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  She entered her house, beaming from ear to ear.

  “Good night?” Cheryl asked, meeting her at the doorway.

  “Oh, yeah,” Layla gushed, giggling.

  “Just a boy…” Cheryl said under her breath, shaking her head at her daughter’s goofy grin.

  Chapter 5

  “You’re going to that boy’s house again?” Cheryl asked when Layla informed her of her plans for the evening.

  “We still need to work on the project.”

  “But you were over there all last weekend. Is there something more going on? I’m not stupid, so you may as well just tell me,” Cheryl stated.

  “Sort of, I think,” Layla admitted, smirking.

  “Really?” Cheryl said. “So when do we get to meet him?”

  “Maybe this week. He doesn’t do well with parents, or so he says,”

  “Honey, I don’t like the sound of that. What’s wrong with him?”

  “There’s nothing wrong with him. I think he’s just a little shy in regard to parents, y’know?”

  “No, I don’t really,” Cheryl replied suspiciously. “What’s his name?”

  Layla filled Cheryl in on the details, cringing when she noticed her mother’s disapproving glare at the fact that Jay’s parents were in Europe on an extended stay.

  “He doesn’t know when they’ll be back?” she asked incredulously.

  “He thinks some time before Thanksgiving,” Layla said defensively.

  “And you don’t find that odd at all?” Cheryl grilled.

  “Not really. He’s eighteen, for heaven’s sake.”

  “Yes, but he’s still in high school,” Cheryl continued. “He has very important exams coming up. What kind of parents would leave their only child to his own devices in his last year of school?”

  “Don’t be so judgmental,” Layla said disagreeably.

  Cheryl put her hands up. “Okay, okay, I’m just saying…”

  Layla looked at her phone. “He’s outside. Why don’t you come out and say hello?” she suggested.

  Cheryl followed Layla down the driveway to the Range Rover.

  When Jay noticed her, he immediately jumped out of the car and held out his hand to shake hers. “Hello, Mrs. Sparks,” he said cordially. “I’m Jay Logan. It’s an honor to meet you.”

  He was the epitome of good manners and charm. Layla knew that he had Cheryl eating out of the palm of his hand. Layla noticed how her mother’s eyes swelled when she saw Jay open the passenger door for Layla, an obvious look of approval on her face.

  “He’s so cute,” Cheryl mouthed to Layla as she made a move to get into Jay’s car.

  Layla nodded enthusiastically.

  Cheryl stuck her head in the driver’s side window. “Have her home by eleven,” she said in an effort to appear in control.

  “Absolutely, ma’am,” Jay answered politely.

  “That was awkward,” Layla said as they drove away from her house.

  “Not really,” Jay contradicted.

  “My mom forgets how old I am at times,” she explained. “I think it’s because I’m an only child. She tends to be a little overly-protective.”

  “I can understand that,” Jay replied. “What mother doesn’t want to know who her daughter is hanging around with?”

  “I suppose,” she mumbled. “At any rate, I can tell she really liked you.”

  “You think so?” Jay asked, smiling proudly.

  She nodded and tucked her shiny, auburn hair behind her ears.

  When Jay pulled into his driveway, he turned to her with a serious expression. “Stay put!” he demanded before exiting the car. He ran around the front to open her door.

  She rolled her eyes and smiled. “You’ll spoil me,” she said.

  “I’d love to,” he answered bluntly.

  Layla’s heart fluttered, but she kept her composure, not bothering to pass comment on his remark.

  When they entered the house, Jay took Layla’s hoodie and hung it on the coat rack.

  His cell phone rang before they had a chance to say another word. “I need to take this,” he said, looking at the screen. “Just a second,” he said into the phone. “Why don’t you go on into the kitchen and grab a drink?” he said to Layla. “There are cokes and stuff in the fridge.”

  Layla walked into the kitchen and took a can of diet coke from the refrigerator. She hesitated momentarily, feeling a little forward for rummaging through his cabinets for a glass, then decided that it was probably no big deal.

