27. Brooks
TWENTY-SEVEN
Brooks
The following morning, I swing by Leo’s apartment—invited for a little “guy time.” It had been a while since I hung out with just him, so I decided to go for it.
Plus, Clover encouraged me to go.
Now, sitting at the small card table in his apartment, which is absolutely not a proper table, I smile over at him as he comes back with two beers for us.
“Thanks.”
He clinks the neck of his bottle against mine and takes a seat in the folding chair across from mine.
He’s got the window open, and the wind rustles by, warm and soft, and I close my eyes for a moment, enjoying it.
“I’ll admit, Ace,” Leo starts, and I grin over at him—one of the few people I don’t mind using the nickname, “you seem quite a bit happier nowadays. Something going on I should know about?”
I shake my head, scoffing. “No. I mean, I got that damned cast off, and that has truly been amazing. But same old, same old. It’s been nice having Clover around to help, too.”
He nods, turning down the corners of his mouth before taking a quick swing. “Sure, sure. It’s not that you’re seeing anybody, is it?”
I nearly choke on my beer, coughing as I sit forward in the chair, which was not prepared for my abrupt movement.
Leo pats me on the back. “Christ, man. You alright?”
Breathing through my nose saves me, and I nod until I can finally form words again.
“I’m fine. Sorry, you just…took me by surprise.”
“Is it that surprising to think you’re dating?” Eyeing me, Leo grins like he doesn’t think it’s nearly as impossible a feat as I do.
“Well, come on. I haven’t dated anyone since long before you met me. It’s not on the to-do list.”
Frowning, Leo takes another sip of his beer. It doesn’t feel right to avoid the topic of Clover right now, but I tell myself that since we’re not really “dating,” it doesn’t count as a proper lie.
Just one of omission…which still sucks.
“You ought to think better of yourself, son. Try it out.”
Leo’s grin is nearly too much. He’s always calling me “son,” too—even though I’m only nine years younger than he is.
It feels like this is an attempt to help me out, and that’s exactly what it is. My stomach churns, and I know it’s the guilt.
But what the hell am I supposed to say? “Hey, I’m dating your daughter.” Yeah, that wouldn’t go over well.
Plus, we’re not dating. Not really. And I know that Clover is going to be leaving someday, likely sooner than later.
With a sigh, I just nod at him. “I like my life, Leo, truly. I have the cast off now, which, like I said, is a damned Godsend. I can get back to work, feel useful, and my projects have all sped up now that I can use both arms.”
“You’re more than just your use, bud. You have value by just being you. God,” Leo scoffs into a laugh, “I feel like I’m talking to Clover. She’s the same damn way.”
Despite everything, I can’t help but laugh at that. I’ve been around her enough to know that it’s true. She’s got a lot of her personality tied up in her work.
This time on the ranch has really been something for her. I’ve watched her settle into a pace and a life that suits her.
“She does seem to be all about work.”
Leo hums in agreement. “After her mom passed, well, she threw herself into it hard. She’s always been ambitious, but it was her only focus after that.”
I don’t have much to say about that, not that I can voice to Leo anyway. So, silence fades in, but just like his daughter, Leo is quick to break it.
“Well, I’ve got some good news of my own.”
“Oh?” I raise my brows at him.
He grins wide, a genuine smile I haven’t seen on him in a minute. “I bought the farmhouse.”
“That’s great!” I lean forward, clinking my beer against his. “You deserve to get out of this apartment.”
He laughs, taking a celebratory sip. “Well, there’s some paperwork to nail down still, but I should get the keys in three weeks.”
“That’s amazing, Leo. I’m really happy for you.”
We cheers again, but a thought creeps into my mind. In three weeks, Leo will get the keys. In three weeks, he’ll ask Clover to move in with him.
And she’ll say yes. She practically has to. At that point, Clover won’t be living with me, and in three weeks, there’s no telling where the “Kyle” situation will stand.
It’s more than likely that she’ll go back to NYC shortly thereafter.
And then…Clover will be gone.
Trying to mask my emotions through a drink, I stare down at the table in front of me. It didn’t take me long to spiral, and as much as I want to play it off like I’m overreacting, or it doesn’t matter that much, I can’t.
If I’m honest with myself, I never want Clover to leave. And that’s…a problem.
“I’m really excited for you.” I meet Leo’s eyes with a forced smile that I hope he doesn’t see through. “It’s going to be amazing.”
“Thank you, son. I think it will, too. Lord knows I am getting sick of this apartment, and I just know that Beth would have loved the house.”
Beth is his wife. Clover’s mother. And it suddenly feels very real and strange that I won’t ever meet her.
“I bet she would.” I keep up the smile as best I can. “Well, I suppose I’ll need to start looking for another nanny, but it really has been great having Clover around to help.”
“Oh, well, she could drive to you. Anyway, I’m not sure when she’ll be going back to the city. I still don’t want her to. I think she likes it too much here to be okay without it. It slows her down.”
I don’t want her to leave either, Leo. I can promise you that.
But I also know that I’d never force her to stay, or even ask her to for that matter. We’re just seeing where things are going, and at this rate, they’re going right into the fucking trash.
“Well, maybe…” Why am I doing this? “Maybe she’ll want to stay. She does seem to like it.”
Leo laughs, clapping a hand down on his knee as he struggles through finishing his sip of beer. When he can speak, Leo sighs and shrugs.
“That’d be nice, I’ll admit. But I don’t think I should get my hopes up, you know?”
I just nod.
Yes, Leo. I completely understand.