“Sure,” she said.
They’d sipped craft beers and shouted their answers, coming in a respectable fourth. They had each driven their own car, and their good-bye consisted of Josh making sure Layla got into hers safely before pulling out of the parking lot right behind her and heading home.
Nothing romantic had occurred between them, but Josh had placed his hand on her lower back as they were leaving the brewpub because a group of college-aged drunk guys were all trying to fit through the door at the same time Josh and Layla were trying to walk out of it. He’d moved his hand from her lower back to her hip and gently moved her out of their way. The feel of his touch had electrified her and made her hyperaware of how long it had been since she’d been touched by another human, and she was still thinking about it when she pulled into her driveway.
If he ever kissed her, it was quite possible she might burst into flames.
chapter 31
Layla
Layla stomped her feet, trying to return the blood flow to them. Her royal-blue parka was made of down and was the best purchase she’d ever made, but her boots weren’t living up to their promise. Warm down to zero degrees, my ass, she thought.
Josh and Sasha were hurrying into the building as quickly as possible. As they passed by, Josh said, “Hope you weren’t too tired this morning.”
Layla grinned at him. “That’s what I get for leaving the house on a school night. I’ll manage.”
“Tonya,” Annie said after they disappeared into the building. “What just happened here?”
“I’m as confused as you are. Layla?” Tonya said. “Care to fill us in?”
“We went to trivia night.” She told them about her evening and the things she and Josh had discussed.
“So, what exactly is unfolding?” Annie asked, clapping her hands together and smiling. “I thought you were doing puzzles at home. Now you’re out and about together? Are the two of you dating now?”
“We are not dating.”
Annie’s forehead crinkled in confusion. “Friends with benefits?”
“What? No. Neither of us are interested in that. It’s more like … friends with potential.”
“Are you actually calling it that? Like out loud and everything?” Annie asked.
“What does that even mean?” Tonya asked, laughing.
“I don’t know,” Layla said. “Stop laughing.”
“I’m sorry,” Tonya said.
“Me too,” Annie echoed.
“We’re both in dating purgatory and we’d both like someone to spend time with. For companionship. It’s not a big deal. Easy come, easy go. That’s my motto for romance going forward.”
“But this whackadoodle friends-with-potential label means you’re open to being more than friends, right?” Tonya asked.
“I’m not not open.”
Tonya patted Layla’s arm. “I think you can just say you’re open.”
Josh came out of the building, and as he walked by he gave her a little wave. Her eyes followed him until he reached his truck and climbed inside. “I don’t know,” Layla said. “I mean, sure. I’m as interested in him as I would be in anyone at this stage. I know it’s funny to you two, but once you’ve been in my shoes, you become a lot more cautious. The thought of making another mistake makes you second-guess every decision you’ve ever made. At least for me it does. One of the things I like about Josh is that he knows exactly what I mean by that.”
“I’m sorry,” Tonya said. “I wasn’t thinking about that part. A new romance would be great, but I just want to see you with a smile on your face again.”
“Me too,” Annie said.
“No apology needed. I know you’re excited for me to meet someone. I like spending time with Josh because we share some common ground. I don’t have to explain the stage I’m at in my life because he’s in it too.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being friends first and taking things slow,” Tonya said. Annie reached out and squeezed Layla’s arm in agreement.
“We had fun and it’s been a while since my life wasn’t a total shit show. I forgot how much I liked having fun. Talking to him felt good,” Layla said. “I’m looking forward to doing it again, although if something disastrous happens between us I’m warning you both right now that the morning drop-off is going to get really awkward.”
“I don’t think anything disastrous will happen,” Tonya said.
Layla laughed. “Oh, it could. But I hope not.”
chapter 32
Layla
One night, instead of sending him a text, Layla called Josh. “Hey, I’m about to put a lasagna in the oven and I’ll have way too much. Do you want to join me for dinner?”
“Absolutely. The sandwich I was contemplating sounds even less appetizing now.”
“Come on over,” she said.
He arrived with Norton in tow. Layla bent down to pet him and ruffle his fur, and then he ambled over to the new dog bed in the corner and sniffed it.
“Aw, look, Norty, that sweet pet sitter of yours bought you a bed.” Josh had brought Norton with him on previous visits and she thought the bed might come in handy.
“It was nothing.” She opened the refrigerator and pretended to move a few things around so that the cool air could remove the warmth from her cheeks.
Norton gave the bed another sniff and then flopped down on it.
“He says thanks,” Josh said. “How was school?”
“It was good.” Layla busied herself with slicing the fresh mozzarella. “Sasha actually said something in class a couple of days ago, and I wanted to ask if there was any truth to it.”
“What was it?” Josh asked.
“She said, ‘My mommy and daddy are getting back together.’” Layla explained to Josh that they’d been having circle time at the end of class and she’d asked the kids to quickly say something about how their week was going.
Josh looked like Layla had just driven a stake through his heart. “Oh, man,” he said.
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“I’m not sure why she said that. There’s no basis for it. I’m still waiting on paperwork, but otherwise, nothing has changed. Kimmy and I are not getting back together.”
“It’s really none of my business,” she said.
He leaned back against the counter, studying her. “You don’t think so?”
They were grown adults and Layla would be damned if she was going to start mincing words now. Never again would she shy away from asking—or answering—the hard questions. They could pretend all they wanted, but whatever dance they were doing was picking up steam and Layla didn’t feel like having the rug pulled out from under her again.
“Maybe it is my business,” she said, and they shared a look.
She finished prepping the lasagna five minutes later, and after sliding it into the oven, she set the timer. “We’ve got thirty to forty-five minutes to kill. I guess I could have waited to call you until it was done.”