Forever Layla: A Time Travel Romance (8 page)

She smiled and leaned in. “I’m counting on it.” Layla gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before she strode to the door and left.

Chapter 8

LAYLA SAT IN THE PASSENGER side of my truck while the guys and I stuffed the rest of the band equipment into the travel trailer we’d rented. Michael and Joey helped me pull it to the towing bar on my truck to hook it up.

“Did you make sure you got everything out of the rooms and the storage closet?” I grilled Michael as he walked toward me
. He pulled out my share of the money the band made that week and handed it to me.

“Yeah, we got it all. Hey, what’s that on the back of your truck?”

I followed him to the place he was pointing at when the guys jumped out from behind the trailer and grabbed my arms. Michael’s hand came toward my face coated in black grease.

“Happy birthday, geek boy,”
he shouted and smeared the goop all over my cheeks.

The rest of the guys jumped me.
I wrestled with them all just before putting my knee in Michael’s groin. He crumpled on the ground, grabbing at his crotch.

I stood over him, watching him writhe in pain. “Consider that my contribution to the future of mankind and your future bank account. No groupie will be showing up with Mike Jr.”

I glanced over at Travis, who had let go of my arm. I grabbed the hem of his shirt and wiped my face on it.

“Hey!”

I ignored his protest and continued cleaning my face. “I thought you guys had forgotten.”

“That’s what Michael wanted you to think.” He gra
bbed his shirt and pulled it over his head. “It created the element of surprise.”

I yanked the shirt from him and continued rubbing my face. “A card would have worked.” I
extended my hand to Michael, helped him up, and patted him on the shoulder. “You should put some ice on that.”

“You were more fun back when you were too scrawny to fight back
.” He winced as he said it.

I made my way to the truck and climbed in, pulling the visor down to use the mirror.

“What was that all about?” Layla asked, as she took the shirt from me and rubbed a spot on my neck I’d missed.

“The guys’
version of wishing me a happy birthday.”

Layla sat up and looked at me.
“Today’s your birthday? You did mention that. I should have done something for you.”

“It’s okay. Just consider it my first step to fulfilling your requirements.”

“What?” Her brows dipped over her eyes.

“You told me I needed to grow up. I’m now a legal adult. In one more month
, I will no longer be a high school student. Somewhere in there, I will find a place to live and get a job and learn to pay bills and talk politics, smoke cigars, or whatever else I need to do for you to see me as an adult.”

Layla
bit back a smile.

“You know you already like me. You know we’re going to end up together. You might as well give in now.”

“Since when are you so cocky? You sound like Michael.”

“Hey, when a guy finds out all his dreams will come true and he ends up with the super hot girl, he gets a little confident.”

Layla bent down, drew a bag up from the floor, and pulled out a box. She opened it to show me a cupcake with a candle in it. She pulled out a book of matches from the motel and lit the candle. “Make a wish and blow out the candle.”

I smiled. That was pretty easy since I had an insider. I leaned over and blew out the candle,
and then gave Layla a quick kiss on the cheek.

Layla

I LEANED FORWARD AND PUSHED
the buttons on the truck’s radio, trying to find something familiar to listen to. The radio had a dial like the one my grandma used to have as a kid. I twisted it to the left and got a squeal and a bad static noise before the faint sound of music.

“Just pick a station already,” David said as he hit the steering wheel with his hand for emphasis. “You’ve been twirling the knob for an hour now.”

“What is it with all the butt songs? Big butts. Donkey butts. Shake your rump. There it is, butts. I don’t think boobs have ever had so many odes sang to them.”

He chuckled.
“I guess the 90s will be known as the decade of the butt.”

“I guess so.”

I settled back in my seat and left it on a station. “This sounds a little familiar. Who sings it?”

“It’s c
alled "Dream Lover" by Mariah Carey.”

“I don’t think I realized she was a singer. She’s the one with the much younger husband.”

“No, she’s married to an old guy. What do you know her for if she doesn’t’ sing in the future?”

“She might still sing, but I know her from television.”

When the song ended another song came on, and I started to turn it but David reached out and touched my hand. The electricity of just his touch was more than I was used to.

“Don’t turn it. Don’t you remember this song?” He smiled at me.

I felt my forehead scrunch as I tried to understand. “No, should I?”

“The night we met, the first song we danced to,
"Creep." It was actually quite perfect for the situation.”

“Was I the creep or were you the creep?”

He shook his head. “Neither, but he’s talking about how she looks like an angel, and she doesn’t belong there. He knows she is out of his league. It was exactly how I felt at that moment.”

I tried to remember. “I guess I didn’t pay attention to the words. It was just slow guitar music to me.”

“You like more pop sounding music than grunge, don’t you?”

“I guess so. It’s what I’m used to.”

David threw his head back in horror. “Don’t tell me pop is what everyone is listening to in the future? We just got the good music back after all the 80’s pop crap.”

“Actually, all things
80’s are in too.”

“Ugh. So that’s why you went for all the
80’s stuff at the thrift store?”

“Afraid so. We dress up more. To me, everyone walking around the beach looked like they’d just rolled out of bed and grabbed the f
irst thing they found in the back of the closet… in the dark. The guys all look like they forgot to shave and to get a haircut and the girls look like they just washed their hair and ran out the door without bothering to blow it out. Girls don’t have wild no-style hair where I’m from. We have it cut into a style and use products. Lots and lots of products.” I pulled down the visor and took a look at my hair to make sure the cheap hairspray was working.

