37. Leah
Chapter thirty-seven
Leah
Penny’s got that look in her eyes—the look that says she’s about two seconds from pulling me out the door, whether I like it or not. I’m in my sweats, cuddled up in a blanket on the couch, and all I want is to sit here and sulk in peace.
“Can’t you just go alone? Why do I have to go?”
“Leah,” Penny says, hands on her hips. “I’ve already told him I’d come, and you know how I feel about meeting guys from dating apps. What if he’s a serial killer? Or worse, what if he’s one of those guys who spend the entire date talking about his mom?”
“So don’t go,” I mumble, trying to sink deeper into the couch. “If you’re this unsure about it, maybe he’s not worth it.”
“I don’t want to stand him up.”
“But you’d rather make me stand him up.”
Penny throws a pillow at me, smacking me right in the face. “That’s not the point! The point is I already said yes, and if I bail now, I’ll look flaky. Plus, I told him I was bringing a friend.” She shoots me a pointed look.
“Wait, is this a double date?” I stare at her in horror. “Penny, don’t tell me it’s a—”
“What?” She bursts into laughter. “No! Why would I try setting you up with someone when I know you’re still head over heels with someone else.”
“Ugh.”
“You’re still in love with Silas, aren’t you?” Her eyes narrow.
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“Awww.”
“Awww?” I mumble. “Stop mocking me.”
“I’m not!” She covers her mouth in mock shame. “Come on, get up and let’s go.”
I sigh, trying to find any excuse to get me out of this. “I’m pregnant, you know. I shouldn’t be out all night for . . . safety reasons.”
“Nice try.” She crosses her arms, undeterred. “Being one month pregnant is not a reason to stay home. And anyway, we’re just going out for a couple of hours. If anything, it’s good for you to get some fresh air and take your mind off things.”
“Fine,” I grumble, pulling myself off the couch. “But you owe me one.”
“Oh, please, like you won’t enjoy every second of getting out of this funk,” she says, flashing me that playful grin that could probably convince me to jump out of a plane if she tried hard enough.
I roll my eyes as I grab my purse.
I have no idea how she’s so chipper and excited about life while I feel like a sad, soggy sponge. Penny’s practically bouncing with energy, her blonde curls bouncing along with her, looking effortlessly put-together in her fitted blue dress and heels. And me? I glance down at my jeans and loose sweater, then at Penny’s raised brow, and grab a coat to cover it all up.
Not exactly a “going-out” outfit, but I’m going for “invisible” tonight.
“Who are you texting?” I ask as she turns her phone away.
“My date.”
“You still haven’t told me his name.”
“Um, Lucas.”
“You had to think about it?” I narrow my eyes.
“Back off, he’s a stranger.”
“Uh-huh.”
As we step outside, I’m glad I’m wearing a coat. Penny flags a cab, and in a matter of minutes, we’re on the road. When we alight, I realize just how close we are to the set of what seems to be Darkest Hour —Silas’s latest movie.
Just my luck.
“You know, Silas’s studio is just around the corner,” I say as we walk down the sidewalk—the sun’s setting, and the air’s thick with the city buzz.
“Yeah? I didn’t know that.”
I instinctively duck a little when we turn the corner, glancing around to ensure I don’t see his tall, broad frame anywhere. Penny notices and nudges me with a knowing smile.
“Oh, don’t worry,” she says. “Harvey’s in London right now, so there’s no way he’s around here.”
“How do you know that?”
She shrugs, looking suspiciously innocent. “I might’ve read it somewhere online.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “Stalker.”
“Oh, hush. You’re secretly glad I know these things.”
We keep walking, and I try to ignore the sinking feeling in my stomach as we get closer to the set. I’m still raw from our breakup and the thought of seeing him here, looking effortlessly handsome, yeah, I could do without that visual.
Fuck, why did I come out?
Penny suddenly slows down, her eyes catching on the scene being filmed on set. I follow her gaze, and my chest tightens at what I see. It’s a couple in the middle of an argument, right there on the sidewalk, under a streetlamp that casts a dramatic glow over their faces. They’re shouting, emotions spilling over with each line, and something about it feels unsettlingly familiar.
