Page 45 of The First Time

Charlotte and Layla run into each other’s arms while Asher joins me on the sidewalk. He claps me on the back. “You survived. I was expecting to see you limping or with a black eye. You know Layla when she gets angry.”

I chuckle at the thought. He isn’t wrong. The woman is a force to be reckoned with when you piss her off. I personally think it’s kinda hot. “Oh, I know. I guess I lucked out. No black eyes or broken bones for me.”

Asher looks over at the girls. “She looks different, super relaxed. I can see the tension in her has faded. Thanks for doing this for me, man. It means a lot. She really needed this.”

“Not a problem. A free trip to Italy wasn’t so bad. But we need to have a conversation about your spending habits. That hotel was way over the top.”

His head falls back as he laughs. “I know. But if two of the most important women in my life were going there alone, I felt better that they stayed somewhere nice.”

I get it. I would hate to think of Layla staying somewhere shady in a foreign country. It would keep me awake at night.

We throw our luggage in the trunk and hop in the backseat. Asher’s daughter, Brie, is in her car seat in the middle. She is laughing and clapping when Layla and I hop in and take the empty seats beside her.

“Uncle Joshie, Auntie Layla,” she giggles.

I don’t think I’ve ever heard our names together like that. It sounds like we’re a couple. I really like the sound of it.

Layla leans in and gives her a big kiss. “Hi, baby girl. I missed you so much.”

Layla has always been incredible with her niece. Brie brings out the softer side of Layla, and I know she will be the most incredible mother.

“So,” Charlotte turns around, “how was it? Tell me everything? Where did you go? What did you see? Keep in mind I was supposed to be on this trip and have major FOMO, so please don’t make it sound too incredible.”

Layla looks over at me, and we both try to hide our growing grins.

“It was alright,” I lie. “Just your standard vacation. You didn’t miss much.”

Charlotte rolls her eyes. “I can handle a little more information than that.”

We spend the next twenty minutes telling them about the trip, leaving out the details about how we spent our nights together. Asher doesn’t seem to suspect anything. It makes me think he might be dumber than I thought.

At one point, Brie seems to be getting jealous that no one is paying attention to her. I don’t like seeing my favorite girl so upset. She was only one when her mom passed away, so I was around a lot trying to help Asher adjust to being a single dad.

I scrunch my fingers together and have them slowly crawl their way to her before tickling under her chin. She starts to crack up, so I do it again. We play this game for a couple of minutes before she finds her snack up on the side of her car seat and gets lost in eating her goldfish.

I look out the window with a smile on my face. Brie always knows how to turn my mood around. I was nervous to be around Asher again with my new secret, but now I am completely forgetting about any awkwardness at all.

Asher pulls into my driveway a couple of minutes later. “Well, thanks for the ride, guys. I’ll be seeing you tomorrow, Ash. Bright and early with a side of jet lag for ya.”

Charlotte and Brie yell goodbye to me as I get my luggage out of the trunk. Layla looks back at me before I close the trunk, and I give her a wink.

She’ll be seeing me again. She might not know it, but this isn’t the end.

Chapter Sixteen

Layla

“Bitch, you are glowing. Italy certainly agreed with you!” Zane says from across my desk.

He’s been catching me up on the week. We don’t open for another couple of hours. Of course, the place ran smoothly without me. Zane had it all under control.

I’m actually more relieved than sad about it, which feels like progress. I think Italy showed me how much of the world is out there for me to explore. I don’t need to hide away in my restaurant. I’ve worked my ass off. I should be able to enjoy the benefits of a successful career. Look what I would have missed out on if I refused to take the vacation.

“Italy was amazing! Seriously, the place is just indescribable. Every city, every town is unique. The people are so friendly and relaxed. It’s impossible not to feel the same when you’re around them.”

“I’m so jealous you and Charlotte got to spend an entire week gawking at sexy Italian men without me.”

“Oh,” I sit up a bit in my seat, “I can’t believe I never told you. Charlotte canceled last minute. She’s pregnant, and her morning sickness just kind of hit her with a vengeance.”

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