Chapter 31 Layla
Although she’d lived in London for a few years, Layla had never participated in the activities put on each year in the run up to Christmas. No glittering window display captured her attention enough to enchant her. No festive menu enticed Layla enough to nip inside for a bite to eat.
That was until Angus entered the picture. Now, Layla found herself bundled in a hat and scarf on her way to do the definition of a winter activity: ice-skating in the park. Cheesy and cute, like something from a Hallmark Christmas film, she couldn’t wait.
Layla had never skated before. She wasn’t sure she had the skills. In fact, when she’d called her dad earlier and told him what she was doing, he’d laughed. ‘You? On ice? Really? Now that I would love to see.’
Even though she’d scoffed at his words, the idea of gliding around a patch of ice terrified Layla. What if she fell? What if she was terrible at it?
What if, what if, what if… Somehow, when Angus was around, that question wasn’t quite so prevalent.
Layla saw him before he saw her. Up ahead, standing under the entrance to the park, as promised.
Angus wasn’t scrolling on his phone while he waited like most would.
He was alert, scanning the crowd for Layla.
And, as his face broke into a wide smile, Layla knew he’d spotted her.
Her stomach flipped. That smile… It was enough to make Layla weak at the knees.
A terribly timed reaction considering she was about to ice-skate for the first time.
‘Are you excited?!’ Angus enthused as soon as she drew near enough to hear him.
‘Of course! A little nervous too,’ Layla admitted.
Grinning, Angus swept her into a hug. As his capable arms pressed her body against his, Layla wished more than anything that Angus would hold on longer. Brush her hair back from her face. Lean in and kiss her…
But, ever the gentleman, Angus didn’t push his luck. Their hug was one of friendship and warmth, even if Layla could swear it sizzled with the sparks of wanting more.
‘Come on. Let’s join the queue before you talk yourself out of it,’ Angus said.
‘Or before the rink gets too full,’ Layla replied, eying the crowd.
It seemed like half of London had come to the park with the same idea.
People old and young, families and couples, all ready to skate as if they were invincible.
Layla didn’t know where they got the confidence, but as Angus slipped his arm through hers, she felt her own self-assurance rise.
Another few minutes in Angus’s presence and Layla wouldn’t be surprised if she believed she could rule the world.
The queue was surprisingly quick. Wrapped around the rink, it allowed people to see what they were signing up for. Lights flooded the icy surface and festive music blared, giving life to a scene that was already brimming with people.
‘Look at her,’ Angus marvelled, pointing to a woman who was skating on one leg. ‘Isn’t she amazing?’
‘I hope you don’t expect me to do that,’ Layla said.
‘I reckon you could do it. I’ll hold your hand for support.’
Layla’s stomach flipped at the thought of Angus’s hand around hers. ‘I’ll only drag you down.’
‘I wouldn’t mind. If there’s one person I’d let pull me to the ground, it’s you.’
As her butterflies fluttered into overdrive, Layla itched to reply, You’re the only person I’d let do that too. But like always, when it came to admitting her true feelings to Angus, she held her tongue.
A couple skated past at that moment, dancing to Wham’s ‘Last Christmas’.
‘I love their confidence,’ Layla commented. ‘I wish I could dance in public like that.’
‘Well then, that’s what we’ll do,’ Angus replied, stepping forward as the queue moved. ‘Tonight, we won’t just skate. We will become ice dancers.’
Layla laughed. ‘Do you really think I’ll be able to stand long enough to dance?’
‘I reckon we’ll be able to make our own moves up, for sure. They might be more Bambi-on-ice than graceful, but who cares?’
Layla felt like she was floating when Angus talked about them as a unit. Ever since their first meeting, daydreams of ‘us’ and ‘we’ and ‘ours’ had filled her mind.
Stop , her brain warned. Think of your death date.
But as Angus paid their admission, Layla silenced the thought. For one night, she didn’t want to think of the end. She wanted to think of right here, right now. Of lacing skates alongside a man who made her feel like anything was possible.
‘You okay?’ Angus asked as his steady hand guided a wobbling Layla towards the entrance to the rink.
‘I’m okay. Terrified, but okay.’
‘Don’t worry,’ Angus said, stepping onto the ice and stretching out his hand for her. ‘I’ve got you. What’s the worst that could happen?’
A list of scary possibilities flooded Layla’s mind. She could prove her death date wrong by falling and breaking her neck, for one. She could be wiped out. Split her trousers. Break a limb. Humiliate herself in front of the biggest crowd she had ever been in.
Or…
Or she could take Angus’s hand and glide.
Reaching for him, Layla put her foot on the ice and trusted.
While Angus appeared to have the skills of a pro, Layla’s skating technique wouldn’t be described as graceful.
It was the opposite, in fact. Angus ended up with one hand holding hers, and the other around her waist to keep her upright.
But the many near-falls and jerking sweeps of her skates didn’t matter.
Layla was skating. She was floating on a cloud of happiness. Flying, even. All because of Angus.
‘Where did you learn to skate so well?’ she marvelled as Angus swooped them smoothly around a corner.
‘I don’t know,’ Angus replied, his cheeks turning pink from the cold. ‘I went a lot when I was a kid. I guess muscle memory has taken over.’
Layla opened her mouth to ask more, but as the first few bars of Band Aid’s ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ tinkled through the speakers, Angus squeezed her tight.
‘Come on,’ he said. ‘It’s time to dance.’
‘Angus, I don’t dance,’ Layla protested, ‘and certainly not on ice!’ But when Angus began to shake his hips, giggles overtook her. Layla had no idea how Angus was able to move like that and stay upright.
‘Come on,’ Angus cheered, moving Layla’s arm so she could dance with him. ‘It’s fun, I promise. No one’s looking.’
Glancing around, Layla saw that a few people nearby were in fact looking, but in that moment, she didn’t care. Let them look. Let them laugh. She was soaring on the arm of the loveliest man she had ever met.
Grinning, Layla moved her hips too. She even threw a jazz hand. Then, when the motion made her wobble, Angus twirled her into his arms and held her upright. In all of Layla’s life, she had never experienced a moment so romantic.
‘That was smooth,’ she breathed, watching her breath fog the sliver of air between them.
‘I’m trying to impress you, aren’t I?’ Angus replied, blushing as he glanced at her lips.
Layla knew the moment was dangerous. She knew it blurred the lines of friendship she insisted they drew. Sense told Layla to pull away, but she couldn’t. If Angus was the flame, then she was the moth.
Suddenly, a child whooshed past them, too close for comfort.
Gasping, Layla rested her hands on Angus’s chest and held on tight.
She knew she was steady now, but nothing about the moment felt steady.
Her eyes traced Angus’s frosty breath, watching it mingle with hers.
Dragging her gaze from Angus’s mouth to his eyes, Layla watched his face transform with a smile.
‘I told you I wouldn’t let you fall,’ he said.
Internally, Layla laughed. Angus had no idea. She was already falling. She had been from the moment they met.