Page 12 of One Whopper of a Love Story

Layla crossed her arms. “I appreciate everything you’ve done. And I’m sorry I...” She stared into her coffee cup. “I don’t always think through things before I do them. I’m impulsive, so I’m sorry for kissing you and climbing on you, and other stuff I probably did and can’t remember right now.”

“I didn’t mind a bit.” I shifted, using the delay to choose my words. “Would you be interested in going out with me Saturday night?” Since it was only Monday, waiting until Saturday felt like a long time, but I didn’t want to rush things.

She pinched her lips together. “My roommate got back in town early, so after we eat, if you’ll take me home, she can help me get my car.”

I didn’t like the idea of her changing a tire on that road. “I texted a buddy of mine this morning, and he’s fixing the tire and driving your car to your apartment. As a favor.” The change of subject was enough of an answer to my other question. My gut was right.

“He’ll need my keys.”

“And you handed me the keys last night.”

“Oh.” She curled the corner of her napkin, then smoothed it back out. “Can I think about Saturday?” Her lower lip was between her teeth again.

“Sure.”

She leaned back as our waitress set our food on the table, and when it was just us again, she touched my hand as I reached for my silverware. “I’ve pinched myself so many times I think I’m going to have a bruise. I’ve been working on curbing my impulsiveness, and saying yes to you—this whole thing—is just one impulsive explosion of attraction.”

“I get that. Friends, then?”

Her head bobbed up and down. “I hope so.”

I did too. As soon as I dropped her off, I planned to call Garrett. If anyone was an expert on navigating the friend zone, it was that man.

Chapter 7

Layla

I flopped across the bed and hugged my pillow. “Am I an idiot for not saying yes?”

Lettie clicked her tongue. “I’m not sure I understand why you didn’t. If he likes your giggling, why is that a problem?”

“No one ever really likes my giggling. Guys say they do, but then after the first date, they ghost me or they hang around waiting for me to sleep with them, and when I won’t, the giggling becomes irritating. I don’t have enough fingers to count the times a guy has said he thinks my giggling is adorable only to change his mind shortly after.” I burrowed my face in my pink pillow and sighed. “And I like this one. A lot.”

“Because he’s tall?” Lettie rolled her eyes, but her smile gave away her teasing.

She was eight inches taller than me and gave me a hard time about dating guys so tall.

“I can’t help what I like. And honestly, even if he were short, I might like him. He’s funny... and cute. That dark hair. And dark eyes but with a twinkle. He asked about my frog.”

“Prince Nicolaus, the charming amphibian just waiting to morph into perfection.”

I tossed a pillow at her. “The name is a coincidence. We named that frog years ago. Please. You can’t tell him.”

“Why would I tell him? That’s something he should hear from you.” She put a hand to her chest and fluttered her eyelashes. “It’s like a fairy tale.”

“Stop. I should never have kissed him.”

“I think you’re worrying too much. See what happens. If he keeps showing up, you could give him a chance.” She lay down next to me. “Those other guys were nuts. Your giggle is fun. Plus, you’re gorgeous.”

While I appreciated the compliment, I wasn’t great at handling people saying nice things about me, so I found a new topic. “Have you talked to your cowboy?”

“I haven’t worked up the nerve to contact him. He probably doesn’t want to see me.”

“Then moving here was a great plan. You realize this is a small town, right?” I whapped her with the pillow. “You should at least talk to him.”

“Maybe. Probably. I’ll think about it.” She rolled to her back and covered her face. “I was hoping to lose ten or twenty pounds before seeing him again, but that’ll take me a year or more.”

“If he doesn’t like you now, it doesn’t matter what he thinks of you twenty pounds lighter.” I rubbed her shoulder. “Give him a chance.”

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