In Her Sleep

A Perfectly Good Thing

"You are not mad." 

Janice's statement couldn't be more wrong. Layla is definitely mad. She just can't figure out who or what to direct her anger at exactly. Whether it should be Caleb, who deliberately chose not to mention that he was one of the finest figures in the business world, or herself, who had become so rusty she hadn't had the slightest inkling as to who he was. 
Once upon a time she lived for such. Knowing who was who in the industry, she had dreamt of leaving a mark of her own. But now, this whole revelation just made her realize how far she had fallen from that ambitious girl that had proudly walked off that graduation podium ready to take on the world. She just realized how much she had thrown away just for love. And for what? A broken heart and a slap in the face that reminded her of how gullible she was? Had she really settled for being Simon's trophy wife? Is what she's doing with Caleb any different?

"Shouldn't we be stopping for coffee?" Disappointment weighing heavily on her, Layla watches one more coffee shop disappear from her view as Janice drives by. She had thought that she'd get dragged to a cafeteria or something, but how could she forget that this was Janice? Knowing Caleb's best friend, Layla figures she's in for one hell of a conversation. One that can't exactly be had in front of Caleb's people.

Caleb's people… Caleb Young. Young Towers.  Layla mentally slaps herself. It was all right there. She wonders why she didn't see everything coming. The name was right there on the shiny skyscraper. And for someone who just happened to know the owner of the company, Caleb got too much attention and unusual respect. That was another red flag. She should have known by all the VIP treatment they got once they both stepped out of his car. Because, what kind of friend has a bunch of his employees line up for the kind of welcome she and Caleb got?

"We should." Janice's reply takes Layla out of her thoughts. "But, I seem to have forgotten that caffeine is no longer something I should indulge in. And because this trip is about you, I figured we'd get something that you like. Something that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face despite this regrettable situation."

A warmth floods Layla's heart at that. Janice may be Caleb's best friend, but right now all the concern in the girl's eyes seems to be all for her. If Layla didn't know better, she would think them to be the best of friends.

"I should have seen it coming." Layla dives into the conversation, choosing not to wait until they reach their destination. Wherever that may be.

"Regret doesn't look good on you, you know?" Janice's eyes dart between the road and her. "And besides, I don't think you would have seen it coming even if you wanted to. Caleb hasn't been this person for a while now."

"He hasn't? What does that even mean?"

"Nope. He's been Dr. Caleb Young from the moment he decided to leave it all behind, giving his all to his life-saving profession."

Layla doesn't need to be told that. She is a living testimony of Caleb's life-saving skills. He is just as successful at being a doctor as much as he was at being a damn fine businessman.

"He loved it, loves it. The business world is his life blood, but being a doctor…it gave him purpose. Every time he'd come home at those awkward hours, you would not only see how tired he was, but how happy he was too. Not even clinching the most lucrative business deals brought out the kind of satisfaction he wore each time he left the E.R. And then it gave him you and now, I think, no, I know that his life is complete."

Layla's chest tightens as those feelings of doubt poke at her even after listening to Janice's beautiful speech. "You don't think I'm making a mistake? I mean being with him right after Simon. Because I kind of feel like I am. How did you know that Darren was it?" Maybe she just needs someone else to say it and maybe she'll see everything clearly. No more second guessing.