The Playroom

Chapter Twenty-One

L eo was hot under the collar, pacing up and down a book aisles as his hand clutched harshly to his phone making a phone call to the police. People were starting to stare and talk amongst themselves.

Seeing my boyfriend beside himself completely vexed, knowing that he felt helpless really shows me how much I mean to him and what he is willing to do.

Jane glanced at me with concern, clearly trying to figure out what was going on without prying. But even she couldn’t ignore the palpable anxiety radiating off of Leo.

“Leo,” I said softly, hoping my voice would ground him, “It’s okay. Let’s just...handle it calmly. Kyle didn’t do anything other than show up.”

He barely heard me, his shoulders tense, as he continued to storm down the aisles while barking something incomprehensible into the phone. I could feel the heat of the situation boiling over and my mind raced, anticipating a fallout.

I hated this.

“So,” Jane started talking, “This is the guy you’ve been seeing?”

“Yes, this is Leo.”

My first thought is to apologize, but I figure that would make things worse somehow. Jane is a smart cookie, I wouldn’t put it past her knowing something was going as soon as Leo showed up.

“Jane, I need to..." I said, starting off my apology.

She raised her hand gesturing me to stop and was accompanied with a small smile, “No need to explain, but if you must, I’m all ears.”

She leaned in slightly.

“The guy who said that Leo wasn’t going to be around all the time, I was attacked by that man a few weeks ago. I think he showed up to intimate me or something,” I explained.

“The man who came in earlier. The one in the hoodie, just before Leo got here,” her expression darkened, “He gave me a weird vibe, and then the message he wanted. It just didn’t sit right with me.”

My stomach dropped.

Hearing Jane ominously repeat what he said echoed in my mind, each syllable carrying a sense of dread. The words Kyle said were simple, laden with threat. I felt an instant urge to run up to Leo and pull him close and tell him what Kyle said. Together we’d find a way to make this looming sense of unease disappear.

Before I could respond, Leo’s tone shifted and his voice raised, cutting through the moment. He stopped pacing and now stood still, his knuckles white as he gripped the phone. His eyes found mine and they were filled with frustration but also something else, worry.

“That man seems to be quite smitten for you,” Jane said, looking over at Leo with an impressed expression.

“Yes, and I feel the same about him.” I respond with a slight smile.

“I can sense you two have a connection like no other.”

“What do you mean?” I quizzically asked.

Jane’s eyes flickered between Leo and myself, “I’ve seen so many people in relationships and the dynamic they bring to it. But,” she paused. ”There's something about the two of you, something unique, something strong. Protective if you will.”

Leo walked over, his jaw still clenched, as though he were holding back words he couldn’t say. Without a word, he pulled me into a tight hug. His arms encircling me with a strength that made my breath catch, like he was afraid to let go. It felt comforting, like sinking into a plush blanket on a cold night—warm, safe, and impossible to leave.

“I’m not letting anything happen to you, Drew,” he whispered, his breath warm against my ear.

I hugged him back. Taking a deep breath, “I know.”

Pulling back slightly from Leo, my hand now on his chest, “Leo, this is one of my authors, Jane. Jane, this is Leo.”

“Hello Leo,” Jane says, offering her hand.

Leo takes her hand, giving a tight smile, “Nice to meet you, Jane. Sorry you had to witness-”

Jane shakes her head while cutting him off, “No apologies needed, Leo. I’m just glad to meet the man who seems to occupy Drew’s time.”

Leo squeezed my shoulder gently, and I could sense that his need to protect me was a struggle against his own emotions, his own fears. I knew this wasn’t just about the confrontation from earlier, this was about the larger danger that still loomed.

Jane cleared her throat and stepped back slightly, “From the looks of things, the two of you need some sort of distraction.”

I gave a small, tense laugh. Leo’s shoulders begin to relax as he says, “Yeah, I think we could use one.”

“You’re in luck.” she says with a slight knowing grin.

My boyfriend and I looked at each other with a quizzical look on each other. We honestly did need to get out of the city, especially with Kyle now showing up more frequently.

“Why would we be in luck?” I asked.

Jane grabbed a copy of her book and a pen nearby, jotting something inside.

“You’ve done something amazing for me. I want to do something amazing for you,” she said, handing me a copy of her book.

“But Jane, I’ve already got a signed copy from you,” I said.

“You don’t have this signed copy,” she responded, closing the cover and handing it over to me.

Smirking, I opened up the cover to the first page, it read, “Enjoy! 1348 Raven Rd. Code #7654.”

Looking up with disbelief, “I’m not sure what this says.”

Leo grabbed the book from my hand, gazing at the first page, “Drew, she is gifting up a place. Correct me if I’m wrong, Jane?”

“Mi casa es su casa,” she said.

“We can’t accept this,” I told her.

“Yes you certainly can!” Jane responded, “It’s a retreat house, away from the chaos and tucked away from the city. I think it’ll be perfect for you two, especially with everything going on,” she said, her eyes flickered between Leo and me again.

A retreat house far from the city. Far from the constant threat of Kyle. It sounded like the perfect escape, but I couldn’t help the surge of guilt rising.

“Maybe this is exactly what we need right now. A break from...well, everything,” Leo encouraged.

I nodded slowly, my mind still spinning, “What about Kyle?”

Leo’s hand tightened on my shoulder, pulling me closer, “ I won’t let him come near you, not again. And if he tried…” his voice trailed off.

Jane cleared her throat, breaking the tense moment. “It’s safe out there, off the grid if you will. No one would know where you are unless you tell them. It’s fully stocked, so you won’t have to worry about a thing,” she paused her expression gently, “Consider it a ‘get the hell out of the city’ gift, especially for all that you do for me.”

“Are you sure about this, Jane?” I reconfirm, the guilt still lingering.

“It’s been empty for a while now. Go!”

I bit my lip, looking over at Leo who had finally cracked a smile. He turned toward me and reached out, taking both my hands in his, gently caressing them.

“I think we should go,” he said softly, his eyes searching mine. “I think it could be good for us. Just to get away. Be somewhere where Kyle doesn’t know.”

His words made my heart swell, and I knew he was right. We needed this—a chance to breathe, to figure out what we were going to do next. Away from the constant anxiety and the threats of Kyle.

“Okay,” I said finally, “Let’s do it.”

Jane’s smile widened, and she clasped her hands together, “Perfect!”

Leo pulled me into a side hug, his arm wrapped protectively around my shoulders. I could feel the relief radiating off of him, and as I leaned into his side hug I let out a breath I didn’t realize I had been holding in.