Bound Together by Marie Coulson Read Free Book Online Page B

knew damn well that I
hadn’t replied.
     
    “Well. Actually I decided
not to reply. I won’t get drawn into his little game. I will simply
discuss it with him on Monday.” Mel leaned over and rolled her eyes
at me “Oh come on Layla. We both know you won’t last that long.” I
pushed her aside, grabbed a pillow and hit her with it. Sniggering
like children we fell back onto the bed. I turned to her and stuck
my tongue out but she simply shrugged. “I give you till the end of
the day. I’d even bet my best DKNY dress that you’re already
thinking about him now.” She gave me a wicked grin.
    Damn. She was right, I was
thinking about him. I hadn’t stopped thinking about him all
morning. And I was certainly tempted to reply to that text but I
had to take the moral high ground here and be the better
person…again. I would not let Jared do this to me. But I was
curious as to how he got my number in the first place. I thought
maybe I could just ask him. It was one little text right? I shook
my head at myself. No. I would confront him in person on Monday.
Probably.
     
    * * *
     
     
    Dad took me to my favorite
Italian restaurant. Mama’s Little Pizzeria was a small family owned
business. The owners, Marco and Marie, were an older couple and
along with their two sons they ran the whole restaurant. They were
obviously a close family and were always happy to see us when we
came for our usual Saturday night meal. “Andrew! Layla! Is so nice
to see you. You want your usual table? Come, I get you a
menu.”
     
    Marco was as welcoming as
ever. He showed us to a small table by the window and placed two
menus in front of us. “So Layla when you gonna marry my boy huh?
He’s just graduated at the top of his class you know.” I felt my
cheeks warming and stared over at dad, pleading with my eyes for
him to help me get out of this.
    “Ah Marco you know how it
goes. She’s a college girl now. She’s got her head in the books.
And I hope that’s where it stays till she’s 21.” He reached over
and held my hand in his, giving me a smile.
    “Besides, no one will ever be good enough
for my baby girl.” Winking at me he turned to Marco who was smiling
and shaking his head. “We’ll have the usual please Marco and a two
glasses of lemonade.”
     
    Dad had come to my rescue
just as he always did. Marco’s son Roberto was twenty one and had
just graduated from California State. He had studied biology and
human science and was well on his way to medical school. He was a
nice guy and we would often talk when dad was in the bathroom or
talking to Marco and Marie. He had even asked me out once and I’d
had to let him down as gently as I could. He was a great guy but
with his dark hair, dark eyes and slim physique he just wasn’t my
type. I wasn’t sure if I’d even had a type at the time but whatever the case, Roberto
certainly wasn’t it.
     
    Dad and I spent the evening talking about my
new job and I told him about Amy and Oliver. I decided to leave
Jared out of the conversation. Dad was very protective and I knew
he wouldn’t take kindly to anyone upsetting his baby girl. Plus I
could handle Jared all on my own.
     
    I was thinking about him
again. What was wrong with me? Here I was in my favorite
restaurant, my dad animatedly talking about how he had fixed every
appliance in the house that week and I was thinking about that
jackass. I tried to focus on what dad was saying. I was finally
caught up on his week of D.I.Y projects and meals for one when I
felt my phone buzzing in my pocket.
     
    Excusing myself, I made my
way to the bathroom. Once safely inside and away from dad’s prying
eyes, I pulled out the mobile. There was a text and I knew exactly
who it was from. I had saved his number in my contacts under “The
Asshole.” I exhaled a deep long breath and opened the
message.
     
    Layla. I do hope you
weren’t offended by my previous message. I did not intend for it to
anger or insult you in any way. However I