Nolan's POV

But, as I started walking back and got sidetracked, I crashed into someone and my drink spilled. "What, the heck?!! Watch where you are going!!!"

'Sophie'

'Jamala'

'Riley'

Layla's POV

"No, why don't you watch where you are going, jerk?! As I started to walk away, the jerk grabbed my arm.

"You are not going anywhere. You owe me another drink. Not to mention, a new outfit. Do you even know who I am?" He angrily said to me while holding my arm.

"First off, get your hands off me!! Second, I don't owe you a thing! And, third, I don't give a hoot who you are!" I tried walking away again, but he grabbed my arm. 

"My clothes alone probably cost more than what you make in a year. So, you owe me." 

"Again, whatever your name is, you are hurting my arm!" Just by looking at what he was wearing, I could tell they were well-made and designer. So, I am guessing he is rich. "Look here rich boy, if you think you are getting a dime out of me, good luck with that! I spilled my drink too, and now I am soaking wet." He started eyeing me up and down. 

Suddenly, some cheap looking chick walked over to me and got in my face. 

"Listen tramp, back off he is mine." Then, she looked over at him, saying, "Sexy, are you okay?" "Is this chick for real?" I mumbled to myself. 

I will admit that he is sexy. But, his personality and attitude sucks. This chick is about to get it.

"Trick, if I wanted your 'man', I could take him. But, your 'man' could not handle me. He walked into me and made me spill my drink on my outfit." I looked at her dress and could tell it was not well made. That dress was about to pop any minute.

"You have 5 seconds to get out of my face or else I am going to rearrange your face!" My friend, Alicia, came over.

"What's the hold up, Layla?"

"Cheap trick here and her 'man.'"

"Whoever he is walked into me and made me spill my drink over my dress! Now, I am all wet." He looked me up and down again. "Then, the tramp got in my face and I was about to fix it." 

"Stop calling me that! And, this dress costs more than what you got on."

Alicia and I looked at each other and started laughing hysterically. "As someone who knows about fashion, I don't think so. You should have asked for a refund for it because that dress was poorly made. If you take a few more steps in it, it is going to pop. You was ripped off, chick. Now, the both of you need to back off and leave me alone!!! I came to have an enjoyable time and that is what I am going to do."

He yelled as we walked away, "This is not over! You are going to pay for this!" I flipped him off as Alicia and I walked away. And sure enough, I heard footsteps behind me. Then, I heard a scream. I turned around and the trick didn't have any underwear on, so she was buck naked. "I told you what was going to happen. Serves you right." We couldn't help but laugh. That guy she was with escorted her out of the club. I hope I never see him again.

Alicia and I made our way back to the VIP section where the rest of the girls were sitting.

"What happened, Layla?" My friend, Sophie, asked.

"Jerk of the year made me spill my drink and now I am wet. Then, he had the nerve to say I owed him for spilling his drink."

Then, Alicia added, "But the funny part was when some chick tried to start it with Layla. Suddenly, her dress busted wide open." All the girls started laughing. 

"So, that was the ruckus we saw down below."

We all got suddenly quiet when this sexy piece of white chocolate with black hair, facial hair, and an absolutely gorgeous smile came over. He was specifically looking at Alicia when he asked, "Excuse me beautiful, would you like to accompany me to the dance floor?"

"See you all later." He held out his hand to Alicia. She placed her hand in his and they went dancing.

"And now, there is four of us." Minutes later, another tall handsome man approaches us. This one was a tall piece of sexy, milk chocolate. 

"Good evening, ladies. I am Eric. I came over to ask this beautiful queen would she like to dance." He was looking at Jamala. "Toddles, girls."

"And, now it is down to three. Let's go dance." So, Riley, myself and Sophie went to the dance floor.

While we were dancing, Sophie scored herself a nice, sexy piece of tall chocolate. And, this one was dark chocolate. My mind is not on dating anytime soon, especially after what happened with my daughter's father.

**********************

Flashback

"Congratulations, Ms. Jordan, you are going to be a mom." The doctor told me.

I was ecstatic to be pregnant. So, I left the doctor's office and went straight to Austin's place to tell him the good news.

