Page 42 of Once Upon a Beast

“I remember everything about you.” I held her gaze again and she blushed and looked away. She took her napkin and wiped the ice cream off her lip. I was both happy and disappointed by the move.

“It’s funny you should say that. You’re one of only a few people I would even admit this to, but I did try and write a novel once.”

“You did?” This was news to me but that I was bound to miss a few things by not talking to her for years. “What happened?”

“It was horrible. It wasn’t right, it didn’t work. I knew I was never going to be successful as an author.”

“You tried one book and then gave up. That doesn’t sound like you.”

“There were a few, different troupes all worse than the previous one. Believe me, the world is better off never having read any of my books. Plus, I like what I do. I’m good at it. What more could a woman ask for?”

“More ice cream?” I asked.

“No. Definitely not that. I’m stuffed. It’s been years since I had that meal and now, I can see why. It’s so good but it’s too much.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it and hopefully, the evening too.”

“Yes, Nic. Tonight has been wonderful. You’ve been wonderful.”

I moved my bowl to the side and leaned on the table. I looked over at Layla. My heart swelled with happiness and love. I gave her a slow smile as I said, “I want to give you everything, Layla, all you have to do is ask.”

Chapter 22

Layla.

Nic and I sat in the East Room and talked for hours. Henry left us alone and didn’t seem to be in any rush to make us leave. I had no idea what time it was when we finally left the library but I knew it was late.

I didn’t care. I could have stayed there all night talking, laughing, getting reacquainted, and just looking at Nic. There was something about the lighting in the East Room, or maybe it was just the setting and how romantic and perfect that it was made Nic look better than he ever had.

He seemed nervous throughout the meal, as if he wasn’t sure how I would react. It was so sweet and a little ridiculous. There couldn’t have been a better date ever as far as I was concerned. I felt awful that I had neglected him but he knew me well enough to know that was what was going to happen and he hadn’t minded.

The whole evening had been wonderful but it was also very confusing. It had been a date; he certainly had said it was but he had been acting more like we were friends. Besides taking my hand when we walked in, he hadn’t done anything forward towards me. I wanted to think he was being sweet, that he was giving me some time and space, but I was worried that somehow, we were now permanently in the friend zone.

If he did want to be friends with me, I could be okay with that. I wanted him in my life. As much as I loved Ara and Ella, Nic grew up with me and understood my father. He was there for me when my mother died. There was a connection with us that went deeper than anything I had with anyone else.

But what if it was just that? What if the connection stopped with us being friends? We had been pushed into the situation of being romantically involved. What if we were forcing something that wasn’t there? Well, was it more that I was trying to push a romantic agenda on him that he wasn’t feeling?

I cared about Nic and while I wanted to be with him, I didn’t think it was worth the possibility of losing his friendship. I had lost it once and it had sucked. I didn’t want to lose it again.

We were quiet as we headed back to my place. I wanted to believe I was quiet because I was tired but I was wide awake and my mind was running. I looked over at Nic to see him looking at me. I blushed and he smiled.

“I’m sorry I kept you out so late. I didn’t realize the time,” he said.

“It was a lovely time. Really, you outdid yourself. I didn’t want to leave.”

“I was glad to do it. I’m happy you had such a good time.”

“That was never a problem for us. We could always have fun when we were together. Even if we’re sitting in a dentist's office.”

Nic laughed at the memory. “I was so scared but you kept my mind occupied and by the time I had to go in, I wasn’t nervous anymore.”

“I still look at those cheesy tabloid magazines and come up with my own stories like we did that day,” I said.

“Me too,” Nic admitted. “I had a great one about Lizbeth Angelo and her latest beau the other day.”

“Really?” I laughed. “It wasn’t that long ago that you were attached to her. Was there any truth to the rumors?” I asked. I told myself I was asking as a friend but it was more than that.

“No, not in the least. I have no idea how they even connected the two of us. It isn’t like we run in the same circles.”