Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Leon
Worry prickles up my spine with the thought that I’ve said too much or pushed her too far, too soon. Except the way she’s moving in for a kiss tells me everything I need to know: she wants this. Us.
She breaks the quiet with a whisper. “This is crazy.” Then, “Also unexpected, and most of all, really risky.”
“It’s a risk I’m willing to take. I’m done playing it safe when it comes to you.” Because I have no plans of screwing this up.
“Same.”
The thrill of something new and unknown fills my chest with hope, but there’s also a touch of regret for waiting so long to tell her how I feel, which makes my temples hurt.
If I had said something earlier, where would we be now?
Married with kids? Or maybe we never would have lasted, and my immature lizard brain would have messed everything up.
I’ve always believed in divine timing.
And now is the moment.
I know it with every fiber of my being, every breath in my body, and every beat of my heart.
“Kiss me, Leon.” Her lips move against mine, making my heartbeat soar.
Until…
“Erika, it’s so good to see you.”
Startled, we both abruptly jump back from each other when my mom interrupts our life-changing moment, sounding excited to see Erika.
You have got to be kidding me?
“Oh, sorry, gosh, did I interrupt something? I feel like such a fool,” my mom rambles on as I sidestep toward my glass of wine, swipe it off the kitchen island, and finish it quickly while Erika turns to greet my mom.
“Hey, Val.” Erika’s cheeks flush with color. I’m not sure if it’s embarrassment from her disappearing act at the wedding or the fact that my mom caught us kissing. Well, not kissing, because she interrupted us.
Shit.
I really wanted that kiss. The need to feel her soft lips against mine again is consuming me.
And my patience to wait has vanished.
“I had something in my eye. Leon was just, uh, trying to get it out,” Erika lies, her cheeks turning an even deeper shade of pink as she rubs her eye, acting out the made-up story.
My mom tilts her head to the side, narrows her gaze, then ping pongs an unblinking look back and forth between us.
I try to support Erika’s lie by saying, “She really did have something in—”
My mom raises her hand to stop me from continuing the facade as the steady, low hum of the fan oven fills the kitchen before she says, “I’m old, sweetie, not stupid.” She tuts, shaking her head with a devilish smirk.
I brace myself for a flood of questions, but instead, my mom turns to Erika and beckons her to join her. “Let’s leave Leon to cook dinner, and you can help me set the dining table.”
“Okay.” Erika’s visible tension eases as her shoulders drop like hydraulic pistons releasing.
I’m relieved too. One of the things I love most about my mom is that she never interferes in my life, never pushes for details, and doesn’t pry into things that aren’t her business.
Like now, for example. However, she might corner me later to ask what I’m doing, since Erika just broke up with her ex just days ago.
My mom doesn’t know I’m in love with Erika. Who knows, maybe, like Ash and Lily, she’s already figured it out for herself.
I check the digital oven timer and inform the two phenomenal women in my life, who are walking out of the kitchen hand in hand, “Dinner will be ready in twenty minutes.”
Erika glances over her shoulder and gives me a huge smile, one that melts my insides, and the kind she only ever saves for me. Her secret smile.