Chapter 57

Gabriel's POV

I had been in my home studio working on an art piece when I heard them return. 

I had chosen to leave the restaurant so as not to give Arden anything to wonder about, but all I had wanted to do was stay there. I had needed to know how Layla had performed,whether she had been able to truly get over her anxiety. I don't know why I cared so much or why I was as worried as I was. I gently placed the paint brush down and wiped my hands on a towel before I exited the private room meant for my eyes alone. I stood at the door of the stairs and watched them. Arden was telling her a story I was quite familiar with, something about him getting drunk at a party and ending up in a different state the following day. That had been ages ago, while we were about nineteen. He believed it was an accident when truly I had been the one to pay for his transportation. Layla however, seemed to be preoccupied. I watched her as she looked around the house. She couldn't spot me from where I was and I used the chance to observe her. In the outfit I had chosen, her hair finally tied willingly since I met her. Arden sat down and so did she. 

" Oh hey, I wanted to apologize for....you know, " Arden said and Layla suddenly looked away from him, a slightly uncomfortable look on her face. 

" It's okay, we had to. "

WE HAD TO? The hell was that supposed to mean? I frowned and listened on.

" Yeah, I just didn't want them to suspect anything, " Arden added and Layla assured him that she understood. I was however very confused. And curious as well.

" The pic is nice though, I can send it to you if you want?" There was a hint of humor in Arden's voice. I watched him as he took out his phone and scooted closer to Layla.

My blood boiled. 

" See that?" He asked and she smiled and nodded. I finally decided to just satisfy my own curiosity and walk over there,and that is exactly what I did. 

With my eyes exclusively on hers, I headed for the living room.

" You're back? Already?" I asked, pretending I was shocked. 

" I didn't know you were here, and why didn't you tell me you'd be at the restaurant?" Arden asked and I shrugged, said it was a last minute call when in reality I had arranged the entire thing.

I asked them how everything had gone and Layla smiled, this bright smile that almost made me forget how to breathe. It told me everything I had wanted to hear.

" She nailed it! My baby is the new executive chef at..." Arden began,then he stopped since he couldn't even recall the name of the bloody restaurant.

" Dahlia's, " Layla reminded him and he laughed, his hand going up to remove some invincible lint from her dress. And once again I wanted to just chop it off, along with his tongue because my Layla was not his baby. And I wished he wouldn't call her that again. Ever. 

" That's wonderful news, I'm proud of you, we should celebrate, " I said as I stood. Then I asked them whether they were in the mood for some champagne but Layla said she didn't want any,and that she wanted to go and plan somethings concerning her new job. I watched her as she walked away, but before she disappeared from view completely she turned to me and smiled. And I knew that it was a smile meant for me. 

My eyes fell to the phone in Arden's hands and I wondered what I could do to get it from him, but then I decided to just go the old fashioned route and ask.

" What were you showing her?" I asked him, sounding casual. His eyes fell to his phone then back to me. I busied myself with walking to the kitchen and pouring two glasses of champagne, I was celebrating on behalf of Layla. Arden followed behind me, taking the glass off the counter once I had filled it, then he placed it back down without taking a sip.

I watched him as he switched his phone on, then he turned it towards me.

My grip on my glass strengthened. My vision almost turned blurred and I unconsciously grit my teeth. I narrowed my gaze and instantly looked away, regretting the fact that I had even asked. I raised my eyes to Arden's and found him keenly observing me. So I turned around and gulped down the entire drink in my hand, realizing I was in need of something much stronger. 

" Anything the matter?" Arden asked and I shook my head.

" Of course not. Why would there be?" I reached into the cabinet and took out a bottle of scotch instead, pouring myself a glass and taking a sip. It wasn't helping.

I still felt like strangling my best friend!

I turned back around and found Arden wearing this knowing look, he leaned against the counter and crossed his arms,then he turned back towards the living room and I watched him work his tongue against his inner cheek. Thinking. 

" She's off limits man!" He finally stated seriously. I was at a loss for words, that's not how I had expected that conversation to go at all. And suddenly I found myself wondering just how much he knew and how he could have possibly found out, whether Layla had been the one to tell him.

" I beg your pardon?" I asked and he scoffed, shaking his head and slowly turning towards my direction.

" Layla, she's off limits, " he repeated and I licked my lips and took another sip of the scotch, choosing to say as little as possible until I Iearnt how much information he had. He waited for me to talk,and when he realized that I wasn't intending to he moved a step closer. 

" I'm not blind Gabriel, and I'm not stupid either, "

" I never said you were. "

He chuckled and then grew serious. I tucked my hand into my pocket and swirled the scotch in my glass with the other. Then we engaged in a staring contest, challenging each other with our eyes.

" I've known you for twenty one years, you really think I wouldn't notice it when you suddenly start acting strange?" 

I arched my brows as if I understood nothing of what he was saying. He gestured towards the direction of Layla's room.

" She's not like that okay? So you better stop constantly eye fucking her!" He finished off sternly and I almost choked on the scotch I had just sipped, I looked at him and asked him what he meant. It couldn't have been that obvious, and why did he suddenly care so much.

" Oh drop it, you think I don't see how you look at her, and I know that you're planning something but put an end to those thoughts, "

I was honestly perplexed. I wasn't planning anything. 

" Besides, I'm pretty sure you're not her type, "

That almost made me laugh,but I controlled myself. 

" And you are?" I asked him and he suddenly grew so defensive I started to suspect him instead.

" Of course not! Goodness Gabriel, " he shook his head and reached for the champagne that he seemed to have just recalled was there. And he gulped it all down before he reached for the bottle of scotch still on the counter and drank it straight from the bottle. I hated it whenever he did that, but his reaction had me thinking. 

" Plus she's not even my type, and she isn't yours either. Which makes me wonder why you suddenly seem interested in her, " he said after his second swallow of scotch. He was right about Layla not being my usual type, but that hadn't prevented me from pursuing her....and if it hadn't stopped me then it wouldn't stop Arden either. We were like the same person, only that one of us had better fashion sense and actually possessed the ability to reason. I angled my head to the side, watching him. 

" I'm not interested in her, you're wrong about that. You however seem rather taken by her, " he rolled his eyes and asked me to stop trying to turn things around. 

" She's like a sister to me, " he insisted and I smiled.

" So you married your sister?" 

" Gabriel! I'm serious, "

He actually was. He placed the bottle down and asked me to swear that I wouldn't even think about trying anything with Layla,that I'd let her be. And because I wanted him to stop worrying so much, I did just that. But I couldn't stop thinking that maybe he was asking me to do that so that he could have a shot. 

" But only if you also swear to let her be, " he frowned at me, but then he did what I asked. 

" It's settled then, from now henceforth we shall treat her as nothing more but a sister, " I said and Arden rolled his eyes and took the bottle before he strode away.