“Sounds like the future is a bit more formal.”

I glanced down at my wedge sandals. “And the only time people wear tennis shoes in the future is to exercise. There are shows and websites dedicated on how to put together an outfit.”

“So the future has bad music and stuffy
, uncomfortable fashion. Got it.”

I shook my head at him and bit my lip. His grip on the steering wheel emphasized the muscles in his forearms and reminded me of the ones that were covered up. He’d gotten a nice tan that went well with the black hair that hung in long bangs over his blue eyes. He must have realized that I was looking because he turned his head for a second to say, “What?” before turning his attention back to the road.

“Nothing.”

“Then why are you looking at me like that?”

“Because you’re hot.”

He shook his head before running his fingers through his hair and laughed nervously. “I think only to you.”

“So what do you plan to do with me in Chesnee? You gonna sneak me into your house in a suitcase? Hide me in the attic?”

“No, actually
. I’m going to sneak you into my dad’s old dental office to stay for the moment.”

“I’m going to stay in an old office?”

“Yeah, my dad built a new one last year. Before that he used an old house converted into a dental office. It’s still shaped like a house for the most part. It’s got a working tub. No shower, sorry. It still has his old sofa, and there’s even a kitchen they used for breaks. Oh, and mom stores some boxes of old clothes there from before she had my sister. She swears she will get in them again. It’s been eight years, so I doubt it. You can see if some of it fits.”

“You want me to dress like your mother?
” I felt my eyes bulge as I spoke the words clearly and slowly.

“No… not dress like my mom.” He knocked at his head like he was trying to dislodge the image out of it. “You need clothes
, and you seem to like the 80’s stuff and, well, they are clothes and they are from the 80’s. I thought you could make them work until we get things settled. And you’ll look way hotter in them than my mom ever did.” He stopped himself just as the words came out and shook his head again and sighed. “Not… that… I
ever
thought she looked hot in them.” He trailed off. “I’m saying everything wrong, and I think I’m going to be sick from this conversation.”

“And when one of your parents walks in and finds me asleep on the couch, what do I say? I got confused about where I was supposed to be for my cleaning?”

“That could work.”

“Seriously?” I threw my hands up in frustration.

He shook his head. “I don’t have all the details worked out just yet.”

David

I DROPPED LAYLA OFF AT
the office and headed to my place. I pulled up to my house and let out a sigh. No one was home. I jumped out of my truck, grabbed my luggage out of the back, and headed for the front door. I fumbled with my keys and dropped them and let out a word that my mother would slap me for saying. I bent down and grabbed them, found the key, and let myself into the house.

After dropping my luggage in the mudroom, I
made my way down the hall and up the stairs. Layla had pointed out all the little things the house was lacking, and I wanted to make sure I got what I could. I made my way to the guest room and opened the closet door and grabbed the spare comforter and pillow. I placed them on the bed as I headed for the connected bathroom. I pulled a stack of towels and washcloths from the linen closet and a couple bars of Mom’s collection of sample bath gels, shampoos, and conditioners that she kept there.

The stuff barely fit into the three garbage bags I’d brought up. One last stop in the garage to grab the camping kitchen set
, and I made my way back to the front door just as mom was coming in.

“Hey sweetie
. Happy birthday!” She came up and hugged me and stepped back. She glanced at all the stuff I was carrying. “You’re headed out again already? I wanted to spend some time with you on your birthday and hear all about the beach. What’s with the garbage?”

“Just taking out some stuff we don’t use.”

“I want to hear all about your trip.”

“I can’t right now
. I promised Michael I’d be right over.”

“You’ve been with him all week. Mandy went home with Lori from church. I was thinking I’d pick up some steaks and a birthday cake
, and we’d grill by the pool tonight and hear all about your trip.”

“Sounds good. I’ll be back by then.” I ran to the truck and threw everything in the back, got in
, and sped off.

I pulled up to the old office, jumped out
, grabbed the bags from the back, and raced to the door. I knocked and waited.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me, David.”

The door opened. Layla stood in the doorway and motioned me in. My breath caught just looking at her. I couldn’t believe I was going to get to spend the rest of my life with her.

“I got you blankets and towels and stuff.”

I dropped the bags in what used to be the waiting room
and living room.

She opened the bags and started pulling things out.

“This blanket is so soft.” She cuddled it before placing it by the couch and laying the pillow on top of it. She grabbed the towels and bathroom things and took them down the hall while I put the kitchen things away.

She walked back into the room.
“Now all we need are groceries.”

“I’ll take you down the street and get you some.”

We got in the truck and drove about three miles to the grocery store and walked in. She grabbed a buggy, and we started toward the produce.

I looked at all the stuff. “I don’t think I’ve been grocery shopping since I was a kid.”

She grabbed some apples and put them in a plastic bag and then bagged some grapes. I followed behind her as she got things for a salad, and then we continued through the rest of the store as she picked out items. I found myself walking closer and closer to Layla, but she didn’t seem to mind so I took the chance at placing my hand on her lower back as she walked toward the meats.

“David, what are you doing here? I thought you were going to Michael’s?”

My head shot around to see my mom standing behind me.

“I…” I glanced over at Layla. “He didn’t show up so I…” I then glanced between Layla and my mom, trying to think of something to say.