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“Oh, okay.” She doesn’t seem to be bothered that I clearly had no intentions to introduce her to Layla’s friends. Damn, I feel like a dick. She hasn’t done anything wrong. It’s not her fault she isn’t the one I want to be with.
“Look, Mina, I need to run to the restroom. I’ll be back, all right?” I reach out and squeeze her arm. When I’m done talking with Layla, I need to come clean with Mina. Tell her that while I think she’s great, I don’t see a future for us because I’m in love with someone else. Then I’ll schedule a meeting with Ruth and tell her I’m done.
But first, Layla.
Mina smiles wide and tells me she’ll go find another drink and then find me later. She doesn’t seem put off, so I let my feelings of disappointment in myself go.
Jogging up the steps of the deck, I run into my grandma.
“Darling, Cole. You’re such a popular man.” She grins and leans in to kiss my cheek.
“I’ve always been popular.” I try to keep the annoyance at once again being kept from Layla.
“Yes, always a charmer, but do you know all the people here? I don’t know hardly any of them, color me impressed.” She takes a long gulp of her wine.
“You aren’t from here, so…” I trail off. She rolls her eyes.
“Yes, mid-America is quite boring, isn’t it? I think I’ll keep my busy city life with hottie handymen over this any day.” She sighs dramatically. Oh boy, I’ve heard all about the men in her building. My mother told me once that she got handsy with one of them and got a call from the building owner.
I decide not to get into that conversation or ask about the man she’s currently dating, surprisingly someone her own age. “Is Layla inside?” I nod to the house.
“She is, dear, but she’s not all that happy with Ruthie.” She clicks her tongue. “If you ever took that tone with me, well…” She just shakes her head. If I ever took that tone with her, she would just give it right back. I don’t know why she’s acting like she isn’t just as sassy.
“Excuse me for a moment,” I tell her and leave her on the deck.
Taking a few steps into the house, I look around the kitchen area, resting my eyes on Layla, who is whisper yelling at her grandmother.
“That’s not the point, Ruth.” She hisses just as her eyes land on me. She lets out a sigh and Ruth turns and sees me.
“Cole, dear. You found us,” Ruth chirps, not at all letting on that she was just getting reprimanded by her granddaughter.
There is a bit of a gleam in her eyes and I can’t help but feel like whatever Layla is upset about, it may have something to do with Mina being here. Hopefully, it’s been made clear by now that I’m not the one who invited her.
Ruth pushes off from where she was leaning against the counter and walks around the island. “Layla, we can talk later. I’m sure you’ve got a lot on your mind. I need to return to my guests,” she says, her nose in the air. “Cole, you weren’t looking for me, were you?” she asks, but I can tell she knows the answer.
“I was looking for Layla,” I tell her.
“Very good.” She smiles and is gone in a flash.
That whole exchange was just odd. Leaning forward, I place my hands flat on the island, staring over at Layla.
“We need to talk,” I say.
“Yeah. But I don’t think here is the right place,” she snips.
“We can find somewhere more private. I’m not leaving until we talk. You’ve been avoiding me since I arrived,” I grumble at her, suddenly over the fact that I’ve spent the better part of two hours chasing the woman down.
“You’ve been busy,” she snaps.
“Yeah, looking for you.”
“Right,” she draws out the word.
“No, this game is over, Lays. I found you, I win, now let’s talk.” I stand to my full height and jerk my head toward the hall that leads to the front of the house.
I don’t wait to see if she moves. I know she will follow.
Chapter 15
