Page 28 of Once Upon a Beast

“Never mind,” I said and stood up taller as Layla walked toward us.

“Hey, Dad. I haven’t seen you all night. Where have you been hiding?” Layla asked as she approached us. She kissed him lightly on the cheek and then went to stand in front of us. She wasn’t standing as close as she had before my confession. I could tell she was trying to keep her distance from me.

“I’ve been around, enjoying my victory lap. People seem happy to see you two together.”

Layla gave her father a pained smile. “I’m glad to see that it’s working out so well.”

“And it has, thanks to you two. I knew you would make a great team.” He beamed at us and then clapped his hands together. “I won’t keep you two. I’m sure you have other people you want to talk to besides your old man. Have a good night. You look lovely, Layla. You remind me so much of your mother tonight.”

“Thanks, Dad.” Layla’s eyes teared up slightly at the mention of her mother. It might have been years since her mother died but she had never gotten over the pain of losing her, not completely.

“She would be proud of everything that you’ve accomplished. I have no doubt,” I added.

Layla looked over at me as if she’d forgotten I was there or what I looked like. It felt like she was seeing me for the first time. She didn’t say anything for a few moments and then she blushed and said, “Thank you. That means a lot.”

“You’re most welcome,” I said and nodded at her.

“On that lovely note. I’m going to see myself out. Don’t stay out too late you two,” James said and with a quick hug to Layla and a handshake for me, he left us alone.

An awkward silence fell over us once James was gone. I had wanted to be alone with her all night and now that I was, I didn’t know what to say. Though considering the last time we had I’d blown everything up, it was understandable.

“It looks like things are winding down,” Layla said after a moment.

“You’re right. I haven’t seen Ella and Dax in a while,” I said.

“I haven’t either. Though knowing Ella, she left as soon as she could. This isn’t really her thing.”

“Ara seemed to be having the time of her life,” I said.

“All Ara needs is a party or an excuse to be at one to have a good time.”

“Who was the guy I saw her with?”

“Stephen Collier? He’s an old high school friend and occasionally a boyfriend of hers.”

“Ah,” I said for lack of anything better to say.

“I think they might have even left, too,” Layla said after she looked around the ballroom and didn’t find them.

“Is that our cue to leave, too?” I asked.

“If you are ready, I could go.”

“Sure. If you are.”

She didn’t wait for me to follow her but walked toward the exit. I followed her, smiling and nodding at people as we did. It was awkward between us again and I didn’t like that, but I couldn’t think of anything to change it.

It was late enough in the evening that I hoped the paparazzi would have left. As we walked toward the front door, I could hear the slow roar from them and knew we weren’t going to get that lucky. I didn’t want to put a smile on my face and pretend that everything was okay between Layla and me when it was anything but.

Before she opened the door, Layla stopped and turned to me. “Looks like we still have company,” she said.

“Yeah, it does.”

“You ready?” she asked and reached her hand out to take mine.

I looked down at her hand and I wanted nothing more than to take it, to pull her into my arms and tell her I was ready for anything and everything if she was next to me. But she wasn’t with me, not really. She never had been and she never would be. I would have to be happy with the time that I had with her and then let her go when the time was right. It was what she wanted and I wouldn’t deny her anything.

Reaching out, I put my hand in hers and gave her a smile that I didn’t feel. “As I’ll ever be,” I said.

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