Page 56 of The Life Experiment
But Layla knew the answer to that. She was dying. In two years’ time, to be precise.
No, she could not let herself go there with Angus. Dating was messy. Complicated. More drama than Layla could handle right now.
Plus, Angus was not a fling. He was not a one-night stand. He was… well, he was more than Layla had words for. Dinner had only cemented what Layla had come to suspect – one kiss from Angus and she would never be the same again. When her death date had thrown so much of her life into chaos, it wasn’t a risk Layla could take.
Standing on the street outside the restaurant, Layla braved a look at Angus, then wished she hadn’t. It was easy to pretend that she could stick to her ‘friends only’ rule with her back to him. But one glimpse of that crooked smile and those twinkly eyes? Well, she was done for.
‘I should go,’ Layla said at the same time Angus said, ‘Would you like to go for a drink?’
Biting her lip to try to control the ferocity of her blush, Layla lowered her gaze. ‘I’d better not. I have work tomorrow.’
‘Work. Of course. Me too.’
A moment of silence rang out, disturbed only by the sound of traffic passing beside them.
‘I wish we could stay out, though,’ Angus admitted. ‘I feel like I’ve only scratched the surface of knowing you.’
Although she willed herself not to, Layla flicked her gaze to Angus once more. Her knees almost buckled as their eyes connected. Fuck, he was handsome.
The perfect distraction from death, her brain chimed, but Layla stamped out that thought. She would not – could not – invite romance into her life.
Pulling her phone from her pocket, Layla ordered an Uber. ‘Two minutes away,’ she said, keeping her gaze on the phone because it was easier than keeping it on Angus.
‘That’s quick,’ Angus replied.
As the time turned to one minute, Layla gulped. She looked up, staring deep into the eyes of the man who made her laugh so hard at dinner she’d snorted.
‘I had a wonderful time tonight, Angus,’ Layla heard herself say.
The smile that took over Angus’s face was dazzling. ‘Me too. Tonight might go up there as one of the best nights of my life.’
‘One of the best? Notthebest?’ Layla teased.
‘Top five, at least,’ Angus replied.
As their smiles widened, Layla felt her resolve waver. It would be easy to cancel the Uber and head for a drink. Or, if she were feeling extra bold, cancel drinks and head back to her place. Rhi had a night shift, so they would have the apartment to themselves. All Layla had to do was be brave and suggest it…
But ever since opening Saira’s envelope, all Layla’s energy had been zapped. Feeling so drained took more out of her than she could admit.
As her phone pinged to announce her Uber’s arrival, Layla shrank into herself. Standing on tiptoes, she kissed Angus’s cheek, her face warming when her lips met Angus’s skin. ‘Thank you for tonight.’
As she pulled back, meeting his eyes, Layla cursed herself for closing the gap between them. Up close, the scent of Angus’s aftershave was intoxicating. His mouth was so close that if she tilted her head slightly,she could meet it with her own. All it would take was one small movement…
‘Good night,’ Layla said, rushing away before Angus could say it back.
Blindly, Layla entered her Uber. As it peeled away from the pavement, she braved a look back at Angus. He stood on the pavement, staring at the car as if dazed. Slowly, his hand raised to wave goodbye.
Only when her Uber rounded a corner did Layla force herself to turn around in her seat.
Breathing air into her lungs, Layla looked to her phone. With shaking hands, she sent a message:
I’m feeling a 1 out of 10 right now
Within minutes, Saira was calling.
‘I’m sorry to contact you so late,’ Layla said as soon as she heard Saira’s voice.
‘Please don’t apologise. My job is to be here whenever you need me. It’s a good job I don’t sleep much,’ Saira joked, then she paused. ‘Is everything okay?’
