Page 39 of False Assumptions

Chapter Seventeen

Layla gathered her courage before knocking on the door of the one-story brick house. She’d parked on the street, cars already filling the cracked driveway. Laughter carried through the door, and she jumped when it opened suddenly, Elena smiling at her through the screen.

Elena pushed it open. “Come in, come in! Everyone else is here already, and Megan’s making margaritas. You’re just in time.”

Pasting a smile on her face, Layla stepped through the door, noticing that Abby, the girl from the Spanish department who had helped her and Evan with their project, sat on the couch. Another blonde girl sat next to her. They both offered her friendly smiles and stood.

The one Layla didn’t know stepped around the coffee table. “Hi. You must be Layla. Elena’s told us about you. I’m Hannah.” She offered her hand, and Layla shook it.

“Hi.”

Abby smiled and gave a little wave. “Hi. Nice to see you again.”

Layla smiled back. “Thanks again for your help with the project.”

“You’re welcome. I really didn’t do much, but I’m glad you found it helpful.”

Elena looked back and forth through this exchange. “Oh, that’s right. I forgot you worked on that project with Evan. He asked me for help, because, you know, my parents are from Mexico, so I obviously have a grip on the political background of random South American countries.” She rolled her eyes, and Layla laughed.

“What? You mean all Spanish-speaking countries aren’t the same? That’s crazy.”

“Ooh. Another sarcastic one. I like her. She’ll fit right in around here,” a new voice chimed in.

Layla lifted her head to see a pretty brunette with chin-length curls coming from the back of the house, a glass with a salted rim in each hand.

Elena made the introductions. “Megan, this is Layla. Layla, Megan.”

Megan smiled. “Welcome to girls’ night. Elena probably didn’t mention it, but we’re celebrating tonight. She got accepted to Stanford Law school as well as Marycliff and somewhere else, right?” She turned to Elena, one brow arched in question.

“Yeah. UW.”

“Wow,” Layla said, turning to Elena. “That’s amazing. Congratulations. Do you know where you’re going yet?”

Elena shook her head. “Not yet. There’s a lot to think about.”

“Like Big D’s big D, how far away from it you’re prepared to be, and for how long?” Smirking, Megan set the glasses on the table and headed back to the kitchen before Elena could respond.

Abby snickered, and Hannah’s cheeks turned pink. Elena gave Layla a long-suffering look. “That’s Megan. She doesn’t hold back. I’d apologize, but you’ll just have to get used to her.”

With a grin, Layla said, “It’s alright. I’ve been hanging out with Evan. Dirty jokes are his hallmark. I think he tries to hold back with me, or at least he did at first, but they come out whether he wants them to or not.”

“That’s what she said!” carried from the kitchen, and everyone laughed some more.

Megan came back with three more glasses. “Thanks for all your help, hookers. I’ll just continue serving you your margaritas.” She set the glasses on the table and did a little curtsy.

Abby reached for a glass. “Thank you, Megan. We all agreed you’d need to practice since you’ll be out of school and trying to make a living as an artist in a couple of months. So that means waitressing, right?”

Megan stuck her tongue out at Abby and grabbed her own glass before settling in the recliner next to the couch. “Please. Like you’ll be much better off with your Spanish degree here in Spokane. What are you going to do? You’re not getting your teaching certificate. So …” She made a rolling motion with her hand, her face expectant.

“You forget. Lance hates it that I work at all anyway. Plus, I’ve been getting more translation work. I’ll keep doing that.”

“Riiight. I forgot you’re okay with being a kept woman now. And didn’t you say your stomach was bothering you earlier? Should you be drinking? Maybe you’re pregnant.”

Elena tugged Layla over to the couch, an amused expression on her face as they all watched Abby and Megan hassling each other. They obviously knew each other well. Layla took off her jacket before grabbing a margarita and sitting on the couch next to Hannah. Elena settled on the floor at the end of the coffee table, a glass in front of her, avidly watching the show.

Abby gave Megan a dirty look. “I’ve had a cold. It’s made me a little dizzy which made my stomach feel weird. I’m not pregnant.”

Megan sipped her drink, a smile on her face. “Mmmhmm. If you say so.”

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