Page 16 of Once Upon a Beast

“How was it seeing him, I mean really seeing him after so many years? Did you have any feelings for him?” Ella asked cautiously.

“I don’t hate him as much as I do so that’s a start. It was good to see him and we caught up a little bit, which was nice,” I said and took a sip of my wine.

“That isn’t what we were talking about and you know it,” Ara said. “Did you have any feelings for him?” Slowly saying feelings.

“Yes,” I said before adding quickly, “No. At least I haven’t even allowed myself to think about that. I just got my friend back. I’m not going to start thinking about him as anything more. I can’t. We have a job to do, that’s the only thing I’m concentrating on,” I said.

It was Ella’s turn to look at Ara and give her a knowing look. “That totally clears up that. I can tell you totally don’t have feelings for him.”

“I don’t know what I feel for him. I hadn’t seen him in ten years. I’m coming to terms with the fact that Nic is back in my life. I haven’t even begun to process that, much less anything else. Not that it matters. He called me ‘friend’ and said he was glad to have me back as his friend, nothing else. He isn’t interested in me that way,”

“Just be sure you know what you want and what you’re feeling. You liked him in the past and it didn’t go anywhere. We don’t want you to get hurt again either by giving him your friendship or something more. He might have changed and we hope he has, but you still need to be careful.”

I finished off my wine and put the glass on the table. I liked to drink wine but I had more in the last three hours than I had in the last three weeks. I could feel the effects going to my head. I didn’t mind. It was nice to let the alcohol loosen me up. I had come to my friends because I needed their guidance and I appreciated all they were doing for me.

“You’re right. I know. I’m planning on it. How could I not? I have you two watching out for me and making sure I don’t do anything stupid,” I said.

“Absolutely,” Ara said. “The minute we think you’re going to we will let you know.”

Ella and I laughed and Ara joined in. I was glad that I had been able to tell my friends what Nic and I were doing. It was going to be a difficult couple of weeks but it would be easier with them supporting me. They had been skeptical about it in the beginning but like me, they had seen this was the best option.

Seeing Nic again had reminded me of what we had and what we lost. I wasn’t as angry with him as I had once been. I wanted us to be friends and it looked like we would be. But I couldn’t help but wonder if we could have something more. There were times when he had looked at me that I thought he was thinking the same thing but I couldn’t be sure.

I hadn’t wanted to admit any of that to my friends because the only thing that truly mattered right now was making people believe that Nic and I were involved. If we could work on our friendship, even better. It was easy for me to say I was going to do it but it was going to be harder to keep myself from wanting more. I hadn’t even wanted to admit to myself that while I knew I needed to do this for my father and Nic and our friendship, I wasn’t sure if I could. It was going to be hard to pretend to have Nic’s love, something I have always wanted to have, and then walk away from it when it was over.

Chapter 9

Nicodemus

The tie wasn’t working, it had to be defective somehow. I had been standing in front of the mirror for longer than I cared to admit trying to get the damn thing to work. So far, I had no luck. The material didn’t feel right in my hands and it wouldn’t go the way I wanted it to. I tried to tie it again and grumbled when it didn’t work. Frustrated, I dropped my hands down and let out a sigh.

It had been two days since I had seen Layla, one day since we had announced our engagement, and in less than an hour, we would be standing in front of New York society as we made our official debut as an engaged couple.

The Library Lions event was near and dear to Layla’s heart and one of the few social events she went to. It seemed like the perfect solution to not only show that I was with Layla but that I was supporting her and her interests. If there were any questions about the legitimacy of our relationship, being seen by the most influential people in the city would immediately put it to rest.

We had finalized our date the night she was at my apartment. It had been wonderful to talk to her again, to hear her laugh, to see her smile, to even listen to her voice. She hadn’t stayed long, saying she had plans for the evening. I didn’t want to push and knew we would have more time together, but I had wanted her to stay. I told myself the evening was a start and I would have more time with her. I just needed to get my damn tie to work.

“If you keep scowling at your tie it might spontaneously combust,” Steve said from the doorway of my bedroom.

“Who let you in?” I growled at him.

“I have the code and you asked me to come over. I can see that my services are needed.” He walked the rest of the way into the bedroom. Putting a hand on my shoulder he turned me away from the mirror. “Give me that,” he said and lightly slapped my hands away from the tie.

“Dude,” I glared at Steve. He paid me no mind as he concentrated on making the bow I wanted. When he was done, he tugged on the tie, putting it in the correct place and then smiled up at me.

“See, all done. Now you look like a proper gentleman.” He gave me a once over and then added. “Well, you could use a haircut but the rugged look is in. The crowd will eat it up.”

I subconsciously ran my hand through my hair. “Should I cut it?”

“Not now. There isn’t enough time. It looks fine. It will add to your mystique. You’ll look like the man that Layla was able to tame. I think that was even one of the headlines for your engagement announcement somewhere, ‘The Beast has been Tamed.’”

“The city does enjoy a good love story.”

“You and Layla are certainly giving it to them.” Steve walked around me as if inspecting my tuxedo. His hands ran down my arms as he took off some lint or something. I looked over at him and he stepped back, crossed his arms, and gave an approving nod. “You look ready for the ball.”

“It isn’t a ball.”

“Then a date.”

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