  She eventually found the right cabinet with the drinking glasses and pulled one out. But before she closed the door again, she spotted a fine, heavy crystal glass tucked behind the row of ordinary ones. Without really thinking about what she was doing, she pulled the beautiful goblet out and gazed at it. It was heavy and perfectly cut with the initials A.J.V etched in ornate, Edwardian script across the front.

  “That was—” Jay stopped short and watched her admire the beautiful glass.

  “Who’s A.J.V?” she questioned.

  “The previous owners left a few personal things when they moved out three months ago,” he said casually.

  “It’s beautiful,” she said. “I would think something this expensive would have meant something to someone.”

  “Obviously not,” he replied, shrugging his shoulders. “That was my best friend, Joey, on the phone, and unfortunately, we’re about to have some company.”

  “Does he live around here?” she questioned.

  “No,” Jay replied, shaking his head. “He decided to pay me a visit from up north.”

  “Another friend from up north?” she asked incredulously. “Without telling you first?”

  “Like Ben, he knew my parents were out of town, so he decided that I could use some company, or some more company, as the case may be. Ben picked him up at the airport.”

  “Just like that?” Layla asked, mesmerized by the impulsiveness.

  “Yeah, my friends are like that,” Jay replied.

  And then the doorbell rang.

  Layla widened her eyes and followed Jay back into the hallway.

  Jay opened the front door and was immediately pulled into a bear-hug by a tall, dark-skinned young man of around nineteen, wearing athletic-style sweats and a denim jacket. “Jay, my man,” the unknown young man screeched.

  Jay let out a sharp laugh. “When you called and said you were on your way from the airport, I thought you’d be awhile.”

  “I called from the corner,” the guy said, smiling impishly. He shrugged out of his jacket and hung it on one of the hooks.

  Layla would have sworn that he was tall and lanky at first, but when she saw him without his jacket, wearing a sleeveless T-shirt, she realized that she’d been mistaken. He was muscular, but not in the way a bodybuilder would be. His physique resembled that of an Olympic swimmer. He was also extremely handsome. His black hair was cut close to his scalp, and he wore a small diamond stud in his left ear.

  “And who’s this beauty?” the dark-skinned stranger said, eyeing Layla with amusement.

  Jay sighed. “Layla, this is Joey,” he said, pointing to denim jacket guy. “Joey, meet my friend, Layla.”

  “Ah, your friend, Layla,” Joey said sarcastically, nodding his head.

  Just then, another young man walked through the door. This one was fair with longish, light-brown hair and the bluest eyes Layla had ever seen.

  “Layla, this is Ben,” Jay said, gesturing to the light-brown-haired guy.

  Before Layla had a chance to say anything, a beautiful, dark-skinned girl strolled gracefully through the door, smiling brightly. “And this lovely lady is Isabel,” Jay added.

  “Call me Issy,” the girl said, walking over to shake hands with Layla.

  “Hi, Issy,” Layla said, transfixed on the girl. Issy’s face was almost otherworldly in its beauty, absolutely stunning. Her dark, almond-shaped eyes were surrounded by thick long lashes and bristled with kindness. Dark ringlets hung an inch or t
wo off her shoulders, bouncing playfully as she walked forward. She had the cutest dimples imaginable, giving her a girlish look, but this was no fragile flower—she was toned to the max. Dressed in cargo pants and a tight, pink tank-top, Layla could tell that Issy was more than able to take care of herself.

  Ben walked next to her and put his arm around Issy’s shoulders then took his turn shaking hands with Layla. He rested his head next to Issy’s affectionately, making it obvious that these two were a couple.

  Layla smiled at each one shyly.

  “So, Jay, what’s new?” Joey asked. “Besides the obvious,” he added, smirking in Layla’s direction.

  “Funny,” Jay mumbled, rolling his eyes. “Not too much, except that I was hoping to get a little work done tonight, but now that’s obviously out the window.”

  “Work?” Ben piped in. “My dear friend, may I remind you that you haven’t done a day’s work in your entire life?”

