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8
Lyla
I nervously run my sweaty palms down the skirt of my black dress and open the door to Hamilton's. When I woke up I was surprised to be the only person in the apartment. When Cole came onto me in the kitchen, I couldn’t hold myself back anymore. From the way he flirts with me and sets my nervous on fire to the way he listens to me and distracts me with things like MMA fights, Cole seems to be the complete package. Which is why I’m nervous right now. I know he doesn’t do relationships and I don’t either, not to mention Marcus wouldn’t be furious if he found out. So now I have to socialize with all our friends and pretend he didn’t give me the greatest orgasm of my life then bail.
This doesn’t have to be a big deal. I remind myself as I walk up to the hostess stand. Just play it cool like nothing happened. Cole’s hot as hell, and the things he did to me will go down in spank bank history, but nothing is between us so I just need to be cool.
All of that is true and I could probably be really good at casual sex, but I just don’t usually get past the date with a guy. Or past the being asked out on a date part, but I could really see myself liking Cole.
This is uncomfortable new territory and I say a small prayer for courage as the hostess leads me to a back of the restaurant. The doors open into a small room with just a long dining table. The back wall is floor-to-ceiling windows and overlooks the beautiful ocean sunset. I’m almost pushed over as a tiny Harmony runs straight into me and wraps her arms around my legs in a death grip.
“Harmony!” I laugh and look up to see Grace and Marcus. By the looks on both their faces, I assume I interrupted something. Grace quickly smooths her features and scoots her chair back, coming around the table with a smile and her arms open. “Hey, Lyla, it’s so good to have you back home. You look great!”
“Thank you, Grace!” I say with a huge smile because I feel good about being home, considering what a mess my life is at the moment. “It’s good to be back, and it is so good to see you.”
“And me, right, Aunt Lyla,” Harmony says still attached.
“Especially you my love,” I tell her, bending down to take her in a big hug.
“Okay, you gotta let me go now; I have more friends coming,” Harmony says matter-of-factly and pushes me away.
“Well, excuse me, but I’m way overdue on my Harmony hugs quota; you get right back here.”
She squeals and runs around behind Marcus’ chair.
“She’s only three and doesn’t want to hang all over me anymore. What happened, Grace?”
“She’s growing up fast and full of sass,” she says softly and shrugs.
“She’s even more beautiful than she was the last time I saw her. You must be so proud. She’s in preschool now, too, right?”
“Thank you, yes and yes. She’s doing great. Excelling in everything put in front of her like a tiny little genius. We are all really proud of her. This is her village, and I’m not going to take all the credit for her awesomeness. Marcus is the best dad ever. Charlie comes to the house for dinner sometimes and hangs out or babysits if Marcus can’t watch her some nights. Willow does too. Cole’s sister, have you met yet?”
“Have I met Willow yet? No, but I’m so glad everything is going well for you.”
We take our seats with Marcus and Harmony at the table, and the doors fly open. Charlie enters along with Mason and a girl who must be Willow. I look at my watch and notice it’s six exactly and wonder if Cole is going to show up. If he doesn’t, I know it’ll hurt Harmony and it’ll be all my fault and Marcus will kill me, not that I’ll ever forgive myself. I was so stupid; of course it was a bad idea to sleep with him. He’s more involved in my family’s life than I am. What have I done?
“Heyyy. Earth to Lyla.” Charlie bops me on my nose, interrupting my inner downward spiral.
“Hey, how are you? Sorry, got lost in thoughts for a second.” I try sounding casual but don’t pull it off.
“You okay?” she whispers in my ear as she hugs me to her skinny little body.
“Of course, why in the world wouldn’t I be? Look at all I’ve got,” I say with a genuine smile as I pull Harmony off Charlie's legs and lift her up.
“Hey, no fair.” Charlie whines.
The entire room is laughing at me tickling Harmony when Cole pushes into the room. I instantly know things are going to be awkward by the look on his face when he sees me holding her. He runs a hand over his beard and puts on a fake smile. I hate that he looks so handsome in a dark ivy-green polo and dark jeans, his hair up in another messy bun as he walks around the room saying hi to everyone. Everyone joins us around the table, and Grace introduces me to Willow.
Cole ends up in the seat directly across from me, making my body instantly too hot, my dress too tight, and I forget how to breathe. When our eyes meet, we stare at each other for a long minute, until he tears his eyes away and looks down at his water like it’s the most fascinating thing he’s ever seen.
This is my hell. My greatest nightmare comes true. I am a cliché, a whore just like my mother. Fuck Howard ruining my life, this hurts way more. Looking down at my lap, I swallow hard; my mouth is so dry. I reach for my water, trying to calm the fuck down. Fuck Cole. Fuck this awful feeling. Fuck my life. I gulp down half my water.
“Lyla? You there?” I hear through the fog of my panic attack. Everyone is staring at me.
“What? I’m sorry?”
“What is with you today?” Charlie asks, tilting her head with a look of worry.
