He gave a small laugh, looking back down into his coffee. ‘There’s nothing I can say to that, is there?’
Layla stood up, pushing her chair back under the table. ‘You should have tried harder with Casey. She was good for you, you were happy with her. You were never really happy with India because you were never really with her, were you?’ She leant over and kissed him on the cheek, stroking his face gently. ‘Stop doing this to yourself, Kenny. You don’t deserve it. Find a woman to fall in love with, and be happy.’ She stood up straight and repositioned the top of her dress, smiling at him. ‘I’ll see you on set.’
She walked off, heading towards her trailer, catching sight of a familiar face sitting on the steps as she reached it.
She sat down next to him and he turned to look at her. ‘Did Michael go to Vegas early?’ he asked, his hands clasped between his open knees, his handsome face clouded with sadness.
Layla reached out and touched his hand. ‘What are you doing here, JJ?’
‘Did he go to Vegas early, Layla?’
She sighed, pulling her hand away. ‘He left yesterday.’
‘So did India.’
She looked at him again as he stared straight ahead of him. ‘So…?’
He turned to face her, the sadness now giving way to something bordering on anger. ‘So, you don’t think that’s a bit too coincidental?’
She shrugged, not really knowing what to say. Michael had left early because he always liked to be ahead of the game. Maybe India just felt the same way.
‘How are things with you and Michael?’ JJ asked, keeping his eyes fixed firmly on Layla’s.
She sighed again, leaning back against the trailer steps. ‘There is no me and Michael. Not anymore. I mean, we haven’t officially split up or anything, I suppose you could say we’re in some kind of relationship limbo but… well, it’s all but over. Whatever we had – and I’m not sure it was ever that much – it’s gone.’
‘Do you still love him?’
‘Of course I do.’
JJ stared straight ahead again. What the hell was it with Michael Walsh? Sure, he had money, power, status; there was no denying that. But Layla didn’t need any of it, not really, not from him. And India certainly didn’t need anything from him, especially after what he’d done to her. Yet still they gravitated towards him like moths to the proverbial flame. ‘Then fight for him, Layla.’
She sat up, hugging her knees to her chest. ‘What’s the point?’
He looked at her. ‘The point is that you still love him. So fight for him’
‘And, do you want me to fight for him because you think that’s what would be best for me? Or, do you want me to fight for him because you think that’ll stop him from getting your wife back into bed?’
He stood up, digging his hands deep into his pockets, unable to stand still. ‘Is that what you think is happening? Is that why they’ve gone to Vegas early? Do you think he wants to… Would he do that, Layla? Is… is that what you think is going on?’
She stood up too, going over to him, touching his arm in an attempt to try and make him stand still for a second. ‘I don’t know, JJ.’
‘Is that why she’s gone early too? So they can be together? Alone?’
‘JJ… Come on, what’s the matter with you?’
He shook off her hand and sat back down, pushing a hand through his short dark hair. ‘Jesus… I don’t know, Layla. I thought I’d accepted this, y’know? I thought I was okay about the fact we were growing further apart but… if she goes back to him…’
‘Who says she’s going back to him?’ Layla sat back down, giving JJ’s shoulder a gentle squeeze.
He looked at her. ‘Do you honestly think he won’t try, Layla? Do you honestly think he won’t try to get her back?’
She squeezed his shoulder again. ‘Are you absolutely sure that the reason you and India can’t make it work… Is it really just because of Michael?’
He narrowed his eyes as he stared at her. ‘Of course it’s because of him. What other fucking reason is there? We were solid, Layla…’
‘Were you?’
He shook her off again, standing up, shoving his hands back in his pockets. ‘We were solid, okay?’
‘JJ!’ She stood up too, trying to decide whether or not to go after him. ‘Where are you going?’