Page 37 of Once Upon a Beast

“Like you, I thought I was being obvious. I spent all my time with you. I told you I wasn’t interested in any guys when you asked. I even hinted that I wanted you to take me to prom.”

“Prom? You never said anything about prom.”

“Yes, I did. I dropped a bunch of hints about how much fun it would be to go. I told you about Ara going and the dress she bought.”

“And you mentioned some guy she wanted to set you up with so you could go to hers.” I remember her talking about the guy and being with Ara for the evening and how jealous I had gotten.

“I only did that to make you jealous. I was hoping it would get you to tell me that you wanted to go with me instead, but you never did.”

“You should have told me. I wanted to take you; I just couldn’t get up the nerve. Though considering what happened right before prom, it was probably for the best,” I said, mentioning my father getting arrested.

Layla put her hand over her mouth. “Shoot, Nic. I’m so sorry. I completely forgot about that. How insensitive of me.”

“It’s okay, it’s easy to forget, it’s been a few years. I try not to think about my father or what he did. Though he is making it harder and harder to do that.”

“With the story that he threatened to publish?” Layla asked.

I leaned my head against the seat. I hadn’t wanted to bring my father into our conversation but now that he was, it was probably best to tell her.

“Not just that. He’s been trying to get me to meet him for a few months now. He keeps telling me that he has information that will set him free but he needs my help.”

“Do you believe him? Are you going to help him?”

“No, and hell no. The man is a criminal who almost ruined my life. He’s just looking for a way to get back into my life and I won’t let him. He went as far as to make up a fake story to get my attention. I’m done with him. He made me lose years with you. He has taken enough from me, I’m not going to let him take anything more, including my time.”

“It might be good to talk to him,” Layla suggested.

“Why would you say that? How can you, of all people, even suggest it?”

“You’re hurting. I can hear it; I can see it. I can practically feel it. You have unresolved issues and feelings towards the man. You need to talk to him if nothing else to tell him all the things he did to you. I understand if you don’t want to see him, but have you ever thought about writing him a letter? You don’t even have to mail it but it would allow you to get all those feelings out. It could give you some closure and allow yourself to truly move on.”

“I never thought about that. I’m still too angry to think about anything else, much less find a way to articulate it.”

“You have every right to be. But you can’t let that hurt fester. It isn’t good.”

“I’ll think about it,” I said. I would, I just didn’t want to think about him or anything else but Layla tonight. “Enough talk about my father. This night is about you, and us, nothing more.”

“That’s great, but I still don’t know where we’re going or what we’re doing,” she said and tilted her head as she looked at me.

“True. Then it’s a good thing that we have arrived.” I leaned towards Layla so I could look out her window with her. I didn’t see her face but I could feel her smiling as she saw where we were.

Chapter 20

Layla

As far as first dates went, Nic couldn’t have picked a better place to take me than the Morgan Library. He knew it was one of my favorites, if not my utmost favorite places in all of New York City, possibly the world. I have had a membership since I was a child and could easily spend hours there. I loved it so much I had tried to get a job there but had stopped when I was offered my current job.

I slowly got out of the car and then turned to look at Nic. He gave me an easy smile and I shook my head at him. “This seems like an odd place to have a date? Are we going to read to each other?” I asked.

“If that’s what you want to do, we will,” Nic answered.

“Is there an event going on?”

“Not that I am aware of.”

“Is it even open? Are we having dinner somewhere near here?”

“It isn’t open, at least not to the public.”