After dinner was served, I tried by all means to keep myself busy and avoid by all means to bumping into Troy or Adriana. He kept stealing glances at me during dinner and at a spilled of a second, Adriana nearly caught him looking at me, but he quickly looked away and by the time she looked up, she found my eyes on her and I gave a short smile before looking away.

“Deniz, do you mind excusing us for a minute?”, Damon asked when he walked into the kitchen as I helped Deniz to serve dessert. “We'll take it from here, thanks”

He dismissed her, and she nodded her head before excusing herself

“Are you okay?”, he ran his hand up and down my arms from behind

“I'm fine”, I gave a short smile, pouring the custard over the pudding in each dessert bowl.” I'm just trying to keep busy”.

I felt his hand brush against mine, taking the custard and placed it on the counter

“You're a nervous wreck Layla, you're jumpy, and you're shaking, plus your mind was all over the place during dinner”, he said, and I looked down on my hands to see he was right, I was shaking

“Do you want to tell me what's going on?”

“I'm fine, okay?”, I placed my hands on my hips and tapped my foot. I didn't even know what to do with myself, and then I folded my arms. Damon was studying me intensively, clearly not believing any word I'm saying.

“Does this have to do with the call you got earlier today?”, he asked, and I looked at him in confusion. “Mom told me you had to take a work call”

“Uh, yes”, I said, but I realized I'll have nothing to say about work. “I mean no, after the work call, I got a call from Lelo, she's being feeling sick lately, and I'm worried”, I lied and his features softened a little as he pulled me closer to him.

“I'm sure it's nothing serious”, he caressed my arm. “But if it is, I'll personally drive you to her so that the two of you can be together”

I smiled faintly. “I'd like that”

“The two of you have this bond I don't get it”, he laughed a little, placing the dessert bowls on a tray and I poured custard on the remaining puddings

“Its like the two of you share pain or something, it's deep”, he joked, and I smiled weakly as he carried the tray to the dinner table and I followed after him

Dessert was over and done with and everyone busy with whatever they were busy with. After putting Dylan to bed, I poured myself a glass of wine and chilled outside the patio. The peace and quiet in this area of the house was something else, I could even hear myself think even though I didn't want to think about anything in that moment and time. I just wanted to shut myself out of my own feelings for a couple of hours and not think of anything. I took another sip of my wine and closed my eyes as I savored the taste in my mouth then exhaled after taking deep breaths with my eyes closed and felt like the burden on shoulders was being lifted of, and I was free of something, but this begs the question, what exactly am I trying to run away from?

It's not like Troy and I have some kind of serious history for me to be feeling this way. Why do I feel like I was somehow being disloyal to Damon in someway? Something was eating me up inside, and I couldn't shake of this feeling.

Why am I feeling this way?

“Dinner was lovely”, a voice said behind me and I jumped a little from being startled, splitting some wine on my forearm and on my dress. Troy immediately took out a handkerchief from his pocket and tried by all means to wipe the spilled wine on my dress.

“I'm so sorry Layla”, he apologized sincerely, and I gave him the wine class to wipe my dress dry with his handkerchief. Not that it was going to help though, this was definitely going to leave a stain.

“It's okay”, I smiled a little at him while giving him his wine stained handkerchief back in exchange for my glass and I returned to minding my own business again

“Adriana told me you took her to a bookstore today”, he stirred up a conversation and I nodded my head while taking a huge sip of the wine whilst avoiding any contact with him

“Seems we have a lot in common, she's also a bookworm”, I lied about having a lot in common with her not looking at him

“I wanted to thank you, for making her feel welcome and comfortable. I knew the two of you will get along well”, he smiled, but I didn't return the smile. My eyes dropped to my glass to see my wine was now finished.

“She's a lovely person, sparkling personality and bubbly. It's really hard not to like her”, I attempted to walk past him, and he grabbed my arm, stopping me.

“I didn't bring her over so that I could make you jealous or anything”, he reasoned, and I tilted my head, looking at him

“I never said you did, Troy”, I stated firmly, and he sighed before dropping his blue pools to the floor and raising them to look at me again

“Layla I-”, he was about to say something, but then Adriana walked in behind me

“So this is where you two have been hiding”, she stood next to Troy and wrapped her arms around his waist

“I was just thanking Layla for showing you around today”, he smiled, locking eyes with me

“It's always a pleasure”, I was about to turn and leave but then Adriana's voice interrupted

“Layla, you mind if we check out the art gallery this weekend? There is a new collection coming, and I'd like to check it out. We could hit the movies afterwards”, she suggested, and I smiled faintly.

Art gallery?

“Sure, I'm sure Quinton would also love to tag along with us”, I said not really looking forward to spending the whole day with her. She was a sweet girl, but we had absolutely nothing in common besides literature. She speaks her mind too openly and a hyperactive extrovert. She never got tired of talking, don't get me started on when she talked about her relationship with Troy. The little conversation with mother in the kitchen was a simplified version of their relationship. The things she told me, I'm not even shocked, I'm shaken actually.

