Chapter 9 – The Big Reveal #2
“No, stop it.” He slapped my hand. “There will also be a single white rose on the table.” He pocketed his phone. “Good luck, baby doll.” He opened the door for me.
My stomach churned.
“You’ve got this,” Sophie said. “And if it is Mr. Halifax, please don’t make out with him in front of me.”
“You’re not helping.”
“I’m sorry. I think I’m freaking out a bit too. I’m going to die if it’s him.”
“Yeah. Me too.”
“Deep breaths,” Sophie said.
“Tits up,” RJ said.
I took a deep breath and lifted my shoulders. And then I walked into the restaurant.
“Table for three?” the hostess said and glanced down at her clipboard.
The restaurant was absolutely packed. I couldn’t see anyone seated alone except at the bar.
“She’s not with us,” RJ said. “She has a blind date. But I have a reservation for two under Hunter.”
The hostess scanned her clipboard. “Yes, of course, sir. Right this way.”
Sophie gave me two thumbs up.
“Back corner,” RJ hissed and then quickly followed the hostess.
It looked like they were heading to the back corner too. Because of course they were. They were here to spy on me. I surveyed the restaurant as I walked through. It was mostly couples, presumably on romantic dates. And it was weirdly hot in here. Or maybe I was still mid-heart attack.
RJ, Soph, and the hostess rounded a corner up ahead. I followed them into a more secluded area of the restaurant. Everything was suddenly hushed.
I froze when I saw the back of a guy’s head. I couldn’t tell if it was my date. But he was the only guy seated alone back here.
I took a step closer. And there was a white rose on the table. I didn’t recognize whoever it was from behind. I glanced at where Sophie and RJ were being seated.
Sophie looked thrilled. Which meant it probably wasn’t Mr. Halifax... Or maybe she was just excited to get to see Mr. Halifax outside of school. We’d pretty much spent our entire summer stalking him all over the city.
My heart felt like it was going to explode.
I glanced at Sophie again. She still seemed really happy. And Sophie wouldn’t have looked thrilled about a drifter. At least, I didn’t think so.
There was a small piece of me that wanted to turn and run away. Sophie had seen him. She could just tell me.
But I needed to end this. I was with Jacob now. I loved him. And this felt like some kind of loose end.
I took a deep breath and walked up to the table. I saw the side of his face and knew instantly who it was. Oh thank God. “Leo?”
He smiled and stood up. “Hey.”
I breathed a huge sigh of relief. “I’m so glad it’s you.”
“You are?” He looked a little surprised.
“Of course. I was worried I’d hooked up with a drifter.”
He laughed. “You weren’t hoping it would be someone else?”
I shook my head. I’d wanted it to be him. I’d hoped it was him. I’d been completely freaking out for no reason. Leo was...Leo. I wouldn’t have to leave town. My parents would live. Sophie wouldn’t die of heartbreak.
His smile was contagious. “Here, let me.” He rounded the table and pulled my chair out for me.
Before I could sit down he helped me out of my jacket. I would have kept it on, but I was so overheated.
“Thank you.” I sat down as he draped Jacob’s jacket on the back of my chair.
I watched Leo sit back down. And for some reason I just stared at him.
It really did all fit. Of course it was Leo.
He was charming and funny. And I’d remembered the kiss being minty, and he’d smelled minty while we were dancing.
But then there was that second kiss at homecoming... “Just so we’re perfectly clear,” I said. “Because this mystery has been driving me absolutely crazy. You are actually my kiss thief, right? You swear?”
He laughed. “Yes.”
I breathed a sigh of relief.
“And I’m sorry, I should have told you right away. But obviously, you were dating Jacob. And I just really wanted to make sure I got you on this date.”
“I only agreed to come because I just had to unmask you. I’m still dating Jacob.”
Leo smiled like that didn’t bother him at all. “We’ll see about that after tonight.”
“There’s nothing to see. I’m in love with him.”
“Are you though?” He sounded just like RJ when he said it.
“Yes.”
“You know what else you’re going to love? The food here.”
I laughed. “You’re ridiculous.”
“And I think you might have a little crush on ridiculous.”
“I don’t think so.”
He just smiled in response.
I put my elbows on the table and leaned forward. “When we danced at homecoming, you talked about Zach liking me. And Luis. But you didn’t say that you liked me.”
“I think I actually remember saying that I might be in love with you.”
I could feel my cheeks growing red. “You barely know me.”
“I know you better than you’re giving me credit for.”
That was true. We’d texted for hours. Sometimes way into the wee hours. He did know me. And I knew him. For some reason that made the silence that had settled around us feel very comfortable.
I pictured us dancing at homecoming and laughed. “I was so drunk when we were dancing. I touched your face, didn’t I?”
