Of course she’s an actress. Someone who looks like that could only either be an actress or a model.
“Okay, so what do you need from me? Money?”
“Wow, asshole. I don’t want your money! And for what? So I can gohandlethis and get out of your hair?”
“That’s not what I said! And I’m not an asshole—you just popped up out of nowhere at my house—”
“Well, I’m not ready to decide yet anyway,” Leyla interrupted. “But like I said, I thought you should know that I’m walking around carrying your baby.” She paused. It sounded like she might be crying. “You know, when I met you, you seemed like such a nice guy. I thought you’d be different. But you’re just like every other piece of shit guy out there.”
“I’m sorry. You just show up here to drop a bomb on me like this? And then, you have the audacity to come at me for not beingsweetabout it? Mygirlfriendis in the house,” he seethed. “I never eventoldher about us.”
“Of course not. I mean, why would you, right? I meantnothingto you,” Leyla retorted, dripping with sarcasm.
“You were a one-night stand!”
“Well, I didn’t know that at the time! You’re the one who disappeared and never called!”
“Listen, I’m sorry. You’re a beautiful girl and I’m sure you’re very nice under normal circumstances. But I’mwithsomeone else. I’ll do the right thing by you. If you need money, I’ll give you money.”
“I don’tcareabout the money, Matt!”
“Then I’ll ask you again—what do you want from me?” he yelled.
“Nothing! Forget it!” I heard the sound of Leyla’s wedges as she stomped off the deck.
“What?” he asked, incredulous.
“I just wanted you to know so I wouldn’t have to feel like I was in this alone!” she shouted. “Did you ever stop to think that maybe this is more than just an inconvenience for me? This ismybody!Mylife! Not to mention, my livelihood! I’ve waited forever for a role in a movie, and ofcoursethis happens just as it looks like I might get my break.” She heaves an agitated sigh into the night air. "You don't understand."
“I do, actually,” Matt said, his voice returning to a more normal decibel. “I do understand what it feels like to finally feel like your life has a direction and then to have it all go to shit without any notice. You’d be surprised.” I hear him sigh. “I’m sorry.”
“So that’s it. I wanted to tell you, and now you know.” Footsteps followed, and a car door opened.
“Okay. When do you think you’ll decide?”
“I don’t know. After Hollywood, probably. I’ll let you know.”
“Okay. Good luck. On your trip.”
“Yeah, thanks.” She slammed the door shut.
I heard the car start. The tires spun over the gravel. Moments later, the sound was gone, disappearing out the gate and down the road, Leyla heading back to wherever she came from.
The silence hit me like a wave.
It took longer than it should have for Matt to come back inside the house. When he finally opened the front door, he looked surprised to see me on the floor, leaning against his washing machine with the lights off.
“You heard all that, huh?”
I nodded.
Matt stepped toward me, crouching down to look at me in the darkness.
“What happened?” I asked, trying not to panic.
Matt hung his head, then put a curled fist up against his forehead. “I was an idiot.”
“When?” My voice cracked.
