Page 77 of Twist of Date

“Never,” she replies and the two of them just grin like two twin Cheshire cats.

Again, I find myself speechless when my grandma looks at me. “Cole, I changed my mind. I don’t want to know the story of how we all ended up witnessing you and Layla in a compromising position.” She picks up her fork and gingerly stabs at some eggs on her plate that are surely cold by now. Ruth snickers next to her, reaching for her glass of water. “But I do want to know one thing.”

I gulp. “What’s that, Grandma?”

“Do you love Layla?” Her eyes bore into me. And I also feel the heat of Ruth’s stare.

I don’t have to think about it. “With all my heart.” I look her in the eyes, then glide my gaze to Ruth, showing her the same thing, that all my love for Layla pours out in every inch of me.

“Very good. Now, I do expect the utmost sincere apology to that poor girl, Mina. She did not deserve to walk in on that. None of us did, for that matter.” She shakes her head and I notice Ruth’s eyes dart away.

“I’m already one step ahead of you,” I tell her earnestly. “But that does lead me to another question for Ruth. Was Mina in on this whole thing too?”

Ruth shifts in her seat. “Technically, you don’t need to apologize. You’re not dating exclusively with HEA matches until after date three. Yesterday was only date two,” she informs us both, still dodging my question directly.

I knew this, but I still felt like I owed Mina an explanation.

The brunch chatter easily flows into Grandma’s visit and what she and Ruth have planned. It’s simple conversations and I feel like I got off easy with the grandmas.

Am I an idiot to think that once I get in front of Layla that conversation will go smoothly as well?

Probably.

Chapter 17

BE ALIVE AND NOT NAKED

LAYLA

Rolling over in bed,I groan as I hear my phone vibrate against the nightstand where it sits on the charging pad.

It’s been buzzing all morning.

And I’ve been ignoring it.

Heck, it started buzzing last night and I’ve ignored it since.

I royally fucked up and yesterday my mistakes blew up in my face like a grenade. I’m utterly horrified with the fact that Cole and I were caught red-handed. Not only did Mina walk in on us, but the woman with her, Natalie Baker, the editor-in-chief of Hoosier Insider, a massively popular publication here in Indiana. Being caught by a client is bad enough, but by a news media, this could be bad. So incredibly bad for HEA.

I’m so disappointed in myself.

But things with Cole got out of hand and they needed to end. In another life, we would have crossed paths sooner and could have dated like normal people and fallen in love.

Because the truth is, I am in love with Cole. But I’ve worked too damn hard to throw my life’s accomplishments out the window for love. A love that probably isn’t even reciprocated.

Hearing my phone buzz again, I snake my arm out from under my blankets and pull the phone close. I’ve got so many missed calls and texts.

I have a call from Ruth and, of course, she always leaves a voicemail, but I’ll ignore that as long as possible. I opt to read through texts. Starting with the easy ones first.

Cassie

Girl. WTH is going on?

Why aren’t you answering my calls? Stella said something is going on between you and Cole. I demand answers.

For real, Layla, this is ridiculous.

I switch over to Stella’s text string next.

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