Chapter 24: a Date and a Bet

Layla Smith P.O.V

For the first time since I gave my phone number to Stephen, I didn't receive a good night text message before bed I really wanted to text him myself but after what had happened the day prior I hesitated so long that I fell asleep with my phone in my hand so waking up this morning I was a little upset at myself for having hesitated so long and at him for not having sent me a good night text after telling me that I knew how he felt and that I was cute right in my face.

Nobody needed to tell me how illogical my reaction to this was right now I knew it was but I just couldn't help myself so all morning I was grumpy until came the time for me to go to the Animal Hospital, after a light breakfast I change into comfortable clothes a plain grey t-shirt with black yoga pants and comfy running shoes that I only use when I work there then I tied my hair into a bun and waited for my mother to drive me there

I don't know if it was because I was thinking too much about him today but when I arrived in the parking lot of Mill Creek I immediately spotted a car looking just like Stephen's car but I knew it wasn't his since what would he be doing here I thought

But even then the first thing that came to my mind when I saw this car was what is he doing right now did his phone battery die last night and that's why he didn't text me or maybe he was regretting what he said? Will he act differently on Monday at school what if?... then my Mom shooked my shoulder bringing me out of my whirlwind of negative thought

''What are you thinking frowning like this, you've been grumpy all morning did something happen last night?'' my Mom asked

''Nothing happened, alright thank you for the ride Mom I'll text you when I'm done here'' I said kissing her cheek before stepping out of the car

''Have a good day honey, love you'' said my Mom before I could close the car door completely

' Damn it! I hate feeling like this ' I thought entering the building from the employee entrance door after putting on a mask and putting my bag in my locker room I walked toward the front office to register myself once I arrived at the front office Samantha was there looking outside 

''Good morning Samantha what are you doing here aren't you usually helping the truck driver with unloading last week's orders?'' I asked puzzled by her presence here

''OH LAYLA you're here, thank you it's because of you that I don't have to do this anymore he even said he would come here every Sunday from now on to do this, such a good friend you have, say he didn't say anything when we asked him but is he your boyfriend why would a guy do this if his girlfriend didn't ask him too, how did you land yourself such a hunk girl I didn't knew you had it in you haha'' start talking Samantha without stopping 

I didn't know what she was talking about at all I was so lost that I didn't even try to stop her to ask her my head was running at full speed trying to understand what was happening but when she spoke about the boyfriend things and said the word hunk only one face popped into my mind plus the car in the parking lot I was 90% sure my guess was right, but what was he doing here why would he come here in the first place shouldn't he be training like usual. I needed to confirm this by myself

''Where is he right now?'' I asked her 

''Oh he should still be unloading the truck last week's order wasn't small after all I'm really grateful that you asked him to come today I hope that this won't scare him away food bags aren't light after all and since today is the day we restock for the month the quantity is just insane'' said Samantha talking more to herself toward the end then to me

''Thank you I will go now'' I said almost myself with my own leg because I was too eager to know if I was right

''Easy girl he won't go anywhere, hehe'' laughed Samantha witnessing my blunder

The loading dock was on the left side of the building pretty far away from where I was right now I really wanted to run but even if it was an animal hospital and not a 'real' hospital like some frustrating people would say, running here was banned I once saw Dr. Brant firing someone because of this, of course, the girl already had been warned 2 times already but she still did it and on top of that she was running for such a stupid reason I couldn't believe it when the girls talk about it afterward, apparently she didn't want to make her boyfriend who was outside waiting for her making him wait too long 

Like waiting for a minute more would have killed him but doing this did cost her her job I wouldn't make the same mistakes even if I really wanted to run right now. Sigh, why was the loading deck so far away I thought not even halfway there yet.

I was almost there when I saw Dr. Brant coming out of the storeroom

''Good morning Dr. Brant'' I said walking by her

''Good morning Layla, where are you running off to like this, it can't be that you want to see your boyfriend that bad hehe'' said Dr. Brant making fun of me

''H..he isn't my boyfriend'' I said even if I wasn't 100% sure about who she was talking about this was 100% the truth because I didn't have a boyfriend

''Hahaha he is still helping Darren at the back if you want to see him and when he is done you can take him to help you fill the bowls of our little patient if you want don't forget to carefully read the quantity on those sheets before giving any food, see you later girl'' said Dr. Brant before walking away

I finally made it to the loading dock and sure enough, Stephen was there wearing a charcoal grey tank top with blue cargo working pants and boots that looked like Timberlands boots but maybe it was another brand I thought not sure

''WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?'' I asked a lot more loudly than I wanted

''Oh good morning beautiful hehe, hey Darren is it alright if I take a little break to speak with my friend'' asked Stephen to Darren 

''Not at all we've been at it for an hour already I'll go smoke a cigarette take your time boy'' said Darren going through the side door leading outside

I waited until Darren had left and then looked at Stephen right in front of me who was looking at me with a big smile on his face he seemed to be having fun right now looking at me for some reason this irked me even more

''Are you going to answer my question or not and stop looking at me like... like you want to laugh at me'' I said with a pout under my mask

''Hahahaha sorry but your face was just too funny, I think its the first time I saw you display so many emotions at the same time I couldn't stop looking at such a cute sight hehe'' said Stephen finally laughing out loud

''Stop laughing and tell me why you are here'' I said on the verge of getting upset by him eluding my question

''You want the truth?'' he asked turning serious all of sudden which took me by surprised

''Yes'' I was still able to respond

'' You came to watch me play on my very first game which is something really important to me and it touched me and yesterday coming back home after dinner at my Aunt's house I was thinking about how I would be able to repay this kindness and the answer naturally came to me, of course, I had to come to do something that was important for you .. and that's why I am here'' he said with a kind smile 

I couldn't believe what I had just heard this was probably the cutest sweetest and most touching thing I had heard ever in the course of my life my heart took control of my body and without realizing it I was hugging Stephen's waist burying my face in his chest 

''OOF, well that is a pleasant surprise but I'm probably smelling like sweat right now you really shouldn't hug me like this'' he said but his body was more honest than his mouth as he gave me back my hug

''Shut up, I don't care'' I said 

''Do you want to go on a date with me after work'' he suddenly said which made me look up and I could see a deep blush creeping on his face ' So he can also get embarrassed ' I thought before thinking about the conversation I had with my mother yesterday but before answering him I needed to ask him one last thing

''Why didn't you text me yesterday before bed? I asked broking our hug looking at him

''UH ... What... I mean I do have a reason but can you answer my question first'' he asked getting even more embarrassed

''Nope, now spill the beans before I just say no to your question from earlier hehe '' I said looking at him with a dangerous smile that was saying 'Stop beating around the bush '

''Sigh, I was so excited all evening yesterday that I left my phone in my baseball bag and honestly since I didn't have it with me I just completely forgot about it it was only when I woke up this morning that I realized I didn't have my phone with me because I always look at the time on my phone when I wake up'' he said 

''So you just forgot your phone in your bag I asked him getting a little embarrassed about all the fuss I had made this morning because of this

'' Yes but if it can make you feel better my last thought before falling asleep was ' I can't wait to see the face she will make when she sees me ' hehe'' he said with no shame 

''Where are you going to take me'' I asked him

''HUm what?'' he asked clearly at a loss by my sudden change of subject

''On the date, where are you going to take me'' I said again

''That means you agree, hahaha great and ... that's a surprise but I know you will love it'' he said with a big smile on his face

'' If you say so, alright I'll go do my own things see you later'' I said finally realizing what I had just agreed to I was too embarrassed to stay here and bring him with me to feed our temporary residents now so I did the only logical thing I ran away

Stephen Rose P.O.V

I didn't think I would be this weak against my own feelings asking her out today wasn't part of the plan at all I just wanted to score some brownie points with her and pay her back for yesterday but when she hugged me I just couldn't help myself before I could stop myself the words had already left my mouth and since I couldn't really take that back I waited for an answer with excitement and fear

But I really didn't expect her to ask me why I didn't text her good night yesterday I could have made up an excuse but I didn't think it would have been a good idea and telling the truth didn't hurt me only making me seems a bit clumsy maybe

And then she again changed the subject asking me where I would take her to our date of course since I hadn't planned anything beforehand I had to think fast luckily for me I certain shop I had seen on the way to my game yesterday came back to my mind I remember thinking that maybe Layla would love that kind of place 

After Layla left to do her tasks I continued unloading the semi-trailer with even more energy than before I started. ' Hehe I'm going on my first date with an absolute beauty I bet Dad's jaw will touch the ground when he learns about this hahaha ' I thought with a silly smile on my face 

''Kid do you plan on taking my job because if you continue like this I won't have to do anything haha'' said Darren after he came back and saw me working