"Austin, I have great......" I walked in on him and some chick. "What the heck?" 

He looked at me like nothing was wrong. "You were going to find out eventually. This is Sabrina, my fiancé."

She looked at me a said, "Austin, who in the hello is this?" 

Before he could say one word, "Apparently, I am nothing but his pregnant side chick." He was shocked, and she was pissed.

"What do you mean pregnant?"

"I just found out from my doctor that I am pregnant. That is why I came over. But, you forgot one important thing, Austin. You never told me you were engaged. Screw you, Austin. And, stay away from me and my child!!!"

**************************

Suddenly, I heard, "Go Layla! Go Layla!" Some guy tried to grind on me. "My fists are lethal weapons and I am not afraid to use them." 

Nolan's POV

Jackson said with the biggest cheese grin on his face, "Now, that woman right there is 'marriage material.' Look at her body and the way she dances."

I must admit that she is sexy with an amazing body. Goodness, I could tell when she was wet from her drink. And, I can't believe I got jealous when that guy tried to grind on her. But, whatever, she messed up my clothes. Nobody messes with my clothes.

"That is the chick who made me drop my drink and my clothes are damaged from the alcohol. She gave me lip too. Nobody talks back to me." 

"You, Mr. Nolan Grant, let her walk away over a spilled drink?" 

"Nolan, are you crazy?!!!" 

"You are a fool, Nolan. She is crazy hot! You can easily replace an outfit. You can't replace a woman like that." Jackson said while popping the back of my head. "To let her walk away is a mistake." 

"Whatever, Jackson. If you want her, she is all yours."

Layla's POV

I went back to the VIP section for a minute to rest my feet. "Oh goodness, the jerk is coming this way. I wish this fool would leave me alone." 

"That may have been some impressive dancing, but it still doesn't change the fact that you owe me."

"Look, why do you keep harassing me?! Whatever your name is, I DON'T OWE YOU A THING!!!" One of his friends came over.

"Nolan, leave this beautiful woman alone!!"

"So, that's his name." 

"Yeah Nolan, leave me alone!"

Alicia and the guy she was dancing with came back. He asked, "Is Nolan bothering you?"

"Yes, he is. And, he his testing my patience. I had a long day at work and my friends wanted to take me out to have some fun. Well, thanks to Nolan here, my fun is ruined. Now, everybody just leave me alone!"

Alicia had a concerned look on her face. "Are you okay, Layla?"

Great, now the jerk knows my first name. "I am ready to go. If he bugs me one more time about something as trivial as a spilled drink, I am going to punch him in the mouth!!"

"I'll go try to find the girls."

"No, Alicia. It's okay. I don't want to ruin your fun."

"Well, at least let us walk you to your Mercedes."

"Fine. Well, it was nice meeting you, um..."

"Jackson."

"Dean."

"Nice to meet you Dean and Jackson. Screw you, Nolan!!!" Dean and Alicia followed me to my truck.

**********************

Once we reached my truck, I got in, put the key in the ignition, and then rolled down the window. "Thanks, A. Enjoy the rest of your night."

"Are you sure you are going to be okay?

I was about to cry about what happened, but I didn't. "I'll call you and tell you tomorrow."

"Okay. Get home safe and send me a text."

They waited until I pulled out of the parking space to head home.

Once I made it home, I went to the hallway closet and looked for a blanket. I found one and grabbed it. Then, I went to lay on the couch. I just bawled my eyes out. I screamed out loud,

"Why after four years do you suddenly care about Braelyn? You wasn't there when she was born, when she turned one, her first words or any of that precious stuff. I hate you, Austin Mitchell!" 

One fact about me is that I am a no-nonsense, tough, can handle her business person. Especially when it comes to my business. But, when it comes to my daughter, I go into overprotective mode. This son of a sucker didn't want anything to do with Braelyn. Now, out of the blue, he wants to be in her life? Not if I can help it. 

It has been just the two of us for the past four years of her life. I love her so much. I would do anything for her, even if it means keeping her deadbeat dad away. After my crying session, I eventually drifted off to sleep.

