Laney gritted her teeth and said firmly, “Greg, I don‘t like you that way.I only think of you as a friend.”
Greg ran his fingers through his wet hair and murmured, “So, you don‘t hate me? Are you saying I just need to try harder?”
The thought seemed to excite him.
He quickly handed the umbrella to her and cried, “Then I‘ll try harder, Laney!”
With a big smile on his face, he rushed back to his car and drove away.
Laney was at a loss for words.She could only sighed heavily and went back to her apartment with his umbrella.
*******
Ever since she moved into her new apartment, she hadn‘t bought any home goods.
It just so happened that she had almost run out of food, so after getting off work one evening, she decided to go to the supermarket.
There seemed to be a sale today, because the supermarket was crowded with people.
Amidst the crowd, Laney saw Garrett and a beautiful girl beside him.It only took one look at the girl for Laney to realize that she was Garrett‘s type.
“You should eat more vegetables.I know you work overtime a lot, so you need healthier food.”
The girl held a bundle of leafy greens in front of Garrett.You know I don‘t have time to cook.I‘m just here to buy some vitamins,”
Garrett said gently.
Laney rolled her eyes and sneered.She somehow felt cheated.
Just when she was beginning to think that Garrett had really changed, she was wrong.He was just trying to fool everyone.
Laney left the supermarket with nothing but anger.She was inexplicably annoyed.
Just a few days ago, Garrett tried talking her out of getting into a relationship with someone else.
Yet here he was now, dating another girl himself.
“Laney?”
Laney was in a fit of anger when she suddenly heard someone call her name.It was Greg When Greg saw her, he quickly sprinted across the road.
With a bunch of flowers in one hand and a bag of groceries in the other, he said sheepishly, “I bought you some food.I thought that you‘ve been so busy, you might not have the time to get some groceries.And while I was at the supermarket, I saw these tulips.I noticed you usually wear floral patterns, so I figured you might like these.”
Laney had been feeling angry, but now, her anger slowly dissipated.
Perhaps it was because she had just been hurt that even the slightest gesture of care from someone would make her feel warm.
“Why‘d you get me all these things?”
Greg scratched the back of his head and said awkwardly, “Because I like you.”
Overhearing this, the passers–by gathered around them and started to encourage Laney.
“Miss, this young man has been waiting here for over an hour.He really cares about you.”
Laney looked up into Greg‘s hopeful eyes and thought about the smile on Garrett‘s face when he was with that girl just now.
Without thinking, she blurted, “I am willing to give us a try.”
It was Laney‘s first time to be in a relationship, and Greg definitely took the lead, while she passively catered to his requests.
Perhaps it was because she didn‘t really have romantic feelings for Greg that she didn‘t find it as sweet as it should have been.
One weekend, Greg invited her to a popular cafe.
Greg happily ordered some delicious–looking brownies and colorful macaroons.
Laney liked healthy foods with low sugar content over sweets, so she only took a few bites out of politeness.
Greg, on the other hand, seemed to be quite the sweet tooth.He enthusiastically snapped some photos of the Instagram–worthy desserts before munching on them.
While Greg ate, Laney absentmindedly looked out the window and watched as couples passed by, hand in hand.
They all seemed very happy together.It wasn‘t until Greg waved his hand in front of her that she came to her senses.
“Laney, there‘s something I wanted to ask.How about I move in with you? I mean, I just think it‘d be wonderful to come home to you after work,” Greg suddenly suggested.
“Okay,” Laney answered flatly.
Since they were in a relationship now, she didn‘t find it too big of a deal to start living in together.
*******
The following day, Greg moved his stuff to her place.
Greg was a good boyfriend in all aspects, but sometimes, Laney couldn‘t help but feel that he was too clingy.He would follow her everywhere and even accompany her to work.
She couldn‘t catch a break.
“Don‘t you need to go to work?”
Laney looked at Greg, who was following her to work, with a hint of impatience.
Greg scratched his head awkwardly.
“I‘ll go to work after I drop you off.Don‘t worry about me.I work flexible hours.”
Laney crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes at him.She had noticed that Greg seemed to be observing something just now.
Ever since he moved in, he had never done anything that would make her feel uncomfortable.
As a result, they didn‘t look like a couple at all.
The most intimate thing they had ever done so far was to hold hands.
Greg had told her that he had a business, but Laney didn‘t think he looked like a businessman.He had always been wary of his surroundings everywhere they went.
“What were you looking at just now? Is someone following us?”
Perhaps it was because of the nature of Laney‘s work that she was sensitive when it came to things like this.Greg broke into a wide grin.
“Cars.We were crossing the road just now.”
Then he reached out and stroked her hair gently.
“You seem suspicious of me.I‘m your boyfriend.Don‘t you trust me?”
A few days later, Laney was watching a movie with Greg at home when they suddenly heard a knock on the door.
“Have you ordered takeout?” Laney asked, standing up to open the door.
“No? Who would visit us at this time then?”
However, as soon as the door was opened, a group of armed men rushed in.
“What the hell are you doing?”
Laney was on guard in an instant.
“Where is that bastard? Fuck! Greg‘s been hiding in a woman‘s house?!”
One of the men said loudly, “Greg has offended our boss and we‘ve been ordered to take him out!”
Greg was so frightened that he threw the remote control in his hand away and hid behind Laney, shouting, “Laney, you have to protect me!”
Laney instantly knew that something was off, but she didn‘t have the time to figure it out.
“This is my home.No matter what kind of feud you have–solve it somewhere else.”
Laney clenched her fists and spoke clearly and concisely.
“Cut the crap, bitch! Greg‘s your boyfriend, so what?”
To his peers, he barked, “Get him!”
In the blink of an eye, the rest of the thugs surged forward.
Laney and Greg were outnumbered.