'' Well enjoy because it won't happen again haha'' I said laughing back

After finishing unloading the semi-trailer I asked Samantha if there was anything else they needed me to do but there wasn't any more heavy work to be done and I dont think that following Layla would be a good idea I knew she wasn't here playing she was serious about his unlike me 

''When is Layla getting off usually?'' I asked Samantha

''she gets off at 1 pm every Sunday

''Can you tell her that I will pick her up in 1 hour I need to change clothes, I sweat more than I thought I would'' I said to Samantha

''Of course, you can count on me I'll tell your girlfriend that you will pick her up hehe'' she said giggling like an elementary schoolgirl discovering boys for the first time

I didn't correct her and just smiled when I heard the word girlfriend I suddenly found this word really beautiful when it was associated with Layla. Now I could really feel the difference in my emotions compared to last year when I thought I was in love with Brandy when I wrote the letter to Brandy last year yes I was feeling nervous but my heart wasn't on the verge of coming out of my mouth like earlier when I asked Layla on a date my heart wasn't skipping a beat near Brandy like every time I see Layla smile 

After making sure that Samantha would pass the message to Layla for me I took my car and drove back home to prepare myself for the date. Coming home I went straight to my room took some clean clothes and walked into the bathroom, after a short shower I put the clean clothes I had taken out earlier and put my sweaty clothes into the laundry basket before walking downstairs

''What are you doing son I thought you told your mother you would be out for the day'' asked my father when he spotted me coming from upstairs

''I came back to change myself before my date'' I said seeing no reason to hide what I was doing

''HAHAHAHA stop joking with me, son'' laughed my dad wiping a non-existent tear at the corner of his eye

''Im not joking'' I said seriously

''Ok OK stop now, the joke is already old. Seriously what are you up to? '' asked my dad again

''I already told you old man'' I said getting a little annoyed by my Dad

''Never mind if you do not want to tell me so be it'' he said wanting to drop the subject but ... not me

''What if I can prove to you that I'm telling the truth? '' I asked him squinting my eyes

''If you can prove to me that you have a date I'll ask for the key to the house your grandfather owns in Provincetown for you to take your so-called date there for two weeks I will even pay for the ticket plane but if you are lying to me you will wash my car and do my chores around the house until college do you dare'' asked my Father so sure of himself that I would back out telling him its a joke that he went overboard again but this time I wouldn't back down and I would make him keep his words I thought with an evil smile

''Hehe thank you in advance for the beautiful trip, my date will thank you in person tonight tell Mom that Layla will eat dinner with us hahahaha this is definitely one of the best days in my life, see you later Dad'' I said before going outside the house and climbed into my car before driving off

Dan Smith P.O.V

Did this kid really have a date, no that can't be, he was just playing tough because I laughed at him and bruised his ego yes that must be it I thought but I couldn't shake off the image of his smile when he walked out of the house 

After trying to watch TV for another 10 minutes without being able to focus on what was playing at the time I closed the TV and took my keys before leaving the house to go to my in-law's house where my wife was at the moment 

Pulling into my in-law's driveway I hurriedly stepped out of my car before making my way inside hearing voices coming from the kitchen I walked there and sure enough my wife was there talking with her sister and mother while my father-in-law was sipping his coffee in his rocking chair

''What are you doing here Darling'' asked my wife when she saw me entering the kitchen

''Did our son tell you where he was going today?'' I asked her immediately

''No why did something happen?'' asked my wife getting up with a worried face

''No no, he just came home earlier and said he was going on a date when I asked him what he was up to hahaha he even told me to tell you that a girl named Layla would be coming to eat at our home tonight hahaha he really want all out to hide his embarrassment'' I said laughing again

''Oh dear, what did you really say to our son, be honest Stephen wouldn't have told you that for no reason'' said my wife looking at me with a dangerous glare

''I might have made a bet with him if he could prove to me he had a date I would beg your father for the key to his house at Provincetown for him to go there with his date for 2 full weeks, but it doesn't matter since that can't be true right... right'' I repeated myself when I saw how my wife was looking at me

'' Sigh, Dad you might have great-grandchildren sooner than you expected because of my dumb husband'' said my wife to her Dad

''HAHAHAHAHA don't scare your husband more than necessary look how livid he is now HAHAHAHAHA I hadn't seen him this pale since he asked for my benediction HAHAHAHAHA I think Stephen deserve more money for Christmas'' said my Father-in-laws laughing really hard while I was just too shocked 

''It can't be...'' I said trying to convince myself