Ice & Prejudice

Chapter 17

Ria's POV:

The morning shift at the Ruby was in full swing. The hum of conversation mixed with the clinking of cutlery and the soft background music that played over the speakers. Layla and I had just finished taking orders from the morning rush, and we found a quiet moment to catch our breath behind the counter.

"Man, these shifts can get crazy," Layla said, tying her braids into a loose knot on top of her head. "But I like it. Keeps me on my toes."

"True," I agreed, pouring myself a cup of coffee. "It's definitely better than some of the other jobs I could've ended up with. Plus, it forces me to talk to people. I'm not really one to go out of my way to socialize."

Layla gasps. "I wouldn't have guessed that."

We both know that was hella sarcasic and burst out laughing.

I finally lean against the counter. "But this place has definitely helped. It's good money too, especially with how expensive everything at Ivy can get."

"Tell me about it," Layla groaned, rolling her eyes. "Even with most of my school paid for, it's like the little things add up. My step-dad covers most of my tuition, but my mom made it clear that I need to earn my own money for personal expenses. She doesn't want me turning into some spoiled brat."

I glanced at her, intrigued. "Your mom sounds pretty grounded."

"She is," Layla said, a fond smile spreading across her face. "She's my rock, honestly. I owe everything to her. She always made sure I understood the value of hard work. Like, even though she married into money when I was a kid, she didn't let it change how she raised me."

"Seems like you two are close," I said, feeling a pang of envy but also genuine admiration for Layla's relationship with her mom.

"We are," Layla said, her smile softening as she leaned on the counter, reminiscing. "Growing up, it was just the two of us for a while before she remarried. She worked two jobs to make sure we had everything we needed. But she never let me feel like we were struggling, you know? She'd come home from a long day, and instead of collapsing on the couch, she'd spend time with me. We'd cook dinner together, or she'd help me with my homework. I remember she taught me how to braid my own hair when I was little because she didn't want me to feel like I was missing out on having someone else do it for me. She always found a way to make the simplest things feel special."

I nodded, taking in every word. There was something so warm and genuine in the way Layla talked about her mom. It was clear they had a bond that went beyond the typical parent-child relationship. It reminded me of what I always wanted but never quite had. I had to teach myself how to braid my hair. Gia helped me, though.

"She sounds amazing," I said, meaning it. "I wish I had that kind of relationship with my mom."

Layla glanced at me, curiosity in her eyes but no pressure to share more than I wanted to. "What about your dad?" she asked gently, as if sensing there was more to my story.

"Not in the picture anymore, not that he ever really was," I said quietly, not really wanting to dive into that right now. I quickly turned the conversation back to her. "So, your step-dad—he paid for your tuition, huh?"

"Yeah," Layla said, her tone shifting back to something lighter. "He's a good guy, really. He's always been there for me, and he treats me like I'm his own. But he's got these annoying freaking sons from his first marriage, and let's just say, they've always had it easy. My youngest step-brother, for example, is kind of a dick. He's always had everything handed to him, and it shows."

I couldn't help but think of Nikolai and Vlad Wolves—two brothers who had also grown up with everything handed to them, as far as I know, at least. Layla's story hit a little too close to home.