Page 13 of Once Upon a Beast

“Fair enough,” I replied and brought the bottle over with two glasses. Her answer told me she was willing to have a drink with me, but she wasn’t ready to have a meal, or she just wasn’t hungry.

I walked back into the living room and sat across from her. She watched me as I poured the wine and handed her a glass. I knew it was wrong but I had a quick flash of what it would be like if we were doing this every night. If we were living together. If we were man and wife and this was what we did together.

Layla reached over to take the glass and our fingers touched. There was shock, a recognition in my body when we did. It was as if it remembered her and longed to be closer to her. I looked over at Layla but she wouldn’t meet my gaze. There was a slight blush on her cheeks, telling me she had felt it too. I didn’t push, but moved my hand away, and sat down on the couch.

“To answer your question. No, it isn’t enough for us to just put out a press release. We need to be seen, we need to make sure the story has legs, and that people believe it.”

“And they won’t if we are never actually seen together.”

“Exactly. It could be seen as a publicity stunt.”

“Well, it is. What is the story we’re going to tell people? What is the narrative here?”

I wanted to tease her that the librarian wanted a good story, one that she and everyone else could believe, but she was right. We needed to be on the same page if this was going to work.

“We should keep it as simple and as close to the truth as we can. We rekindled our friendship after years apart. It slowly grew into something more and we fell in love.”

“How is that even remotely close to the truth?” Layla took a sip of her wine and looked at me over the glass.

“Most of it is. I hope most of it is. We are rekindling our friendship after years apart. I do hope that we will be close again. It just won’t develop into the love story everyone wants it to be.”

“Right, of course.” Layla put down her wine glass and crossed her legs. It was a move she made when she was nervous and I wondered why she was now.

“Was there another story you wanted to use instead? It was just a suggestion. I’m open to ideas.”

“No, no,” Layla stammered. “That should work fine. Assuming Dad puts out the press release immediately, when would our first official outing be as an engaged couple?” she asked.

I took a sip of my wine and brought the wine glass back with me to the couch as I looked at her. I didn’t say anything and Layla sat up and glared at me. “No. Not that.”

“Why not. It’s perfect.”

“My co-workers, my boss, the press, everyone will be there.” Layla looked pained, as if the thought of being seen in public, especially at that event, did not sit well with her.

“Exactly, hence why it’s the perfect event for us to make our debut.”

“Can’t I just say you have a work thing that keeps you away? It will add to the mystery about you,” Layla suggested.

“As a dutiful and loving fiancé, I would never in good conscience allow the love of my life to go to the most important function of the year alone.” I spoke in a teasing tone but I wanted to go. It was an important event for her and I wanted to be there to support her.

“What if I already had a date?” she countered.

I hadn’t considered that. Her father hadn’t either, so I assumed she wasn’t. I didn’t want to think about her being with anyone other than me. If she was dating someone, it would cause this whole thing to be done even before it started. It would also mean I would lose any chance of being with her.

“Do you?” I asked slowly.

“I do. But lucky for you, when I explain everything to Ara, she will be fine with not going. Though she’s going to be upset that she can’t wear the dress that she bought. You might have to deal with that.”

“You and her could go to a nice dinner, or play with Ella so she could wear it. I will even buy. How about that?” I countered.

“She would be very happy with that. Though it will be a very expensive dinner.”

“I would expect nothing less from Ara.” While I never had the privilege of meeting Ella or Ara, I felt like I knew them from everything that Layla had told me through the years.

“That brings up a slightly delicate yet important bit of information that we need to discuss.”

The more Layla and I talked, the more I knew she was going to do this. She hadn’t said it yet, but we wouldn’t have gotten this far in the conversation if she wasn’t.

“Okay, what is that?”