my computer. “Start packing anything and everything. I’ll find a place.”
    “Okay,” he said.
    I grabbed my phone and called my two friends, telling them what happened and I desperately needed their help. Of course, they were there in a heartbeat.
    When Janet saw me, she hugged me and started crying. “You’re okay?”
    “I’m fine,” I said as I rubbed her back.
    “Thank god,” she whispered. She pulled away then hugged Kyle tightly. “Thank you so much for being here.”
    He patted her on the back. “Of course.”
    Cassie came next, looking livid and insanely pissed. “I’m this close to getting a gun and shooting his fucking brains out.”
    “I like her,” Kyle blurted.
    “Are you okay?” Cassie asked.
    “I’m fine,” I said. “We need to get moving. I want to be out of the apartment before tomorrow. This is the only way I know he won’t find me.”
    “Let’s get moving,” Cassie said immediately.
    Kyle picked up his phone and talked to someone for a few minutes.
    We worked for an hour before there was a knock on the door. I flinched at the sound.
    Kyle opened it and two guys walked in.
    “T his is my friend Jay and my brother Scott. They’ll be helping us,” he said.
    I stared at them then extended my hand. “I’m Layla.”
    “It’s nice to meet you,” Scott said. “I’m sorry this happened to you.”
    “Thanks…”
    Jay shook my hand and nodded. He was even taller than Kyle. His light brown hair and brown eyes contrasted against Kyle’s. Scott definitely looked related to Kyle. They had the same color eyes and the same build.
    We worked together and packed everything. The guys moved everything down to a U-Haul Kyle rented. I found a place a fe w blocks away, closer to work and to Kyle’s. While the girls and I got everything together, the men moved the major appliances. Everyone was quiet. Perhaps it was because of the trauma I just experienced or because they were tired. I wasn’t sure. But it took us all night to move everything. At five AM everything was shoved into my new, better apartment.
    After my girls hugged me, they left to go to work. Jay and Scott waved when they left. Only Kyle remained behind.
    “Did we get everything?” he asked, blinking the fatigue from his eyes.
    “Yeah.”
    He sat on my couch in the middle of the room and leaned back.
    “Thank you for helping me. And for having your friends help.”
    Kyle patted the seat next to him, beckoning me to him.
    I sat down and he pulled me to his chest, holding me.
    “You don’t need to thank me,” he whispered. He kissed my forehead then ran his fingers through my hair. The touch made my spine shiver. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. First we were holding hands and now he was kissing me. It was unexpected.
    “I should get ready for work,” he said.
    “If I weren’t new, I’d call in sick.”
    He laughed. “I’ve been there for a long time and I still can’t call in sick.” He sat up and looked at me. “Will you be okay alone?”
    I nodded. “I feel much better now that I’m in a new apartment.”
    “How did he figure out where you lived?”
    “I don’t know. I worked at the bar for a long time. I suspect he started there.”
    “That makes sense,” he said. “I’m glad you have a new job. That should throw him off. New York is a big place. He’ll have a hard time finding you, especially when I’m around.” He clenched his fists together, making his knuckles turn white.
    I opened the door and let him out.
    “I’ll see you soon,” he said, kissing me on the forehead again. I felt paralyzed by his touch. He turned down the hallway and left. I shut the door and felt the confusion flood my body. I said I