“What are you doing here?” she asked with a wrinkled nose.
“What are you doing here? I thought you were out with Sarise?”
Layla bit her lip and wrung her hands together. Oh no. Maybe Sarise had already broke the news to Layla that they didn’t want the same things.
A gust of wind blew past us, chilly and biting. I gestured to the door. “Care for some tea?”
Layla’s face broke into a smile, and she nodded.
We satin the empty shop, a candle flickering on the table and providing a dim light.
“Can’t a dragon get any sleep around her?” Herman said from the counter where he lay curled up, though he peeked an eye open with interest, and I knew he was going to absolutely eat up our conversation.
Layla had picked the tea: a spicy chai that I hadn’t yet tried, but the flavors were bold and zesty. I took another sip, then set it down.
“I ran into Sarise earlier, and”—I bit my lip—“I don’t think she wants the same things as you.”
Layla’s brows furrowed, her hands wrapped around her mug.
Right, I could see how that sentence was vague. I steeled myself. “She doesn’t want a relationship. She just wants a fling. I’m so sorry. I encouraged you to explore other relationships and date her.” I groaned. “I made you think you had this whole future of travel and seeing the world when you never did.”
Layla took a slow sip of her tea, contemplating my words, and my stomach shriveled. I hoped I hadn’t just crushed her dreams, her heart.
Finally she set down her mug and gave a guilty shrug. “I haven’t been seeing Sarise these last few weeks.”
“You haven’t?” I didn’t understand. “But she said you were meeting her at the tavern today.”
“Yeah, just a friendly chat before she leaves.” She looked down into her steaming cup. “I’ve been seeing Althea,” she said in a rush. “You seemed to disapprove of her, and I felt awkward admitting that we were dating and then I let you think I was seeing Sarise when really I was seeing Althea, and the whole thing spun out of control. I’m so sorry I lied to you!”
My mouth dropped open. “I should be the one apologizing for making you feel that way. Althea? You’ve been seeing Althea?”
Layla wouldn’t meet my eyes, but she gave a small nod.
Herman watched us, both eyes now open and peeled to our interaction.
“Are you happy with her?”
Layla gave another nod, still not meeting my eyes.
“Then I think that’s wonderful,” I said. “I don’t know why I was even pressuring you to see Sarise.” I palmed my face. “I’m so sorry. Clearly I’m not a matchmaker.”
“I think it’s obvious why you wanted her to court Sarise,” Herman said.
“Oh?” I cut the dragon a look.
He heaved a sigh like I was such an inconvenience. “You were projecting.” He came to a seated position, his tail curling around him.
“Projecting?” I looked between him and Layla.
She pressed her lips together.
“What does that mean?”
Herman tilted his head at Layla. “Do you want to tell her or should I?”
Layla drummed her fingers against the side of her tea cup. “I think what Herman is trying to say is that it’s clear your dream is to travel and see the world and do it with someone you love? And so maybe you were pushing me toward the future that you felt you couldn’t have.”
My mouth dropped open. Witch’s tits.