I take a step closer, my heart hammering in my chest as I strain to listen.
It’s our argument. Silas and I, that day when we tore each other apart. The words coming from the actors’ mouths are almost word-for-word what we’d said to each other. And just like that night, I feel the same sting of betrayal, the same overwhelming heartbreak.
“Did he put our fight in the—”
Penny touches my shoulder. “Hush, babe.”
The actor playing Silas steps forward, reaching for the actress with a desperate plea in his eyes, and she hesitates, then finally takes his hand. The scene ends with a passionate, swoon-worthy kiss under the streetlamp's glow, like something from a romance novel.
“Wow,” Penny whispers beside me. “That was intense.”
“That was us!”
Penny stares at me. “What?”
“That didn’t sound familiar?”
“Should it?”
“That was the fight I had with Silas! Some words were changed, but that was it! What kind of douchebag puts one of the worst moments of my life in a movie like it doesn’t matter?”
Penny frowns, glances at the set, and back at me. “I mean, I don’t think so? They literally kissed at the end of their fight. Everything worked out for them.”
Maybe she’s right. Perhaps I’m overthinking this.
I try to brush it off with a forced smile. “Yeah. Sometimes, I wish I’d gotten my happily ever after, too.”
Penny looks at me, her eyes soft. “Hey, you never know.” She glances around as if she’s hiding something.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask, suspicious.
She opens her mouth to respond, but is cut off by a sudden hush that falls over the set. The actors and crew members all look at each other, then turn toward us with knowing smiles. I frown, glancing at Penny, who’s got this mischievous glint in her eyes that makes my heart skip a beat.
“What’s going on?”
Then, as if on cue, the entire crew starts producing roses out of nowhere, each person holding one as they slowly get down on one knee. The sight is so surreal that it takes my brain a full ten seconds to process what’s happening. Penny is grinning from ear to ear, and I’m just standing there, slack-jawed and frozen.
“Penny, what’s—"
And then I see him.
Silas steps into the middle of the set, a single white rose in one hand and a small box in the other. He’s wearing a dark suit that fits him perfectly, his hair slightly tousled, and his face . . . well, it’s etched with emotion so raw it makes my breath catch. He looks straight at me, and I feel my cheeks flush as he steps closer.
I blink, trying to catch my breath. “Silas . . . What . . . ?”
Penny gives me a little nudge, whispering, “Surprise.”
Oh, my God.
Silas stops a few feet away, kneeling before me, his eyes never leaving mine. I can’t look away, and I can’t quite breathe either. The whole world narrows down to just him, kneeling before me, his voice barely above a whisper.
“I love you, Leah. And I’m here with your father’s blessing.”
My head’s spinning, my heart somersaults as I process the words. My father’s blessing? Silas came here, staged this entire grand gesture, and somehow, he got my father on board?
“W-what is going on?” I manage to choke out, feeling like my legs might give way beneath me.
Silas just nods, his gaze steady and unwavering. “I know I messed up, Leah. I know I made you feel like I didn’t care, but I do. More than anything. You’re the one I want, the one I need.” He glances down at the box in his hand, then back up at me, his eyes glistening. “And I want to spend the rest of my life making up for every stupid mistake I ever made.”
Penny, standing beside me, is practically vibrating with excitement, her face beaming with pride. “He’s got your dad’s blessing, Leah. It’s real.”
I look from her to Silas, my heart pounding. “That’s why you were trying to get me out of the house.” I shake my head, unable to believe this. I turn back to Silas. “You . . . you really mean this?”
“More than anything.” His voice is barely above a whisper, his hand trembling slightly as he opens the box to reveal a ring—a different ring—that sparkles in the soft glow of the set lights.
“Oh my God.”
The crew is silent, all eyes on us, and I can feel the weight of the moment pressing down on me, the sheer intensity of his love, regret, and hope. And suddenly, all the hurt, the anger, the confusion—it fades, leaving only this overwhelming sense of relief, of love, of finally coming home.
“Leah,” Silas says softly, holding the ring up to me. “I know we were engaged before. But you and I know that was more business than emotion.”
He’s looking at me like I’m the only person in the world, like he’s willing to wait forever for my answer if he has to.
“Leah, will you marry me?”