  “And you would know since you were the one always leading me astray,” Jay responded.

  “It’s really nice to meet you, Layla,” Issy said sincerely. “And may I apologize in advance for this group of clowns.” Layla liked her instantly. Her perfect white teeth were flashed in a sincere smile.

  “So what’s on the menu, Jay,” Joey butted in. “I’m starving.”

  “You’re always starving,” Jay replied.

  Layla looked back and forth between Issy and Joey and noted the resemblance. “We’re twins,” Issy said, noticing the look of recognition on Layla’s face.

  “I thought so,” Layla replied.

  “Don’t we look exactly alike?” Joey asked, moving to stand right by his sister.

  “Issy is a heck of a lot better looking, though,” Layla replied, sensing that Joey could take a joke.

  “Yes, but I got all the brains,” Joey answered, cocking his eyebrows.

  Issy slapped her brother’s head. “So not true,” she blurted out. “I can’t count all the times I’ve had to bail your sorry butt out of a stupid situation.”

  “She’s telling the truth,” Jay piped in, nodding to Layla. He walked forward and gathered Issy into his arms. “I’ve missed you, mi querida Hermana,” he said affectionately.

  Issy hugged him in return. “Te he echado de menos, también,” she replied.

  Layla had always harbored a soft spot for the Spanish language. She thought it sounded beautiful, but coming from Jay’s mouth, it was nothing short of drool-worthy.

  Jay pulled away from Issy and regarded the little group. “So are you guys staying, or did you just come to stand around my hallway for a while?”

  “Ben, help me with Issy’s bags,” Joey said, backing up to the front door.

  Jay put one hand on Layla’s back and the other on Issy’s, ushering both girls into the living room.

  “So you two just decided to hop a plane?” Layla asked Issy.

  “Ben’s been here for a few days already, and I missed him terribly,” Issy replied. “And Jay also,” she amended, turning to flash him a smile, “so we decided to come visit. I suppose it must seem rather impulsive, but the four of us have been clued to the hip for many, many years.”

  Jay nodded. “Issy, Joey and Ben are the closest thing to family I have. They are my family.”

  “What about your parents?” Layla asked suspiciously.

  Jay coughed again and banged his chest. “I meant besides my parents. I’m an only child, so these three have been like siblings for more years than I care to remember.”

  When Joey and Ben returned, Jay gestured for them to join him in the dining room. He quickly set the table for three more people and walked into the kitchen.

  “I think we’ve interrupted something,” Issy said, noticing the long, red tapered candles on the table.

  Ben looked at the candles then at Layla. She noticed his eyes narrow slightly.

  “I’m sorry, Layla,” Issy said. “If we had known—”

  Layla blushed, realizing how the situation must look to them. “No, not at all,” she replied, shaking her head. “Jay and I are only working on a school project together. It’s not what it looks like.” But even as she said it, she had doubts. Jay had gone to a lot of trouble to make the dining room look warm and romantic. Then she remembered the kiss from the previous night. Despite her reservations, she felt a wave of excitement wash over her.

  Jay returned with trays of food and placed them on the table. “Good thing I made extra,” he said, gesturing for everyone to sit down.

  All through dinner, Layla could feel Jay watching her as she interacted casually and comfortably with his best friends, especially Issy. The two girls had taken an instant liking to one another and were monopolizing the entire conversation, chatting happily like old friends.

  After she had finished eating, Layla excused herself for the bathroom. She washed her hands and stared pensively at her reflection in the mirror. Could it be possible that Jay wanted to be more than friends also? She tried to bury that thought, reminding herself not to get her hopes up and to continue to just enjoy their new friendship.

  She walked out of the bathroom and down the stairs slowly, looking over the strange display of artwork that strategically descended the wall so that there was always a picture at eye level regardless of what step she was on. When she was almost at the bottom, she heard hushed, angry voices coming from the kitchen. She walked quietly, not wanting to disturb whoever was arguing.

  “I told you yesterday, we’re just working on a project together,” she heard Jay say in a quiet, raspy voice.

