Page 30 of The Life Experiment

It wasn’t like Angus to cut out early on plans with Jasper, but he had no choice. The four Savile Row tailors Jasper had dragged him to meant their outing was now dangerously close to interrupting Angus’s time with Layla.

‘You should stick with Mulhoneys,’ Angus said as he reached for his coat. ‘Your family’s been going there for years.’

‘Which is exactly why I fancied a change,’ Jasper replied, eying the cut of a pair of trousers in the mirror. ‘If I was a stately home, I would be in dire need of a renovation.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous. You dress well.’

‘Angus Fairview-Whitley, are you complimenting me?’ Jasper teased. He flicked his gaze to Angus in the mirror. ‘Do you have to rush off? There’s still another tailor to visit.’

‘Jasper, we were meant to finish shopping an hour ago.’

Checking the time, Jasper could only laugh. ‘Still, I thought we could grab a bite to eat when we finish.’

‘I can’t. I have plans.’

‘With who?’

At that moment, a text arrived on Angus’s phone.

Be there in 15. Dinner is on whoever arrives last… x

Grinning, Angus’s body moved on autopilot, heading for the door and the promise of the evening ahead. It was only when Jasper shouted his name that Angus realised he was leaving without saying goodbye.

Jasper shook his head. ‘She’s got you in a chokehold, my friend. Be careful. It’s not like you to lose your head over anyone.’

‘Maybe she’s not just anyone,’ Angus replied. Jasper’s eyebrows rose, but before he could say anything, Angus pointed to a smart jacket on a nearby mannequin. ‘Try that on. I reckon you’ll like it.’

Shaking his head, Jasper tutted. ‘Trying to distract me with fine tailoring? That’s low, Angus. I’m afraid it won’t work. I’m too invested in your mysterious love life.’

‘It’s not mysterious.’

‘Angus, I am your best friend and all I know about this woman is that you’re obsessed with her. If you don’t let me meet her soon, I’m going to have to ask your mother to get involved. If there’s anyone who can bully you into doing what they want, it’s Gilly.’

Angus’s smile tightened, but he couldn’t tell which part of Jasper’s response made him cringe the most. The idea of Jasper and Layla being in the same room, or the idea of Gilly meeting Layla and firing one of her dismissive putdowns her way.

‘That sounds a lot like blackmail,’ he replied curtly. Angus didn’t mean to sound quite so terse, but the strain of keeping Layla on the edge of his life was fraying him in ways he couldn’t control.

‘If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my father,’ Jasper said, straightening his tie in the mirror. ‘It’s that there’s no such thing as blackmail between friends. It’s simply a nudge in the right direction.’

‘Spoken like a true Machiavelli,’ Angus retorted, before pointing to the mannequin once more. ‘I’ve got to go, but I mean it – you should try this one on.’

‘Will do. Enjoy another night with the mystery woman,’ Jasper called, waving goodbye as Angus left the store.

According to Google Maps, Hyde Park was a twenty-minute walk away, but Angus knew he would get there faster than that.

At the prospect of seeing Layla, his body went into superspeed.

While listening to the latest Gillian McAllister thriller, he weaved through crowds enjoying the chilly evening.

Soon the traditionally styled storefronts of Savile Row made way for chic restaurants and bars.

As Angus walked, he made note of places that Layla might like.

An Italian restaurant that smelled divine as he passed it.

A curry house that promised modern takes on classic dishes.

Street after street, Angus mapped out potential dates with Layla until he reached Hyde Park Corner.

There, Angus pulled out his phone. Jasper had texted to say he’d bought the jacket.

You know me well! Anyone would think we’d been friends for years , the message said.

Grinning as the words proved that all was well between them, Angus had just set about replying when a call from Clarissa came through.

Seeing her name on the screen was like being struck over the back of the head with a hammer. Angus hadn’t talked to Clarissa in weeks. He hadn’t thought of her in that time, either.

‘Clarissa, eh? Should I be jealous?’

Jumping so hard he almost dropped his phone, Angus turned towards the teasing voice and came face-to-face with Layla. ‘No, no, not at all,’ he blustered.

‘You sure she isn’t a secret girlfriend you’ve hidden away?’ Layla prodded, lifting her eyebrow.

Angus knew Layla was only joking, but the thought of admitting to the toxic dynamic he and Clarissa had engaged in for years made him shrivel.

Angus didn’t want Layla to think he was cavalier about sex and relationships.

Nor did he want her to know that for years he had been such a shell of a person, offering anything more than a casual hook-up felt like adding another name to the long list of people he’d disappointed.

‘It’s a work thing,’ Angus heard himself blurt out. ‘Clarissa’s my colleague.’

For the life of him, Angus didn’t know why he’d said that, but the words had burst free before he could stop them.

Oblivious to his pain, Layla smiled like she knew all about after-hours work calls. ‘Take it if you need to. I don’t mind.’

‘No, it’s okay,’ Angus replied, declining the call and slipping his phone away. ‘Work shouldn’t be contacting me at this time.’

‘Oh, how I would love to be able to say that about my job!’ Layla cried before nudging Angus. ‘Hello, by the way.’

Loosening his shoulders, Angus strained a smile. ‘Hello to you too.’

Angus’s body moved with a mind of its own, drawing Layla into a hug and pressing a kiss to her cheek. His lips tingled from the contact, as they did every time he greeted Layla that way. With Layla’s arms around him, Angus felt his body soften. At peace, all thoughts of Clarissa melted away.

‘Shall we set off?’ Angus asked, reluctantly pulling away when he became aware of how long they’d stood wrapped around each other.

‘Why not? A twilight stroll is tonight’s plan, after all.’

Angus didn’t know whose idea it was to link arms as they walked, but he was delighted by it.

Hyde Park was, like always, a hive of activity. People meeting after work, rushing home or squeezing in a workout. It was an eruption of life, but the only thing that Angus cared about was beside him, tucked into his arm.

‘How was your day?’ Layla asked.

‘Boring,’ Angus replied. ‘Yours?’

‘You don’t want to tell me more about your boring day before I fill you in on details of my busy one?’

Angus let out a strangled laugh. ‘Not at all. I already spend too many hours at work. The less I think about it later, the better.’

The lie slid out smoothly, quadrupling Angus’s self-loathing. He tightened his grip on Layla’s arm. Clinging to her, the world beneath his feet felt solid. In fact, these days, being around Layla was the only time anything felt solid.

As Layla burst into an anecdote about a new client, Angus took a moment to study her. She was so incredibly beautiful. Every time Angus saw her, he had to bite his tongue to stop himself from saying it. But in this moment, pink cheeked and chatting animatedly? She was something else entirely.

‘Are you listening to me?’ Layla said, pinching Angus’s arm.

‘Of course I’m listening to you. You’re the most interesting person I know.’

Layla’s right eyebrow kinked. ‘Really? I take it that means you usually only befriend boring people?’

‘Not at all. All my friends are fascinating. You’re just the best one.’

Tipping her head back, Layla let out a throaty laugh. Instinctively, Angus tightened his grip on her, his heart bursting at the sound.

As Layla continued recounting her day, Angus walked beside her, stroking his fingers back and forth on her arm as he listened. All the while, he lied to himself that he was worthy of Layla’s time, even though he knew, deep down, he wasn’t.