Page 40 of Once Upon a Beast

I wanted to remind Layla of our past, our shared memories, and that we knew each other so well. She had been my best friend for years, we had so many great times. I wanted to remind her of those and give her a glimpse of what we could have going forward.

Having dinner at the Morgan Library allowed her to do something she never had done before. The dinner we would have would be a reminder of the fun we had when we were kids. I wanted to give her both. Our past would give us a good foundation for our future together.

She was getting a slight idea of what I had in mind when she saw the sparkling cider. We drank it often when we were kids. Her father had entertained extensively at their house and Layla was allowed to have me around. I was sure it helped that my father had been at most of the parties too. One night, I had tried to sneak some champagne for us but her father had quickly gotten wind of it. He hadn’t told my father, which I was grateful for. Instead, James had told us that we would have our own champagne to drink at any parties from then on.

We had both felt so special, thinking her father had gotten something just for us. It was years later before we both realized it was just sparkling cider and not that exciting. Still, we had enjoyed many bottles and even imagined that we got tipsy off the drink, even though it wasn’t possible.

“I haven’t had sparkling cider in years,” Layla said as she took a sip.

“Me either.” I wanted to ask her if she hadn’t been able to drink it like I had because it reminded me of us.

“I’ll be curious to know if the same is true about our main course,” I said.

Right on time, Henry came out with our dinner plates. Layla smiled at me and sat up in her chair. “You did not,” she said slowly as Henry put our plates down.

“I might have,” I teased.

On New Year’s Eve when we were twelve, our father’s had left us alone as they went to a party. We had been excited about having the house all to ourselves and Layla spent an extensive amount of time trying to figure out what movies we would watch and what else we would do. I had been looking forward to the evening and we even dressed up a little for the occasion. We had played a few video games, watched a movie, and then gotten hungry. It was then that we realized her father hadn’t left any food for us or told us what we had to eat.

At the time, neither of us had ordered food and had it delivered. Even if we could have ordered a pizza, we didn’t have any money and Layla didn’t know where her father might keep any or his credit cards. They weren’t ones to keep much food in the house and Layla had worried that we were going to starve. I had wanted to reassure her and with more confidence that I had felt, I told her I would find something for us to eat.

There hadn’t been much in her house but I had kept my promise. It had turned into one of my favorite meals and Layla agreed. The food hadn’t been that good but it was fun to scavenge around in the kitchen and find something to make together. We made the best of the situation and it was one of my most memorable New Year Eve’s ever. When I thought back on it, it was probably the first time that I started to have romantic feelings for Layla.

“This is strangely the best and worst dinner ever,” Layla said as she looked at her hotdog that was covered in mayonnaise.

“Come on, bar-be-que chips aren’t that bad,” I teased her and put a chip in my mouth.

“I think we’re the only people I know who put mayonnaise on their hot dogs.”

“They don’t know what they’re missing out on,” I said and took a bite. It was a strange combination and one I never would have tried if not for the night with Layla.

“Actually,” Layla said after she took a bite. “I looked it up to see how common it was.”

I laughed. “Of course, you did.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Her words sounded harsh but the smile on her face told me she knew exactly what I was getting at but wanted me to say it.

“You have this incredible way of wanting to know everything and doing whatever you can so you do.”

“Are you calling me a know-it-all?” she asked.

“I wouldn’t call you that. I would say you’re smart, witty, insightful, and inquisitive.”

“Good save,” Layla said and finished off her hotdog.

“It’s the truth. You’re also kind, compassionate, strong willed, and beautiful.”

“Why do I feel that one of those wasn’t a compliment?”

“They all were, and all things that you are. I know I keep saying it but I missed you Lay, I missed us. I’m glad we have had this chance to get reacquainted.”

Layla lifted her glass and took a sip of her cider to hide her blush. “Me too. Though I feel like I was the worst date ever.”

“Not in the least,” I was shocked by her comment.

“How can you say that? I practically ignored you all night.”

“You didn’t.”