**************************

Saturday afternoon

"Ugh, what is all that noise?" I woke up to banging on my door. I looked through the peephole to see my friends. I opened the door to let them in.

"Why are you guys here so early on a Saturday?"

"Layla, it is almost one o'clock in the afternoon." Alicia said to me.

"I have been sleep that long?" 

"We figured instead of you calling us, we would come by. What happened at work yesterday that had you on edge before you left the club last night?"

This time, I just let the tears flow. "We need to sit for this." I led them all to my living room.

"It is Austin. He called me several times yesterday. He now wants to be a part of Braelyn's life. And, I don't know what to do. I want to keep her as far away from him as I can. But, she always asks me, "Mommy, where is my daddy?" That part of me wants her to meet him. Every time we see a father with his daughter, it breaks my heart to know she doesn't have that type of relationship with him. And, then he had the audacity to try and apologize to me for what he did."

Each one of my friends were not happy at all. "Now he wants to be a parent? After four, freaking years? He has the gall to call you to see Brae?" Jamala screamed out loud.

"Where is he so I can punch him in the mouth?"

Riley added, "You should take that low-life to court for child support."

"Layla, if you decide to try not to allow him to see her, be prepared for him trying to take you to court for visitation rights. Or, even custody of her." Sophie said with sincerity in her voice."

"That is what I am afraid of. He already lied to me about his engagement. He probably already started the paperwork for court. He is not going to take my baby away from me!" 

I heard my front door open, so it must be my mom and baby girl. Sure enough, it was. She came running into the living room. "Mommy! Mommy!"

Braelyn

"Hey, baby girl! Give momma some sugar." She gave me a hug and kiss. "I missed you, mommy."

"I missed you too, sweetie. Say hi to your aunties." She went around and gave everyone a hug and kiss. My mom joined us in the living room.

"Hi ladies. Hey Layla. She kept asking for you, so I brought her back early. How was your night out?"

"Hi, mom. Other than the one incident, I had an enjoyable time."

"Sorry if I ruined the mood last night. Between Austin and that jerk Nolan, I couldn't take it no more."

My mom asked, "What about Austin?" 

"He finally called and asked if he could see Brae. And, wanted to apologize for what he did."

"Is he for real?" My mom said. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm scared of what to do. I want him to see her, but then I don't. If he tries to take her away from me, I won't be able to deal with it." 

"Speaking of the jerk, his friends let him have it. They couldn't believe he made such a big deal about clothes. He went on all night about that spilled drink." 

"It is his own fault. He walked into me Let's not get on a soapbox about him."

I see you all had fun with his friends." 

"They are really sweet. Dean and I exchanged phone numbers. We have a date planned for Sunday. He also asked about you to see if you were okay."

"He's a keeper, A."

"The other guys wanted to check on you too."

"Sounds like they are all keepers."

"You will find a keeper too, Layla. When the time is right, your Mr. Right will come."

"Mommy, I'm hungry."

"Let's go get you something to eat." I got up off the couch and we went to the kitchen. "What would you like to eat, Brae?" 

"Grilled cheese, mommy."

"Okay, one grilled cheese sandwich coming up." I do not give my daughter American cheese because it is too salty. I buy Swiss cheese or sometimes cheddar cheese. So, I made it for her with swiss. One time, we went to McDonald's and I forgot to say hamburger instead of cheeseburger. She took one bite and did not like it at all. After fixing her sandwich, I grabbed a plate from the cabinet and put her sandwich on it.

"Let me know when you are done."

"Thank you, mommy."

"You're welcome, baby girl." I walked back into the living room. The doorbell rang. I was already up. "I'll get it."

"Who could that be?" I wasn't expecting anyone. I forgot to check through the peephole to see who it was and just opened the door.

"What are you doing here?!!!" 

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Thank you all for reading chapter 2. 

Pictures are courtesy of Can Stock Photos:

1. picture portrayl of Layla - © Can Stock Photo / ginosphoto

2. child portrayal of Braelyn  - © Can Stock Photo / DarrenBaker

3. the house - © Can Stock Photo / airship75

 The other pictures are courtesy of Pixabay.

And, thank you all for the reads, votes, and comments. 😘😘