Page 27 of Once Upon a Beast

“For making your brain explode? Glad to help. Should I tell Nic where to find you?”

“No. No. I’ll go back inside in a few minutes.” I patted her on the shoulder and leaned in as she kissed my head.

“Okay. Don’t stay out too late. I don’t want you to catch a cold. Though I have a feeling there is someone who would be more than happy to warm you up.”

I turned and glared at Ara who only laughed and walked back into the ballroom. I didn’t watch her go but felt her absence and let out a long sigh. She was right, I needed to figure out what I really wanted between Nic and me. I cared about him, I had for years. I never allowed myself to imagine we could be anything more. Now, there was the possibility and I was afraid to even hope.

What would it even look like? How would we be? Would it even work? Did I want to even try this if it meant I could lose his friendship if things didn’t work out? Was what we could have worth that risk?

The answers to all those questions came immediately to mind. As they did, I couldn’t help but smile and a feeling of excitement and hope filled me. I needed to find Nic, I needed to talk to him. I wanted to see what we could be and I wanted it to start right now.

Chapter 15

Nicodemus

There was nothing like practically telling a woman that you are in love with her and having her run away from you to bruise the ego. I wanted to kick myself for even saying anything. I had got caught up in the moment, in her, in the possibility of what we could be. I let my desire to be with her outweigh my better judgment. I had wanted some sort of reaction, some sort of acknowledgement from Layla. Instead of bringing her closer to me, I had caused her to run in the other direction, both literally and figuratively. I thought about going after her. We both knew she didn’t need to talk to Ara,

The only reason she would have done that was because she needed to get away from me. By her actions, it was obvious that Layla didn't have the same feelings. By her running away she had only been trying to save us any embarrassment.

I had watched her go over to Ara and the two of them immediately went outside. I knew what they were talking about. I had screwed up royally and all I wanted to do was find a way to fix it. Layla was the most important person in my life. I thought we were in a good place, and I had ruined everything I had gained with her.

With nothing to do but wait, I tried to enjoy myself at the party. It was a nice event and there were people that I knew and had worked with, but I felt out of place and awkward. It had been so much easier with Layla by my side. All I could think about was if she would ever be there again.

I noticed when Ara came back into the room but Layla wasn’t with her. I exchanged a look with Ara. She quickly shook her head, telling me that I shouldn’t go out and check on Layla. The realization that she didn’t want me there hurt, more than I thought it would. I had hoped that at least Layla and I had gotten to a point where we could be friends with each other, that we could be honest with each other. We had in the past. It was just one more thing that I had screwed up between us.

“The night has been a roaring success,” James said as he came up to me. He was wearing a tuxedo but his tie had come undone and his hair was messed up. I had no idea what would cause that to happen but it was the normal look for James.

“I’m glad someone thinks so,” I muttered.

“Did something happen? Are things not going well? You and Layla looked so happy together. I’ve been getting congratulations all night. Most people think it’s a wonderful development. I even had a few people say it was a long time in coming. I couldn’t agree more,” James said.

I turned and leaned into him so that no one would hear me. “It’s all a lie.”

“No one else knows that. That’s all that matters. The story can’t be printed now. We should be in the clear. Though I do think you two will have to keep up appearances for a little while longer. You know, just to be on the safe side,” he said with a soft chuckle.

I looked over at James. He gave me a sheepish look and I suddenly understood him and what was going on a lot more. “You wanted this to happen. You could have found another way to make this story go away but you wanted me and Layla together.”

“Well, uh, I wouldn’t say that. I don’t want you thinking I pushed you two to be together,” he stammered.

“Yet, that is exactly what you did.”

James looked a little embarrassed but he didn’t disagree with me. I wasn’t sure if I was happy that the man thought I was good enough to be with his daughter, or upset that I had lost any chance of being with her.

“Layla is a wonderful woman and she deserves to be with an equally wonderful man. I can’t think of anyone who is more deserving of her than you. I can’t help it if I saw a situation that could put you two together and hoped for the best.”

“She doesn’t want to have anything to do with me. It isn’t going to work.”

James put a reassuring hand on my shoulder and said, “You must give her time. She was hurt by your absence. She missed you, and she still cares about you. It isn’t too much of a stretch to think that you can turn that friendship into something more. Assuming you want it.” James let the last sentence hang between us.

“I’m not discussing your daughter’s love life and my involvement with you,” I said.

It wasn’t any of his business nor did I want to explain to him how I had ruined his plan before it had even gotten off the ground.

“Fair enough,” James said and laughed. “Though if I may make a suggestion. You need to woo her a bit. Layla is old-fashioned. She will want to be wined and dined. Have some romantic evenings and dinners. She wants to feel cherished, loved, and appreciated. I think all women do, but Layla especially. If you want to win her, you need to make an effort.”

“I have to get her to talk to me first,” I muttered.

“What was that?” James asked.