Jake
Layla looks so fucking sexy over in the corner of my office. We’ve been in for an hour or so—we rode together in my limo—and she’s looking over viewership statistics for ACL. She’s totally engrossed in what she’s doing and doesn’t notice that I can’t seem to keep my eyes off her. I like having her with me. I said it before, but it’s true. I could get used to having her around. At work, at home. All the time. It’s crazy talk, right? I mean, I’m the ultimate ladies man. Every guy wishes he could be me.
Yet all I can think about is that having someone special to spend my time with is way better than having a thousand random women lining up for me.
“We’ve narrowed it down to about ten at this point,” Toby is saying.
“Mm hmm,” I mutter, my eyes still on Layla.
“But I think there are several that really stand out among the others…” He keeps on talking, and I zone out again.
What’s going to happen when Layla makes her decision? And then what about when the show starts back up? Do we actually have a chance at a real relationship? It seems complicated. But at the same time, I can’t imagine things going back to the way they were before.
“Dude!”
I jerk my eyes over to Toby, who looks completely exasperated.
“What?”
“Did you hear a single fucking thing I said?” He’s grinning like an idiot now, a ridiculous smirk plastered on his face.
“Oh, um, yeah. Sure. Ten guests.” Is that what he said? That sounds right.
“I asked you a question.”
I shake my head and squint. “Um, could you repeat it?”
Toby laughs loudly, getting Layla’s attention now.
“Dude, you're so distracted.” He gives Layla a knowing wink. “Can’t say that I blame you. But seriously, we need to figure this out. What do you think about Meghan Mitchell?”
“The actress?” Layla asks, an odd look on her face.
“Yeah,” Toby says excitedly. “She’s like the hottest new A-list starlet right now. Having her on the show would be huge.”
“She wants to come on ACL?” I ask, knitting my brows together. “Why?”
Toby sighs, and then looks at me like he’s having to explain something to a kindergartner. “She’s a fan of the show.” Picking up a paper, he waves it in my face. “And not just any old fan, apparently. Like a total super-fan. I think we should go with it.”
He’s got my attention now. That would be good for the show. “You’re right,” I say, leaning forward. “She’d make a great guest. I’ve been trying to figure out how we could keep the ratings as high as they were before the hiatus, and think this is the way to go.”
The sharp sound of a chair scraping across the floor makes me look back at Layla. She’s standing up, some papers in her hand and the weird look still on her face.
I start to stand, concerned, but she walks toward me, somewhat stiffly, and gives me a quick kiss on the cheek. “I need to go. I have some outside research that really can’t wait.”
I frown as she leaves. She didn’t mention that earlier when we were talking about our plans for the day.
When I look back at Toby, he’s still grinning like a fool.
“What?”
“Man, you are so fucking pussy whipped. Never thought I’d see the day.”
“Shut your hole, dude.” But I can’t help laughing. He’s kind of right.
“I mean, you haven’t been able to get your head in the game all damn day. Next thing I know, you’ll be wanting to change up the show and turn into fucking Dr. Phil.”
“Watch it, asshole,” I say, pointing my finger at him, but still grinning good-naturedly. “I may change my mind about you and get someone else to guest host if you keep this shit up.”
I haven’t had a chance to tell Layla yet, but I decided to let Toby guest host the first episode after the hiatus. He’s been bugging me about it for long enough, and it was an easy answer for the moment.
I haven’t figured out how to handle the fact that I don’t want to play my part on the next episode now that Layla’s in the picture. I’m sure that would hurt her. I sure as fuck wouldn’t be cool with seeing her go down on some other dude, so I’m not going to make it a double standard, even if it technically is my job.
Toby holds his hands up in surrender. “Fine, fine. I’ll back off. God knows I’ve been after this guest host spot for fucking ever. Not going to ruin it now.” Yet he still gives me a sly look. “So when’s the wedding?”
I roll my eyes and lean back in my seat, clasping my hands behind my head and crossing my knees at the ankle, trying to go for a casual look. Hoping Toby doesn’t realize that his words just drove home all the crazy thoughts I’ve been having all day.
“Whatever, man.”
Toby scoffs, apparently unconvinced. “No, you don’t get off that easily. You’re trying to tell me that you aren’t serious about Layla? That you don’t have feelings for her?”
I shrug.
“Because from where I’m sitting, it’s pretty clear. You just handed over the next show to me, giving me the chance to go down on the hottest woman in America right now. So the way I see it, it’s one of two things.” He pauses, and I raise my eyebrows, going for indifference. “You’re either in love or you’re dying. Nothing else in the world would make you do this.”
I just sit there feeling shell-shocked, sure that it’s written all over my face. But I can’t keep up the charade when he’s just dropped that kind of truth bomb.
Holy. Fucking. Shit.
He’s right. I don’t want anyone else. Only Layla. Because I’m in love with her.