“Do you have any idea how much you mean to me Layla? Any at all? Because Isometimes think, if you did, you wouldn’t keep torturing me like this. I can’t keep watching you with him. The way you gaze into his eyes, the way hekisses you and when you tell him you love him, I hate you. I hate you for loving him. I hate you for choosing him. I hate you for wanting him so badly.But mostly, I hate myself for not being him! I can’t hide it anymore. I’ve tried so fucking hard that I swear I’m going crazy sometimes. It’s eating at me.I can’t sleep, can’t think; I can’t even function because I’m thinking about you so much. But I get it, I do, it’s him you want and from now on I’m handsoff. But I have to let you know how I feel before I go nuts.”

“No Layla, I couldn’t. I won’t ever think he deserves you. I will always think he’s wrong for you and I willforever wish it was me in his place. But if being civil to him and pretending that I’m not completely obsessed with you is what it takes to keep you inmy life, I’ll do it and maybe, someday I won’t have to pretend anymore. But I wouldn’t hold my breath. I even promise to stop calling him names.”

“I don’t know what came over me. You were in my arms, crying and when I looked down at you I just couldn’t stop myself. It was like someuncontrollable force I just had to kiss you Layla. I know you’re mad and I’m sorry that you feel that way but honestly Layla? It was wonderful. And I’ddo it again in a heartbeat. I’m crazy about you. I can’t stop thinking about you. You’re the first thing I think about when I wake up, the only thing I thinkabout all day and the last thing I think about at night. You’re my muse. I must have written at least twenty new songs since I met you and they’re allabout you. Your eyes, your smile the way you laugh and the way you make my heart want to tear its way out of my chest when you’re near me. I can’tfight it any more, it’s killing me. I’ve tried to forget it, to get over you but no other girl even compares. I don’t know what to do anymore.”

“Stop it. Right now. Why torture yourself Layla? It’s notas many as you think. If I had to give you a number, which by the way I find a little unsettling, it would be…sixty, approximately. I started having sexwhen I was sixteen Layla. So when you think about it, that’s ten women per year. Not that many is it? And that’s including you. But none of them evenmatter because I’m with you. You’re the only woman I want in my bed, shower, tub, dining table, counter top, sofa and anywhere else I can throw youover. You, Layla Jennings are the only woman I will sleep with from now till the day I die. And I bet I know the next question and the answer is no. Ididn’t love them. I never knew what love was. I cared about them sure and I wanted to make them happy but I didn’t love them. I love you. I’ve nevermet anyone that affects me the way you do. I feel like I could conquer the world, bench press a bus and run a marathon when I’m with you. You makeme feel alive and so happy I can’t even think straight.”

“I’mnot punishing you baby. I’m just struggling with this. He loves you Layla. It’s in his eyes when he looks at you. Every time I turn around he’s gazing atyou and I can see it. I should know. It’s exactly how I feel every minute of every day. He wants you and I’m terrified that one day you’re going tochoose him. I couldn’t take it Layla. I’m close to breaking point as it is with that fucker pushing every button I have. He needs to get it into his thickhead that you’re mine and I won’t let you go without a fight.”

“You had me Jared. I gave you all of me and I gave it willingly but from the first time we met you lied, hid and kept things from me. We didn’t have honesty and without it our foundations crumbled, taking us down with it. I have cried a river of tears over you and I can’t do it anymore. I don’t think I will ever stop loving you, no matter how heartbreakingly hard I try to. But it’s not enough. Let me go.”

“I’m scared of him. I’m disgusted by the vile monster he becomes, this beast he lets out. But I still love him. I’d still do anything for him. I can’t just turn off my heart. I want to, I do, but I can’t. I love him with everything I have and I hate myself for it. Because it’s wrong to love him, I know. It’s so wrong.”