15
On the rooftop, with the distant sounds of cars and people so far away, they seemed to be in a different world. They ate in silence for a while. The sandwich was delicious, the cheese gooey and contrasting nicely with the seasoned chicken. Rashad had made a good choice for the meal.
Dabbing the corner of her mouth, Layla giggled to herself as the cold temperature reminded her of the funny circumstances around the first time she met Rashad.
“What?” he said, right before he placed the last morsel of his sandwich into his mouth.
“I was thinking about how we met ice skating at Atlantic Station. I was with Tamika, and you bumped into me, almost knocking me and you to the ground. Thanks to my excellent skating skills, however, I was able to keep us upright.” She sat up straighter, preening and cocky.
“You think it was your excellent skating skills, huh?”
“Of course. I’ve been ice skating since I was six.”
As a child in D.C., she and her family went ice skating every winter, even her father. He didn’t actually get on the ice with them, but he went along for the family bonding time. Her older siblings used to go off on their own, doing tricks, skating backward, and in general showing off. Layla and her younger brother skated close to their mother, but as they became older, they developed the same showmanship as their older siblings.
Rashad leaned closer and dropped his voice, a spark of mischief lighting his dark eyes. “What if I told you I could skate—maybe not as well as you, but well enough? I didn’t need your help that day, and we weren’t going to fall when I bumped into you because I bumped into you on purpose.”
Layla’s mouth fell open. “What?”
“I orchestrated the whole thing. I was actually at the rink with another woman.” Rashad eased back over to his side and pulled a slice of chocolate cake from the basket.
“You have got to be kidding me.”
“I saw you and Tamika arrive, and I couldn’t take my eyes off you. I told my date I didn’t feel well, took her home, and then rushed back to the rink. Before you think the worst of me, it was our first date. I’d just started seeing her, but the minute I saw you…” He shook his head. “She didn’t stand a chance. No one did.”
Damn this man. He was going to make her melt in the frigid air.
“I had no clue that’s what you did. I thought you were embarrassed by what happened because you bought me and Tamika season tickets to the rink.”
“I had to make up for almost knocking you down.”
“You said that’s what dinner was for.”
“Dinner was for me, an excuse to get you alone, away from Tamika. I could tell she didn’t like me then, and I don’t think she ever did, did she? Tell the truth.”
“Umm…” Layla hedged.
“Yeah, I know,” he said with a laugh.
“That’s my girl. She was looking out for me, that’s all.”
“I get it. Same thing Alex and I do—look out for each other.” Rashad ate a forkful of cake.
Layla watched him with new eyes. “I’d always felt like you know so much about me, but I didn’t know much about you. I’ve learned a lot today,” she said quietly.
He grinned and set down his plate. “Since you’re in such a good mood, this is the perfect time to ask you a question.”
“Don’t push your luck,” Layla quipped.
“You’re going to want to do this, trust me. Have you heard of Lion Mountain Vineyards in North Georgia?”
“Heard of them but never visited.” The vineyards were located about an hour outside of Atlanta, in Dahlonega.
“I want to go check it out, and I want you to come with me. We’ll spend the weekend, do a tour of the property, drink wine, eat good food, and then come back. Just me and you, like old times.”
She bit her bottom lip and joy sprang to life in her chest. “I like that idea.”
“So that’s a yes?”