How is one that comfortable to air her private, bedroom affairs to someone she just met literally a couple of hours ago?

Or just because Troy and I were in high school, she thought maybe we're like some kind of besties and there's absolutely nothing wrong with telling me he was a stallion in bed?

I zoned out so many times I actually lost court. I was shaken. I repeat, shook!

“That's great”, she jumped excitedly, and she stood on her toes to give Troy a kiss on the cheek.” I'll see you upstairs “, she turned to me. “Good Night Layla. I'll see you in the morning”, she gave me an unexpected hug and then walked back into the house.

“I also need to get to bed”, he said as he laughed nervously, and we bid each other a good night. He turned to give one look at me before jogging up the stairs and I breathed a sigh of relief.

Damon was in the shower as I showered before him when he and Quinton played a game of chess in the lounge. He was disappointed because he was hoping we could shower together like the old times, but I didn't feel like it.

I was in my black laced lingerie and a short black silk gown, and when he got out the en-suite, he stood at the doorway and studied me while I was still applying some lotion on my legs

“Is this your way of telling me I should have taken a cold shower?”, he said as he walked up to me

“Is this your way of telling me you like what you see?”, I asked seductively, and he locked eyes with me before standing up to lock the door

Oh, boy

“You know exactly that you coming to bed like this, is my weakness”, he climbed on the bed to sit behind me, and I was between his legs. He kissed my neck while untying the gown knot and helped it slip off my shoulders.

“Damon”, I bit my lip as he continued leaving a trail of kisses on my neck and cupped both my breasts in his hands and caressed them softly. I stood onto my feet and tuned to face him. He placed his hands on my waist and pulled me onto him so that I straddled him and I wrapped my arms around his neck, leaning to kiss him. The kiss was slow at first, but it intensified within second, and he let out a groan from the back of his throat. We withdrew from the kiss to catch our breath as I rested my forehead on his.

He claimed his lips with mine again but this time they were more demanding against mine as he bit my bottom lip before intensifying the kiss even further, with his hands caressing my thighs before he broke from the kiss, both of us breathing heavily and smiled at each other.

“Layla, you see what you're doing to me?”, he asked as his manhood grew stronger each second beneath me

“So what are you going to do about it?” I rose a brow, and he smiled mischievously as he switched positions and I grasped in surprise when he clutched his hands in mine and pinned them on top of my head before using his other hand to play with the hem of my panties as he buried his head on my neck. I bit my lip nervously suppressing a moan, throwing my head back the second I felt his fingers taunting me down there.

I thought seeing Layla after such a long time would change how I felt about her, but not even time was enough to make me bury my feelings for her once and for all

She had this effect on me, I didn't understand. I didn't even try to. My relationship with Adriana wasn't like a rebound thing so that I could get over Layla, what we had was real. She was different in her own way, and she loved me for who and what I was. I believed she knew that I wasn't giving my all to her. I think she noticed that another woman held a part of me I couldn't get back but was willing to make it work despite my commitment issues.

I actually saw a life with her. When I took her to meet my parents for the first time, they immediately loved her and I knew I could actually wife her someday. If my parents approved of her, then that's one less thing worry about.

Layla and Deniz were setting the table for breakfast, and she smiled at me as I walked down the stairs. O-kay, why was she happy to see me today?

“Good morning, did you sleep well?”, she asked, placing the cutlery on the table

“I did thanks”, I turned to Deniz. “Good morning Deniz”, I greeted her, and she greeted back.

“You might as well take a seat. Is Adriana going to join us?”, she asked, and I nodded, telling her Adriana was still brushing her hair and she'll be down in a moment.

Mr and Mrs Kingsley made their way downstairs and greeted us, we greeted back. Damon, Dylan and Quinton shortly joined us and Adriana was the last person to join us

“Seems you youngsters have a lot planned for today”, Mr Kingsley remarked as Layla and Adriana went through the invitation of the opening art gallery together when Deniz and Mrs Kingsley cleared the table

“I was thinking maybe we could join them, don't you think Troy?”, Damon suggested, and I looked over at Layla, but she didn't bother to look up. Adriana nodded her head eagerly, and I shrugged, nodding in agreement.

“I don't think art galleries and movies are kinda your thing gentlemen. You'll be bored to death”, Quinton chipped in and Damon threw him a glare.

“What doesn't kill me makes me stronger”, he smirked and Quinton shook his head

“I don't like this”, he folded his arms. “You're making me the fifth wheel on purpose”

“Maybe this is a sign that you need to get a girl”, Damon teased. “And actually get lai-”, he was interrupted by his mother walking in, and he covered his mouth.

