20. Marco
CHAPTER 20
Marco
I don’t think I’d ever felt prouder of someone in my life. Watching Leah stand on that stage, her voice steady and sure as she accepted her award, had been a moment I knew I wouldn’t forget. She deserved every second of the applause, every ounce of recognition for the incredible woman she was.
After the ceremony, the room was a whirlwind of congratulations. Everywhere we turned, people were shaking Leah’s hand, complimenting her, and telling her how much they admired her work. Throughout it all, she carried herself with grace and humility, as if she still couldn’t quite believe she belonged here.
I was waiting for her to come back from the ladies’ room so we could head over to her place. I had champagne in the fridge there, which I’d placed early in the evening with the plan of opening it no matter if she won or not.
“Marco, right?”
“Kevin.” I didn’t really want to talk to this pendejo , but I also didn’t want to make a scene at Leah’s event with so many people milling around.
He was a little drunk from what I could tell. He had a whiskey glass in hand.
“She’s something, isn’t she, our Leah.”
Mine, you asshole, not yours.
“How’s Brittany?”
His jaw tightened.
“Dumped your ass, did she?” I used the exact words I remembered him saying to Leah when he suggested I’d break things off with her.
He looked at me with anger. I found that I enjoyed pissing him off. Then, because he was a narcissistic sociopath, his face went from enraged to a sharp and calculating smile.
“The thing with women like Brittany? They’re tight and young and exciting.”
“If you say so,” I muttered.
“Not like Leah, right? She’s got some miles on her, but she’s still...well, you know.”
I really wanted to punch this guy. “She’s amazing, and I can see why you’re all bent out of shape about losing her.”
He tilted his head, studying me like I was a puzzle he was trying to figure out. “You seem like a smart guy, Marco. So let me ask you—do you really think I’ve lost her?”
“Kevin, I don’t give a flying?—”
“Come on, man. You’ve seen her, all needy and wanting validation all the time.” He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. “Even now, when I call, she comes running. She always has.”
The guy was a lying prick and the fact that he thought he could slander Leah and I’d believe him told me how far gone he was.
“I think I’ve had enough of your bullshit.”
I was about to walk away when he added, “I’m just saying, old habits die hard. You know how it is—history, comfort. Sometimes, you just fall back into what’s familiar.”
“You really think I’m going to believe that Leah would let you touch her?” When he glared at me, I laughed at him. “She’s so way out of your league, asshole. Now, why don’t you trot your drunk ass someplace else, ‘cause I’m very close to rearranging your face. Considering what an asshole you are, I’m sure several lawyers in this room who will be happy to defend me even if I get arrested for beating the crap out of you.”
A couple of people stared at us. Damn it, this was just what I didn’t want to do. Leah didn’t need this.
Leah walked up to me then, and I saw her stiffen when she saw Kevin. I slid an arm around her. “Come on, carino . Let’s get out of here.”
“What did he say?” Leah asked urgently as I hurried her out of the ballroom.
“Doesn’t matter.” I steered her to the entrance, handed my ticket to the valet, added a couple of bills, and asked the kid to get my car out quickly.
“What did he want?” she demanded as we waited.
“He was being his usual asshole self.”
Once we were driving, she stared out of the window, silent, seething.
“Leah, don’t let him affect you. I’m not.”
“What did he say to you?” Her voice was tremulous.
“He was trying to tell me that you’re still sleeping with him.”
That got her to swiftly turn to look at me. “And you believed him?”
“No, of course not. I just can’t understand how you stayed with that man for as many years as you did.”
When we pulled up to her building, she was shaking. I tried to hold her hand, but she didn’t let me. “I stayed with him because I’m pathetic,” she cried out.
“What?”
“You asked me how I stayed with a man like Kevin and I did because?—”
“You’re not pathetic, Leah.”
“Yes, I am. Look at me. I’m forty-five-plus. I have more jiggly bits than most and?—”
“You think I give a shit about any of that?” I demanded.
“Don’t you? I saw pictures of your wife, Marco. She was?—”
“Keep Camille out of this,” I growled. She was angry, yes, but she didn’t get to use my wife to undermine herself. That wasn’t how this was going to work.
“You still love her,” she accused.
I frowned, shaking my head. “Leah, what the fuck is going on with you?”
She took a deep breath. “I can’t do this anymore.”
My eyes widened with confusion. “What are you talking about?”
“This,” she said, gesturing between us. “I can’t do it. I thought I could, but I can’t.”
“Why?” I demanded.
“I just…I’ll never be good enough for you.”
“How did you figure that out?”
“I just…look, you’re going to break up with me anyway, so why don’t we do it now? This way I don’t get hurt.”
I raised both my eyebrows. “ You don’t get hurt? What about me?”
She gave me a blank look. “What about you?”
“You think I have no feelings? I’ve put myself out there with you. I’ve shown you, given you…fuck, everything, and you’re still holding on to your insecurities and fears.”
Her mouth opened, then closed, and I could see the tears welling in her eyes.
“Ah, fuck, Leah, don’t?—”
“I am insecure. I am afraid. All true. You should dump my ass.”
“Leah—"
“That’s it. It’s all done.”
“Really? Just like that?”
Her eyes danced with fear. “Yes. So, we fucked and danced…and this should never have happened.”
“Why?”
“Because…I don’t want you.”
I scoffed. “Don’t be childish.”
She wrenched open my car door and stepped out. I followed her and walked to her side. “Leah?—”
“It’s done. All…I can’t do this, Marco.”
“So, you want to break us up because you think I’m going to leave you?”
She swallowed. “Aren’t you?”
I shook my head. “You need to figure your shit out, Leah, and when you do, call me, alright? Damn it. I’ve opened myself up to you, and it’s not enough. Nothing is enough for you.” Now anger was riding me, and I knew I should shut up and not say things that I was sure I’d regret, but she was breaking my heart.
“Okay.” Her voice was small and flat. “Goodnight, Marco.”
“You think I’m not scared?”
“I don’t know what you are, Marco.”
“Yes, you do. You just don’t have the courage to stand up for what you want. When you find your spine, Leah, we’ll talk again.”
She clutched her award as if it were the only thing keeping her steady, then walked to the front door of her building. I waited, the night air cool against my skin, and watched the door close behind her. Every part of me wanted to run after her, to tell her I didn’t mean it, but if this was going to work, she needed to get with the program. I’d give her a couple of days to calm down.
It was the wrong time to have our first fight, especially since I had plans to celebrate the night away. Well, we’d just have to find another evening to do this and soon.