“You said my scruff was more rugged than my hands. And you sniffed me.”
I groaned. “I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. You’re a cute drunk.”
I rolled my eyes.
“I like when you do that too. I don’t want to sound creepy. But, obviously I’ve been watching you a lot from a distance. And you have so many cute mannerisms.”
“That is creepy, Leo. Seriously, why didn’t you just tell me you were my kiss thief?”
He shrugged. “I was kinda just liking being Leo the Rugged Thief to you for a bit.”
“I can’t believe I told you your nickname too. I was out of control at homecoming.”
“I don’t think you were out of control. I think you knew exactly what you were doing.” His eyes fell to my lips.
I cleared my throat. “I’m sorry, Leo, but I really don’t think I should stay...”
The waitress coming over cut me off. “Are you two ready to order?”
“Yes,” Leo said. “We’ll have two orders of the crab cake entrée. And some waters.”
“Great choice,” she said. “I’ll be right back with your waters.” She walked off.
Gah. I really did love crab cakes. Which my kiss thief obviously knew. Because our favorite foods were one of the many things we talked about. “You don’t want a steak?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Eh. I’d rather give your favorite a try tonight.”
I put my chin in my hand and stared at him. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t put it together before. I’d been freaking out about my kiss thief for no reason. Leo wasn’t a teacher or some homeless person. He was...Leo.
“Like that,” he said.
“What?”
“One of your many mannerisms. When you get lost in thought you have this cute dazed look.”
I shook my head and dropped my hand. “I do not.”
“You do too.”
Well, I did know I had a tendency to overanalyze everything in my head. But no one had told me it was cute before. “I really should go.”
“Back to your running back? Because you told me you had a thing for hot kickers.”
“I was just trying to figure out who my kiss thief was.”
He looked pleased by that comment. “So you were trying to get me to kiss you during our dance?”
“What?”
He laughed. “You kept mentioning so many other guys you wanted to dance with, but you were flirting with me really hard, and I didn’t know what the heck you wanted.”
Right...I’d been trying to figure out who my kiss thief was. And I wouldn’t say I flirted with him really hard.
“But you wanted me to hook up with you.” He smiled. “I knew it.”
“I mean, I didn’t know it would be you.”
He laughed. “You really are quite fascinating. And I thought about what you said.”
I stared at him. “What did I say?”
“You asked me if I stole more than just material objects.”
I nodded. “I asked if you stole hearts.”
“I’m hoping the answer will be yes after this date,” he said.
“This isn’t a date,” I said. “It’s a reveal.”
We both stared at each other as the waitress quickly dropped off our waters. I grabbed mine and took a huge sip to try to end the eye contact.
“Just a reveal?” Leo lifted up the rose from the table. “You’re wearing a beautiful dress. I’m in a suit. And I brought you a flower.” He placed it down in front of me. “I’d say this is a date.”
I shook my head. “I’m dating Jacob.”
“If you say so.”
“I do say so.” I placed my glass down a little too hard and water poured down the edge.
Leo laughed. “And yet...you’re here with me.”
“Because you made me! A text would have sufficed.”
“Now where’s the fun in that?”
“Says the guys who’s obsessed with his phone. All you do is text.”
He shrugged. “I’ll use my phone less. Noted.”
I stared at him. “You don’t have to take notes.”
“I want to make my new girlfriend happy.”
I laughed because I didn’t know what else to do. “I’m not your girlfriend. And I’m leaving.” I stood up and then sat back down. “Wait. Do you have any STDs?”
He laughed. “No. Why?”
“Because we...you know.”
“I love how innocent you are.”
I knew my cheeks were turning red. “Not that innocent.”
“Pretty innocent. I’m guessing you and Jacob haven’t had sex yet?”
“We...I...”
“It’s okay. I’m glad you haven’t.”
I glared at him. “We’ve done plenty of stuff. Like...third base stuff.”
He smiled. “I love third base stuff.”
“I know!”
He laughed. “I guess all guys do.”
My heart was beating too fast, remembering the feeling of his fingers between my thighs. And his tongue.
I cleared my throat. “Look, I’m glad that you’re you. And not some drifter. Or...worse.” Like Mr. Halifax. “But I need you to pretend that nothing ever happened between us.”
“I think that’s going to be pretty hard. There’s something about the strange conversations we always have that really stick with me.”
“Leo, I have a boyfriend.”
“Me. I know.”
“You’re impossible,” I said.
“Want to go hook up in the bathroom?”
“No! No more kissing me in dark rooms.”
“Okay. We can do it here, I guess.”
“This date is over,” I said.
“So it is a date?”
“No!”
I was just about to stand up when the waitress delivered our food. The crab cakes smelled delicious. My stomach rumbled.
“At least eat your dinner,” Leo said. “I know how much you love crab cakes.”