Not Good Enough

Lucas parked near the gym and made his way inside. Lyle nodded and pointed discreetly to the pipsqueak, who was lifting weights in a nearby corner.

Lucas had no time for that bullshit, so he shrugged and went to the back to grab a water.

“How’s the little lady?” Lyle asked as Lucas made his way to the treadmill.

“What are you on about, Lyle?”

“Your girl? What’s her name? Layla?”

“She’s not my girl,” Lucas growled. “I like to fuck her every now and then.”

Lyle nodded, smiling at him. “Is that all?”

“That’s all.”

“Good. You’re not ready for a commitment.”

“Who the fuck are you? My father?”

“No, I’m just saying she’s a nice girl. What the hell is she doing with the likes of you?”

Lucas started up the treadmill. He didn’t have a clue why Layla wanted to be with him in any capacity except for sex, but there’d been days that they’d spent together without being intimate.

He wasn’t good for her. He knew that, but hearing his friend say it brought him to his knees.

Now that the truth was in his face, he needed to get far away from Layla Potter, but there was no way he could do that before figuring out who hurt her and why the authorities couldn’t help her.

Maybe he could do it without being with her?

Lucas stayed a lot longer than what he’d anticipated. Every now and then, the pipsqueak would glance over at him.

They both watched Layla walk in the side entrance, but she didn’t notice them as she carried her yoga mat to the stairs that led down to the lower level of the gym, where the indoor pool and other classrooms were situated.

Paul wiped his face and hands, cleaned the elliptical, and grabbed his water bottle. Lucas knew where that son of a bitch was going, and he wasn’t about to let him get near her.

Letting Lyle know where he was going, Lyle just nodded and kept an eye on Lucas’s station.

“Going somewhere?” Lucas caught up with Paul as they both watched the yoga class fill up, spying Layla as she spoke with who appeared to be the instructor.

“It’s not a crime to look.”

“You’re mighty fucking stupid, Pipsqueak.”

“Yeah? I’m not the one destroying her.”

“What?”

“Oh, are you her knight in shining armor, beefcake? She’s worse off with you than she was with me.”

“I don’t fucking hit her or cheat, asshole.”

“Does it really matter what we do? Your fucking problems became her problems when she took you on, big boy,” Paul scoffed. “And she’s taken all of you, I bet.”

Lucas had had two people in less than three hours tell him what a nightmare he was for his little hippie. That was true though. He just needed to hear the truth…

Layla kept talking, but she glanced over and smiled when she saw Lucas, waving at him and scowling at Paul. She excused herself and headed toward them.

“Hey, guys! What are you two doing?”

She was watching out for Lucas, and he knew it. He could see how much she cared for him, and that was terrifying. Was he really harming her by letting her be his sponsor?

Rosie seemed to think they were a good match and so did he, for the most part, but here were Lyle and Paul telling him otherwise.

“Watching you.” Lucas was brutally honest as Paul chuckled.

“I just wanted to see how you were, Layla. I know things have been hectic for you lately.”

Layla furrowed her brows, “Hectic?”

“I mean, I heard that you missed a few projects in your classes…?”

Layla blushed. “I only missed two, and that was because I was ill. I’ve made those up, and it’s not your concern, Paul.”

She looked to Lucas, who was staring somberly at her. Had she been so consumed with him that she was slacking on her classes?

“How are you, Paul?”

Ever the good human being, she asked him how he was doing and what was going on in his world. She and Paul had a quick conversation before Paul bid them adieu and left, leaving Lucas looming over Layla and eyeing her closely.

“Am I a problem?”

“What? No!” Layla shook her head and waved her hand. “Why are you listening to him? You know how I feel about you…” She was saying too much.

“How do you feel about me?”

“I like you, Lucas. You’re my friend. I never thought you’d be listening to anyone like Paul. How am I supposed to help you when—”

“Maybe I don’t need your fucking help.” Lucas turned on his heels and walked off, leaving Layla standing there completely dumbfounded.

Lucas climbed the stairs to the top level and grabbed his stuff, wiped down his station, and left. He didn’t need this bullshit. He didn’t need her.

Hopping into his truck, Lucas revved the engine but was startled when Layla banged on his door.

“What are you doing?!” she yelled through the unopened window.

“Saving you.”

“From what?!”

~“Me!”~

Lucas peeled out of the parking lot, taking one last look in the rearview at Layla. She just stood there, but she didn’t let him get too far.

His phone rang.

“Don’t do this, Little Hippie.”

“Stop being an asshole and come back and get me.”

“I need to get as far away from you as possible.”

“I will discuss this with you later, but you’d better come back and tell me about this bullshit pity party you’re going through.”

He braked abruptly and backed the truck all the way up until he was at her side again.

“Pity party?”

“Yes.” Layla nodded. “I thought we were helping each other. I can’t do that when you’re throwing your tantrums.”

“I can’t be near you. I’m no good for you, Layla. I don’t even know what we’re doing.”

“What do you mean?” Layla’s soft voice coaxed. “I know you think you believe that—”

“I didn’t know you were going to invalidate my feelings.”

“I didn’t think you were going to go back on our deal.”

“What’s our deal, Layla?” Lucas leaned over and opened the door for her. He held out his hand and Layla accepted, lifting herself up into the seat.

“To help each other. Aren’t you going to tell me about the VFW party next weekend? Or take me to Oklahoma? Or let me teach you yoga?”

Lucas sighed, leaning his head back.

“Weren’t we going to work on our emotional outbursts? Who said you couldn’t be my friend?”

“It’s more than that.” Lucas rubbed the steering wheel. “If I hurt you in any capacity, I can’t forgive myself. One day, this is all going to be just memories for us, baby girl. You know that. I know that.”

“Good memories?”

“I don’t really know…”

“Well, if I’m just going to bring you bad memories, then maybe we should end this,” Layla said, looking at him, desperately waiting for him to stop her as she reached for the door handle. “I’ll let Rosie know.”

“Stop. No.” Lucas grabbed her arm. “I’m…I’m sorry.”

Layla swallowed hard. She knew it was going to happen soon—just not now. She couldn’t lose him now.

“You should really stop fucking me and then trying to run away from me, Lucas. It’s damaging my ego.”

Lucas laughed. He was rubbing off on her and he could see that, but she was definitely doing the same to him.

“What are you staring at?”

“All of your tattoos. I want to get one.”

“I know a guy.”

“Don’t try this shit again until we’re really through.”

Lucas glanced at her and started to say something, but it was lost to the wind when Layla got out of the truck and started making her way back to the gym.

“Get in! Let me take you back,” Lucas offered.

“No.” Layla smiled. “I need some air. You get to work.”

He looked down at the clock in his truck. Sure enough, he was going to be late.

“And don’t forget you have to finish my dad’s tractor today.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Lucas nodded. “I’ll pick you up before heading out there.”

“Lucas, look,” Layla said, stopping again and leaning into the window. “I understand this isn’t a thing and we’re just going through the motions, but let’s make the best of what we have now and stop worrying about what others are saying. You don’t think I’ve gotten shit from my parents about us? From Gretchen, who happens to be okay with you at the moment?”

“Well, I can’t stand in the way of your future.”

“You won’t.” Layla tapped the truck and headed back into the gym, waving one more time before disappearing inside the building.

Lucas sat there for a moment, allowing the truck to idle. If anything, the shit he had pulled was uncalled for, and he had jumped the gun all because of what a few naysayers were telling him.

Yes, he’d have to let Layla go one day—but not that day.