Page 41 of Once Upon a Beast

Layla tilted her head and glared at me not believing what I said. “Are you one who likes it when your date doesn’t talk to you? One who has her head in books all night? Is that your idea of a good date?” she teased.

“I consider it a good date, when I can see that my date is happy.”

“Was that the only thing you wanted out of this date?”

“For now,” I said and she blushed again.

“You have succeeded. Only you would come up with this. You know how much I love this place.”

“I know how much you love books and there are some pretty incredible books here.”

“As there are at a few bars that are library themed in the city.”

“I didn’t even know those existed.”

“Maybe I’ll have to take you to one,” Layla suggested.

“I like that idea. Especially as that means we’ll be having a second date.”

“Aren’t we kind of required to?”

I had almost forgotten the reason that we were technically dating. It had stopped being about the story and making sure my father didn’t get the best of me a long time ago but it still lingered between us.

“Yes, but this, tonight, isn’t about that. This is about us, about you, and giving you a night you will never forget.”

“You have succeeded and then some. I most certainly will never forget it. It truly has been one of the best first dates I’ve ever been on.”

“Good, and it’s about to get even better.” I turned to watch Henry coming towards us with two big bowls. I knew what was in them and looked over to watch the realization come over Layla’s face.

“I should have known. I really should have but I’m still shocked. How did you find donuts from Diana’s?” she asked as Henry put two bowls of vanilla ice cream with chocolate donuts crumpled over the top of them.

“Layla, you must know by now, I have my ways. When I’m highly motivated I will do whatever I need to get what I want.” I held her gaze as I spoke and hoped that she knew I wasn’t just talking about the donuts but her too.

She didn’t say anything but dug into the ice cream and let out a satisfactory moan. I felt the sound through my entire body. I had to look down and eat my ice cream, otherwise, I was going to do or say something I didn’t think Layla was ready to hear. The date was going wonderfully but it was still a first date. I didn’t want to scare her off before I even had a chance to win her over.

“You never made me feel stupid for liking books,” Layla said after a moment.

“Why would I? Did others?” I hated thinking someone had bullied her or made her feel badly about what she liked. I hated it even more that I didn’t know about it.

“Not in so many words but there were some girls in school who thought it was stupid to hang out in the library all the time.”

“They’re the stupid ones for not seeing how much can be found and enjoyed in a library. Though it was more for you than just that,” I said.

Layla looked off to my right shoulder and didn’t say anything. I hadn’t meant to make her sad or bring up her mother. I sat and let her figure out what she wanted to say. I could tell she appreciated the silence and the time when she looked back at me.

“I feel like I’m closer to my mom when I’m around books. I feel like she guided me towards rare books and restoration. I love what I do and I never would have considered it if she hadn’t been in my life. I want to think it isn’t because she died that it matters so much to me.”

“It doesn’t. You would have loved books and probably would have ended up in the same spot if she were still alive. She gave you the foundation for the love and desire to do what you do. You were the one who cultivated it. You could have gone into politics like your father.”

Layla laughed. “You can’t honestly see me getting into politics, can you?”

“You would be amazing at anything you did. I think you would be good for the community and would do the job because you honestly want to help people not for the money or the prestige.”

“As would you. My father has mentioned that you should run a few times.” Layla took a bite of her ice cream and a little bit fell onto her lip. I took a sigh and looked away. I wanted to lean over and lick the ice cream off her lip and then linger there for a few years.

“We weren’t talking about me, and your father has mentioned it to me too. It’s never going to happen. Why did you choose restoration instead of publishing or writing? You were so good about coming up with stories when we were kids.”

“How do you remember that?” she asked.

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