When Love Hurts Read Free

one finger to his lips and leaves the room.
    I’m left in the room staring at all the empty walls. He should really put some nice pictures up to give the room a warmer feel. I stand up and continue to unpack. I notice the camera Jaylen picked up, and now that I look at the small pink thing I don’t remember why I brought it with me. Then the memory starts flowing back like it’s trying to drown me. I can’t let this camera go because it’s connecting me back to me, to the old me before I met Chris and fell in love. When I was still a girl with a dream.  
    I place the camera on the dresser and continue to unpack and don’t look back at it until I’m done. Jaylen hasn’t come back in the room yet, and I wonder what he’s talking to Malcolm about. I miss Malcolm, but I’m happy he’s having such a nice time in Vegas. Jaylen would have gone with him, but he has no one else to cover for him at his bar. I would have gone too, but I was still with Chris, and they don’t like each other. Neither Malcolm nor Jaylen likes Chris because of our dramatic relationship, but I always stick by Chris’s side. I don’t know why I do other than because I love him, and that should be enough, right?  
    I unpack my toothbrush and realize it isn’t a good idea to put it in the bathroom where Angela might see it. I swear I don’t know how this sneaking around thing is going to work. I mean, she’s not stupid. In fact, she was able to finish college when I—
    I stop myself midthought and shake my head. Now is not the time to relive bad memories. I walk out of the room and into Jaylen’s living room and sit on the couch. I stare at the TV and wait. I’m not sure why I’m waiting, but I just don’t know what else to do. Maybe I should go outside and get some fresh air.
    “Hey, Jess.” Jaylen pokes his head into the living room, and when he sees me sitting on the couch he comes in and sits beside me. He leans back and smiles. “Good news. Malcolm said you can stay with him when he gets back, for however long you need to.”
    “Are you sure he wouldn’t mind? I don’t want to be in his way. In anyone’s way, for that matter.”
    Jaylen chuckles and starts playing with my hair by twisting the longest strand in the back around his finger. This always calms me down. “He’s cool with it, Jess. Just relax.”
    “When am I going over there?” I ask.
    “When he gets back. In about four days.”  
    Suddenly, my stomach growls, and I realize I haven’t eaten since this morning and it’s almost five now. I stand up and walk into the kitchen. “Do you want anything to eat?”
    “You cooking it?” Jaylen asks in mock horror.
    “Yes, I’m cooking it,” I say, placing my hands on my hips. “What do you have here to eat?”  
    Jaylen shrugs. “Look in the fridge.”
    I look inside and find a pack of chicken and a pack of pork chops. Either one will do for tonight, but I grab the chicken, figuring chicken will still taste good even if the skin ends up a little darker than anticipated.
    I place the chicken on the counter, but it’s still a little frozen, so I go back and sit next to Jaylen on the couch. “So what were you up to before I got here,” I ask him.
    “Just working out. Nothing much.”
    I lean back and close my eyes. I open my eyes a few seconds later to Jaylen staring at me, and my heart starts beating faster. “Hey.” I breathe, fighting back my heart attack.
    “Hey,” he says in a low voice. “You tired?”
    I shake my head. “Nope. Just thinking.”

Chapter 4

    I walk around Jaylen’s apartment trying to distract myself while he’s working at his bar and the chicken fries in the skillet. I pace back and forth down the hallway that separates the kitchen and living room from the rest of the apartment. I finally decide to plant myself in one of the kitchen chairs and rub my cell phone between my hands while listening to the chicken sizzle.  
    I tap my foot against the floor and try to keep thoughts