Page 78 of The Life Experiment
‘You think I don’t know that?’ Angus replied, transferring the least burnt bits of risotto into the new pan. ‘I’m going to introduce cooking to your skillset, Cannon, just you wait.’
Giggling, Layla rested her head on Angus’s shoulder, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. She inhaled his scent. Mint body wash combined with an aftershave that smelled expensive and clean, it matched Angus perfectly.
As Layla breathed Angus in, his hand caught her wrist. She lifted her head but remained close enough to see the flecks of brown in his blue eyes. Angus’s thumb rubbed gently across her skin, causing goosebumps to cover every inch of Layla’s body. Her heart thrummed at the base of her throat, telling her to stop before things progressed further, all the while begging her to lean in even closer.
But as Angus dragged his gaze to Layla’s parted lips, she finally came to her senses. ‘Well, whatever you do, be careful,’ she said, taking a step back. ‘We can’t ruin another pan. Not tonight, at least.’
Angus cleared his throat, blushing lightly. ‘Yes, chef.’
When he offered Layla a mock salute, she sighed internally. So much for her ‘just friends’ rule. Layla suspected her last session with Saira was to blame for making breaking it seem like a good idea.
In Saira’s office, with her heart in her mouth, Layla finally braved bringing up the possibility of lifestyle improvements changing her death date. She’d been meaning to ask the question for the last few sessions, but her nerve always buckled at the last minute. If she didn’t know the answer, Layla could cling to the hope that bettering her relationship with work might mean the next two years wouldn’t end in goodbye. But as soon as she asked the question and got a definitive answer? Well, there was every chance it could be game over.
‘Your results showed conclusive stress-related damage,’ Saira replied tactfully. ‘That’s not to say that with amendments things couldn’t be improved, but that would require another round of testing on top of significant lifestyle changes. Some of which I know you’re attempting to make.’
‘But are they enough?’ Layla pushed.
‘I can’t answer that, Layla. All I can say is that your result was accurate given the data we collated.’
‘But there’s a chance I could have changed things?’
The smile Saira gave Layla was laced with a sadness Layla couldn’t decipher. ‘Perhaps, but I can’t say either way.’
Layla understood the diplomacy of Saira’s response, but Layla had to believe there was hope. And standing in her kitchen, watching Angus salvage dinner, she was filled with so much hope she could float away.
Ten minutes later, Layla and Angus were sat at the dining table, eating the non-burnt bits of risotto.
‘Is it okay?’ Layla asked when Angus took his first bite.
‘Okay? I think you mean heavenly. You did well, Cannon.’
Grinning, Layla topped up their wine. ‘I’m glad you like it. I’ve got to say, even I’m impressed. Maybe I’ll be a chef one day too.’
‘I thought your future was in making the workplace better for everyone?’
‘That’s a bit dramatic,’ Layla replied with a giggle. ‘You’re making me sound like a superhero.’
Angus stopped with his fork suspended inches away from his mouth. ‘Wait, your name isn’t Super Layla?’
Layla cocked her eyebrow. ‘You think if I was a superhero, I’d be called Super Layla? That’s a lame name!’
Angus did his wide, unashamedly happy grin, Layla’s favourite smile of his. There was something about the way it transformed his entire face that made her heart sing. But then again, to Layla there was something special in all of Angus’s smiles.
‘What would your name be, then?’ he asked. ‘Corporate Woman? Suited Slicker?’
‘Suited Slicker sounds like a villain,’ she replied, chewing a mouthful of risotto. ‘Yours should be a cooking-based pun. You have too many skills in the kitchen for it not to be your superpower.’
‘Really? I was thinking more along the lines of being an all-round top guy. Something like Angus the Great.’
‘Angus the Great is boring!’ Layla cried, stifling another bout of laughter. ‘Why are you so terrible at creating superhero names?’
As Angus snorted, Layla’s stomach flipped. How good it felt to make someone laugh so freely, without inhibition. How good it felt to laugh like that too.
‘Forget cooking, then. Maybe yours should be work-related,’ Layla suggested. ‘Hit me with a techy nickname all the IT guys will love.’
Something about her comment froze Angus’s smile. Not for the first time, Layla wondered if Angus didn’t like his job. He wouldn’t be theonly person to feel that way, and definitely not the only person who worked in IT.
Maybe that’s why he doesn’t talk about work much,Layla thought. She wanted him to. She wanted to know who he sat next to, what happened in his meetings and what problems he’d solved that day, but Angus never seemed to share that side of himself.