“Don't worry Q, I got you”, I winked at him and Damon gave me a side eye

“That's why you're my favorite person”, Q grinned and Damon threw him a glare

“We are attending Amy's wedding this evening, would any of you like to join us?”, Mom asked, and we were all undecided

“Who's Amy?”, Adrianna asked

“No one important”, Quinton chipped in immediately. “I'm not going to the wedding mother, count me out”

“Me too”, Damon answered

“Me three”, Troy added and mother seemed disappointed hearing him say that

“I just don't like weddings”, he shrugged a little and Adrianna fixed her eyes on him before turning to mother

“I'd like to come Mrs Kingsley, if that's okay with you”, she said and mother clapped her hands excitedly

“Excellent”, she looked at me. “Layla, don't you want to come along?”, she asked pleading with her eyes, my eyes turned to Quinton, who was shaking his head in disapproval

“I don't think so Mom, I'm not up for a wedding”, I shrugged and her shoulders slumped down in disappointment, and she mouthed a quiet oh

“I'll come with you Granny”, Dylan flashed a smile, and she pinched his cheeks and laughed.

“Thank you my darling”

“I think it's time we go, we wouldn't want to be late for the opening”, Quinton said as we all stood up. Dylan ran into my arms for a huge hug and kisses before we left.

“Bye Momma, I love you”, he waved goodbye at the doorway just when we were about to leave

“I love you too”

The art gallery opening wasn't as bad as I thought. There were beautiful sculptures, paintings and portraits there. There was this one I instantly feel in love with of a woman cradling a baby in her arms, the infant sleeping soundly in her arms and the mother looked down on her baby adoringly. The highlight of the portrait was that it was painted with charcoal, adding that significant black and white effect on it. It was truly beautiful. It is true when they say a mother is every child's first love.

“Do you like it?”, Damon stood behind me and wrapped his arms around my shoulders and I leaned onto him

“It's beautiful”, I continued taking this masterpiece with my eyes so that I could capture this sight forever because we were not allowed to take any pictures of the pieces

“It is exceptional”, his eyes focused on the portrait

“I know right?”, I breathed out, and he nodded his head. “The attention to detail and the borders. This speaks to you on its own”.

“I guess we'll be taking it home with us”, he said, and I turned to look at him to see he had a mischievous look on his face

“I can't expect that from you, it's too expensive”, I disagreed, and he chuckled, turning me around again

“I want to buy it for you”, he whispered against my ear and I closed my eyes to listen to the melody of his softened voice. “Please let me”

I nodded my head before turning to engulf him in a hug and kissed him fully on the lips

“Thank you”, I whispered against his lips and he smiled

“You're welcome”

I watched as Layla turn to kiss Damon on the lips and turned my gaze somewhere else in the room

“Is there anything you like?”, Adriana asked, but I shook my head and continued walking forward to view other pieces. She kept her eyes on me as if expecting me to ask her in return that is there anything she liked, and she must have noticed that that wasn't going to happen and continued looking at the paintings on the wall.

“What was going on back there?”, she asked, and I rose my arm in confusion, daring her to continue. “About you not liking weddings?”

I shrugged. “I don't”

“What does that even mean Troy?”

“I don't like weddings Adriana”, I looked away from her piercing stare. “I don't know what's hard to understand”

“What does that mean for us?”

“Where do we fit in this equation exactly?”

She drew a breath. “Are you even planning to marry me one day?”

“I thought we talked about this Adriana”, I rolled my eyes little, moving to look at another portrait, and she moved closer to me, careful not to cause a scene

“Yeah, you told me you had commitment issues, but we've been dating for like over a year now”, her voice was soft, and I looked at her

“I know that, but marriage is a huge step and I don't think we're ready for that kind of responsibility”, I said and saw her eyes watering a little before she nodded her head

“Okay, sure”, she turned to walk away, and I grabbed her by the arm, pulling her close to me

“Dria, you know I love you right?”, I asked, and she nodded her head as she quickly wiped her tears off. “I just need you to give me some time to sort some things in my life first before we can have this conversation again, you think you do that for me?”

“Yeah sure”, she nodded her head again, wrapping her arms around my waist and I kissed her forehead

I caught a glimpse of Troy and Adriana sharing a hug amongst the crowd, it was the first time I saw them this close and intimate together. They hardly even shared a kiss in my presence apart from cheek kisses or a simple hand holding. They actually looked good together, their relationship full of future beautiful possibilities, and they seemed happy.

“If this how you guys are now, I'd hate to see what you are going to do at the cinema”, Quinton spat behind us as Layla and I broke our contact

“Stop being jealous”, I walked past him and Layla entwined their arms together, and we continued looking at other art

“What time is the movie?”, I asked looking at my wristwatch

“At 12pm”, both of them said the same time and Troy and Adriana walked towards us

“It's almost half an hour before the movie starts guys, we should get going”, Troy said, and we all headed for the exit