**LILY**
“Dalaja, leave us. You can go home now. I can take care of myself,” Arlo said to Dalaja.
“You heard what Arlo said. What are you still standing here for?” I said boldly, pointing to the door.
“No woman has lasted with Arlo, Lily. Once Arlo gets tired of a woman, she’s nothing more than a toy to him. He replaces them when they lose their appeal,” Dalaja said, her words fueling my anger even more.
“If you know that, then why do you keep clinging to him? Aren’t you one of those he’s already discarded? What would you call yourself then?” I snapped, raising an eyebrow at her.
“Don’t get too confident, Lily. I know Arlo well. Just because he introduced you to his parents doesn’t mean you’re 100 percent secure with him. Mark my words, Lily, if Arlo truly loved you, he wouldn’t have entertained me,” she retorted.
“You’re just a fling, Dalaja. Even if you don’t admit it, you know deep down that’s all you are—a fling. If you don’t leave now, I’ll make you leave myself!” I shouted at her.
“Fine, Lily, I’ll give you this moment. But remember, one day, Arlo will get tired of you, too. And whatever you can do for Arlo, I can do better. You’ll see!” she growled.
“I don’t have time to argue with you. Do whatever you want, but don’t think I’m afraid of you—not even a little. Do as you wish, but in the end, you’ll still be Dalaja, someone who tries to take things that aren’t hers. Now leave—I actually feel sorry for you!” I said firmly.
“You’re bold,” she remarked.
“Yes, I am. What made you think I’d let you walk all over me? This is the last time you’ll set foot in Arlo’s apartment,” I declared.
“Babe,” Arlo said, surprising me as he suddenly grabbed my hand. He pulled me so hard that I stumbled into his solid shoulder.
“You’re drunk, Arlo,” I said, trying to push him away, but he held onto my hands.
“Babe,” he whispered into my ear.
I was about to speak when he pressed his warm lips against mine. My eyes widened as he kissed me, not letting my lips go. Dalaja was watching us, frozen in place. The sound of the door slamming shut echoed; it seemed she couldn’t accept that Arlo kissed me.
I couldn’t move as his hands locked firmly around my waist. With every movement of his lips on mine, my entire system felt like it was falling apart.
“Arlo, you’re drunk,” I said again, but he wasn’t listening to me.
He continued kissing me.
“Stay with me. Please don’t leave me, Lily. Please help me. I’ll do everything for you,” he pleaded.
He finally stopped kissing me, his drowsy eyes now serious as they stared into mine. He hugged me tightly again.
“Stand up, Arlo. If you don’t want to, then I’ll leave you here to sleep on the couch,” I said, standing up.
“Can we talk, please?” he pleaded.
“We’ll talk tomorrow, Arlo, because if we talk now, it’ll be pointless,” I replied.
“I’m not drunk. I know what I’m saying.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying.”
“I’ll prove to you that I’m not drunk.”
“If you’re not drunk, then what’s 1+1?” I asked.
“I love you,” he answered.
“See? You’re drunk. You’re saying ‘I love you’ now? Weren’t you the one who said you didn’t believe in the words ‘I love you’?” I said, dismissing his words because he was clearly not in his right mind.
“Because of you, Lily.”
“If it’s because of me, Arlo, then why didn’t you think of me while you were out all day and night, making me worry? Did it never occur that someone was waiting for you here in your apartment?” I said.
