25/After the Fact
His words completely shifted her mood from passionate to tepid. The last thing she wanted was to have a whole conversation around something that was at best a pipe dream for her. She knew Eric would never allow Alex to go through with the nesting process and Lila was actually on Eric's side. Alex was young and he had his whole life ahead of him. His life shouldn't be put on hold because of Jane's recklessness.
Lila sat up quickly vacating the bed and standing to right her clothes.
"There's nothing to talk about, Eric." She looked over her shoulder as she pulled her arms through the tank top straps. "I don't have any designs on keeping Alex's baby as my own." She pulled the skirt down to her thighs turning her body towards him looking at him while trying to conceal the heartbreak she was feeling all over again. "Let me know the cost of the dissolution and I'll-" she paused when she felt a sob building up in the confines of her chest. It hurt her to speak of dissolutions when all she ever dreamed about as a child was helping create a life to nurture and love. She spun rapidly heading out of the room. "I'll write you a blank check," she called out with a sniffle.
"Lila, wait!" She heard her bed creak and Eric calling out behind her.
Disregarding his call, she continued her way down the hall to the home office walking straight to the redwood desk. She leaned over, opening the top right-hand drawer, immediately grabbing a keyring with keys of all shapes and sizes. She shuffled through them until she located a small brass key which unlocked the custom lock on the center desk drawer.
Lila rolled the chair back, immediately taking a seat. She pulled open the drawer she just unlocked and grabbed a checkbook.
Eric walked in at that moment.
"I haven't written a check in ages, I hope I remember how," she said as she began writing on the top check. "These things are so archaic," she said to herself.
"Lila," Eric called her name once more.
"Should I make it out to Alex or Alexander?" She looked to see Eric staring back at her with those eyes full of pity. "Maybe I should make it out to you?"
"Maybe it's not the right time," he said. "It's too soon. Your friend just had a baby. You must be feeling-"
Lila stood hurriedly with the checkbook in her hands, walking towards Eric. "For fuck's sake, Eric! I asked you over here so I could get out of my head not to take an inward dive into my feelings!" She tore the check from the set of checks pushing it into Eric's hand. The piece of paper got crumpled up in the process. "Do me a favor, just text me the cost when you know it."
She turned her back to him walking back to her desk.
"When you told me to come over, I didn't realize you wanted to bed me," he spoke. "I thought you needed a shoulder to cry on, or maybe a friend to comfort you."
Lila took a deep breath as she put the checkbook back in its place. "And comfort me you did," she said dryly as she looked up to meet his bespectacled eyes. "Now that I'm all comforted, feel free to see yourself out, friend."
She noticed his posture immediately change. Where he was leaning towards her before, his back was now ramrod straight. Where his eyes were full of pity and tenderness before, now they glared at her with a certain look that left her feeling cold.
"Right." He said as he took two steps back.
Lila turned towards the desktop computer. She began to fiddle with the keyboard out of sheer nervousness after that look he had given her.
"You know," Eric marched menacingly towards her desk. "I didn't understand how you and Jane ever became friends before but now I'm starting to understand." He tossed the check on the desk before storming out of the house.