Chapter 17
seventeen
*SOREN*
Leo is still asleep when I wake up. I decide to surprise him with breakfast while he gets the rest he so desperately needs.
Barkley is still snoring, also. These two truly have the same rhythm.
It makes me happy that the pup Aspen and I chose for Leo, to distract him at least for the moment, turned into a true soulmate for him.
I try to move around quietly, just freshening up briefly and then heading to the little kitchen. Leo has a well-stocked fridge, which makes it easy to whip up something. I hope he likes eggs. There is no fresh bread, but I could use a slice of toast and make eggs Benedict for him.
I am still in the middle of preparing our breakfast when I can hear footsteps behind me. I turn around to come face-to-face with Leo’s adorable scrunchy face. He looks disheveled and so adorable that I have to hold back from kissing his frown away. “Good morning.”
Leo blinks tiredly, looking around as if he is still trying to gauge what’s going on. “You are here,” he mutters.
“Yes,” I chuckle. “I spent the night, remember?”
Leo blinks a couple of more times before his eyes widen. “Right! Sorry, I always need a little to wake up.”
“Don’t worry,” I chuckle. “I assume you are the coffee type of person?”
“Yes,” he chuckles. “Fortunately, or Aspen would disown me.”
I grin. “I doubt he would ever do that, even if you backstabbed him and told him you prefer tea.”
“Don’t tell him,” he says. “But I like tea too.”
“I will take this secret to my grave,” I say seriously.
Leo laughs before hurrying to the bathroom to clean up. Just like me, he hates using his mouth on anything right after getting up. I am very much a teeth-brusher-then-I-can-kiss-you type of person as well.
I can hear him hum slightly in the bathroom. Barkley, who has woken up by now, happily pats into the bathroom as well. He must be doing something silly because Leo coos at him and laughs.
He is laughing so much more now than he did only two weeks ago.
And every time he smiles, it lights up his whole face, striking me once again at how beautiful he is when he smiles.
My God, I am head over heels for this guy.
To imagine he is comfortable enough with me to call me at his lowest point, to let me stay the night and to just hold him and then smile at me like that is truly a humbling experience.
I want this forever. I want to wrap my arms around Leo and never let him go again.
This thought alone is scary. The last time I truly was in love with someone, it ended with my heart broken.
I try to shove this thought aside. I am here with Leo now, and he is opening his heart to me step by step.
It’s too early for the big talks about a future together.
He has just started to heal, so I doubt he will want to discuss something so scary and loaded, like ‘What do you expect from this relationship?’
Leo comes out of the bathroom, rubbing his hair dry with a small towel. “Are you free today?” he asks, successfully interrupting my thoughts and pushing my attention towards something more pleasant.
“Mostly. I just have to visit two of my clients to check on my patients. Do you want to join me?” I asked before I could even stop myself. I know from experience, there are several steps of commitment for people, and joining me for work is a bit further down the line than other stuff.
Meeting friends – we skipped that one for obvious reasons.
Family – again, skipped for other obvious reasons.
But taking a partner with me on a job and showing him this part of my life, showing him my clients and patients, for some, it’s too much at once.
“Is this really okay?” Leo asks. “I mean, I’d love to, but I don’t want you to feel you need to take me along. If I disrupt something.”
“You won’t,” I reassure him. “I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want you to join me. You know, my exes either weren’t interested in my work, or they found it too…” I pause. “Too much too soon.”
Leo blinks, sitting down on one of the chairs. “I am not sure I understand,” he mutters. “But it’s part of you, and I would love to see this part of your life.”
Yeah, I am completely sold already. I am going to do everything I can to make sure this relationship works out.
I hand him a plate of eggs Benedict and sit down next to him.
“Soren!” he grabs my hand. “Did you just truly cook this?”
I grin. “Didn’t you realize I was whipping something together?”
“I thought you would make ham we can always turn around and go back.”
“But the plan is to stay the night in that hut?” he asks curiously.
“Yes, it’s a lovely place. You will be surprised.”
“I can’t wait to see it!” he beams. “I had fun the last time, so I fully trust you that this will be amazing.”
I chuckle. “No pressure, huh?”
Leo smiles impishly. “Just a little.”