Page 22 of Layla Meets Her Match

This date was the total opposite of what Eli and Landon told me to do—it’s not taking it slow. Layla seemed like she was having fun, so at least there’s that. She’s been promising me that the speculation on social media doesn’t bother her, and maybe it’s because she’s not some nameless woman they caught me out with. Every single time this gets posted, they name her as “Actress Layla Delaford.” If I can do anything for her, maybe it’s this. Maybe it’s making people talk about her.

Getting to the facility early on Friday morning is a welcome distraction. Doing my weightlifting session requires me to focus on the game. Today we’ll be going over our red-zone offense, among a lot of other things, and making sure we’re perfect on the field. We streamline one of our trick plays, where Eli looks over at the sideline like we don’t have the play in and the center direct-snaps it to me. It will be a great one to get a few extra yards when we need it.

But we’re heading home early since it’s Friday. We’ll have meetings in the morning and a walk-through of the game plan. I see Dalton as we head home, which isn’t exactly a distraction since it reminds me of the date, but I want to report to Layla what he said about his date with Astrid. They looked like they were having a great time, and bringing up my inside source with Layla is an excuse to talk to her.

“Hey,” I say when I fall into step beside him as we walk out of the facility. “Looked like my matchmaking was a success.” I grin at him, ready for the details of where he and Astrid went after the date.

Except he shrugs. “It was good.”

I turn to him. “Just good?” This wasn’t the news I was expecting.

He shrugs again. “I think she might be dating someone else. I don’t want to get in the middle of that.”

My eyebrows come down. “I don’t think Layla would set her up if she was in a relationship.”

“Maybe it’s not exactly a relationship. But this guy texted her a bunch while we were at dinner and called a few times. She didn’t answer, but I couldn’t help seeing his name on her phone.”

Hmmm. “It could be her brother or something,” I suggest. “I can ask Layla about it if you want.”

He shakes his head. “Astrid was nice, but too quiet to be my type. I want a woman who’ll hold her own with me, you know? I don’t want to fall into something where I’m railroading her all the time, and I think Astrid is just the type that would let me, even if she is sweet. I need someone feisty.”

I get that. It makes me think of Layla. And if I wasn’t trying to date her myself, I might suggest that Dalton think about asking her out.

We part ways at the parking lot. Unfortunately, this means I don’t have an excuse to text or even call Layla tonight. I don’t want to be the one to break the bad news to her that Dalton isn’t interested. If there is another guy, maybe Astrid isn’t interested in Dalton either and we can just let this slide.

When I get home, I head straight to the shower. Nick let me know about another party at his house tonight. He warned me in his text that Layla’s ex was going to be there. I’m not surprised he knows that I might have a problem being in the same room as him. I’ve had my social media manager be on the lookout for anything said about Layla and to report it back to me so I can make sure our “no comment” strategy to keep Layla’s name out there isn’t backfiring. Ella, my social media manager, suggested that if we allow people to keep talking about us, it will make the director of the LA Lights spinoff more likely to consider her.

What Ella has let me know is the handful of gossip accounts that have mentioned Layla’s connection with Jack Williams, but mostly just things like mentions that they dated briefly, and she’s assured me that no one has mentioned Layla’s daughter or that Jack is the father.

Tonight though, I do want to be in the same room as Jack. I have a few things to say to him.

CHAPTER 13

LAYLA

My apartment is unpacked by about ten a.m. on Friday morning. I squeeze in as many videos as I can while Margot naps, and then I grab a handful throughout the day when she’s playing. By late afternoon though, I pack Margot into her stroller, and we head for Landon’s.

I’m still a little giddy over going out last night. I’ve forgotten how much social interaction like that fills my battery. I’ve been hanging out mostly with Landon and Mila and then sometimes Court and Eli since I found out I was pregnant with Margot. Dressing up and going out on the town, so to speak, was what I needed to put a skip in my step. And then waking up to all the speculating pictures that tagged me and labeled me as “Actress Layla Delaford” has me on a high I can’t explain. Lincoln is worried about it, but I keep grinning over every single one that pops up (most of them variations of us walking into the restaurant and when he put his arm around the back of my chair when dessert arrived, but some are of all of us laughing and talking over dinner). I’ve saved a bunch to my phone because they remind me that it was fun and that I am Actress Layla Delaford.

I mean, I was. And last night I was again, and it was fun to relive the memories.

Also, there are actual TikToks of me and Lincoln. Dozens of them. Videos from my stint on LA Lights mashed up with videos of him playing football or off the field and then the pictures from last night added in. If TikTok is to be believed, we’ll be announcing our wedding any day now. I laugh to myself, and Margot copies me, making me laugh harder.

Just as I reach Landon’s building, my phone dings with a text, and surprisingly, it’s my agent.

Zora: I’m getting requests to comment on your relationship with Lincoln Knight. What do you want me to say?

I laugh out loud, and once again, Margot echoes me. I haven’t spoken to Zora in months. She pushed to keep me acting, even when I found out I was pregnant with Margot. She kept telling me I was on the brink. She wanted to use my relationship with The Super-Not-Hero to catapult my name into directors’ heads. I was a great actress, she kept insisting. We were right there. We just needed to get my name out there, and this was an opportunity. She respected me when I told her no way, and then pretty soon she had to focus on other clients. I don’t blame her. I wasn’t making her money, and by my own admission I didn’t plan to anytime soon.

Layla: Do we have to say anything? We’re just friends, but the speculation is kind of fun.

Zora: You know I’m happy to let people talk about you all they want.

Zora: The network is developing an LA Lights spinoff. Should I let them know you’re interested?

I catch my breath and stare at the message. Back when I did those episodes, I kept hoping the writers would keep me in. People were so invested in my character’s relationship with Detective Leclair, I thought for sure that would sway the executives. I don’t want to have to manage my expectations again for something I can’t even do.

I stew for several minutes. I type no about twelve times and then delete it. I don’t want to cut off this opportunity, but it doesn’t matter, right? I’m not going to get it, and there’s Margot to think about.

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