  Against her better judgment, and knowing it was so wrong, she slowed down, eager to hear what was said next, knowing she was the main topic of the argument.

  “That display of romantic candles would suggest otherwise,” she heard Ben respond sarcastically. “It’s funny that I didn’t notice them earlier. Did you suddenly get an urge to add a little splash of color to the dining room within the last couple of hours?”

  Holding her breath, she heard Jay sigh loudly.

  “Think this through, Jay. There’s no place in our world for a girl like that,” Ben whispered.

  Layla gasped inwardly, feeling as though someone had slapped her in the face.

  “I got this,” Jay said insistently.

  “Y’think?” Ben answered. “Judging by the silly look on your face, as you stared at her all through dinner, I would wager against that.”

  Layla quickly made her way back to the dining room and sat down. She fiddled awkwardly with her discarded napkin, swallowing hard to dispel the moisture that was threatening to gather in her eyes. What could Ben have against her? And what world was he talking about? Was it possible that Jay had a girlfriend—one that meant something to Ben? Or did Ben think she wasn’t good enough for his friend?

  “Hey, are you alright,” Issy said kindly, looking pensively at Layla. “Are you feeling okay?”

  Layla nodded a little too enthusiastically. And then, before she even realized what was happening, the tears fell fast and furious.

  “Oh my God, what happened?” Issy questioned. She got up from her seat and rushed to the other side of the table to place her arms around Layla’s shoulders.

  Layla jumped up and backed away from the girl. She walked to the doorway, shaking her head, mortified for crying in front of Jay’s friends. “I have to leave,” she said bluntly, realizing that she couldn’t go anywhere without Jay.

  Just then, Jay walked into the dining room, almost bumping right into her.

  He looked down at her, and his eyes widened with concern. “Layla, what’s wrong?” he questioned.

  She shook her head but said nothing.

  “Do you want me to take you home?” he asked, his voice thick with anxiety.

  She nodded, avoiding eye contact.

  He put his hand on the small of her back and guided her from the dining room. “I’ll be back in a little while,” he said over his shoulder to Joey and Issy.

  When they were safel
y in his car and out of ear-shot, he turned to her. “Layla, will you please tell me what happened?”

  She shook her head again.

  “Did Issy or Joey say something to upset you?” he pushed.

  “No,” she answered in a weak voice, inwardly cursing herself for the stupid display of tears.

  “I’m so confused,” he said, looking at her with worry written across his face.

  She sighed, realizing that it was cruel to keep him in the dark. “Just drive and I’ll tell you,” she mumbled. As the car pulled out of the driveway, Layla took a deep breath before giving him the explanation. “I was walking down the stairs before, and I heard you and Ben arguing in the kitchen,” she confessed.

  “What did you hear?” Jay asked, his worried expression changing to one of shock.

  “I heard him say that there was no room in your world for a girl like me.” And then she realized the implications of her confession. “Not that I think there’s anything going on between the two of us. That’s not why I got upset. I guess I’m just not used to someone taking such a strong dislike for me without me giving them a reason to.”

  Jay ran the fingers of his right hand through his hair. “Understand, Layla, for many, many years it has been only the four of us. Ben was just being a butt-head. He takes a while to warm up to new people, but he’ll come around. I promise.”

  Layla wondered what Jay meant by that. Was he considering bringing her around more often?

  “It’s really none of his business who I become involved with,” he continued, then bit down on his lip, scowling.

  They settled into an uncomfortable silence for the rest of the short journey. When they pulled up in front of Layla’s house, something dawned on her. “Are we?” she asked, turning to face him.

  “Are we what?” he questioned, looking over at her.

  “Involved,” she said quietly, fidgeting with her hands shyly.

  He reached over and took her left hand in both of his. “I’d like it if we were,” he said, looking deep into her eyes.

  A smile slowly spread across her mouth, and before she knew what was happening, Jay leaned in and pressed his glorious lips to hers.

  When he pulled away, he smiled at her, causing her heart to skip a beat again. “How are you feeling?” he asked.