Chapter 21
When Leah finally wokeback up, it was already almost eleven. That left her very little time to get ready if she wanted to make it to the studio in time. She popped out into the living room to see where Brandon was, but she didn’t see him. Walking around she finally spotted him out on the back deck.
“Hey,” she said when she opened the door.
“Hey sleepyhead,” he looked up.
“I just wanted to tell you that I’m gonna shower.” Thankfully she had a bag here that held some extra clothes and essentials.
“When you’re ready, I will drive you to the studio.”
She left him to work and took a speedy shower not bothering to wash her hair. Dressed and ready to go, she grabbed a to-go cup of coffee just as Brandon was walking inside the house.
Something about him seemed different, in a good way. “You look happy,” she said.
“I am.” He grabbed her around the waist and spun her around. “I got a lead. A big one.”
“Really?” she asked.
“Tony’s dad was here this morning and it didn’t take him long to spot something useful.”
“Can you tell me or is it a secret?”
“I can tell you but keep it to yourself, at least for a little bit.”
She nodded. “Yeah, totally.”
“Did you know that Will was a diabetic?”
“Yeah,” she said confused as to why that would help.
“Well diabetics need insulin and that means...”
“That he has to be getting it somewhere,” she finished. “That’s genius.” She lightly slapped his chest.
“I’ve been on the phone since Ray left, calling local pharmacies to see what I can find out. Nothing yet, but I feel it, Leah. This is gonna be the clue that helps us catch him.”
“And catching him means I can stop being afraid and start living again.”
“It’s gonna happen.” He said kissing her gently.
“Are you ready to go?” She turned and stepped back.
“Let me grab my keys and lock up,” he said. “And then we can go.”
On the way to work, they decided that she would go home with Carly and Mel since he was working nights. He did not want her alone and she wasn’t too keen on the idea either.
He dropped her off, leaving her turned on immensely from the hot kiss he laid on her right before she stepped out of the car. Lights were on so she knew that she wasn’t the first to arrive and sure enough she found both Carly and Melanie in the office.
“Good morning ladies.” She dropped her purse on her desk.
“Ugh, can you please not be all ‘I had lots of sex’ cheery today. I think I might barf.”
“If you are barfing, it is from the shots you took last night, not Leah’s sex life.” Mel said.
“I see that someone is in a bad mood today.” Leah raised her eyebrows at Melanie.
“Wait until you find out why,” Mel said, sounding all too happy about whatever it was.
She sat in her chair. “Oh God, what’d you do?”
“I didn’t do anything,”
“Or anyone,” Mel added.
“What?” Leah said, turning her head from Carly to Mel. “What am I missing?”
“It seems that someone over here,” Mel pointed her thumb to Carly, “had a certain security guy in her bed last night.”
Before Leah could even comment Carly butted in. “If you aren’t gonna tell the truth then let me tell the damn story.”
“I don’t care who tells me,” Leah said, “but someone better fill me in and now.”
“Technically,” Carly made air quotes, “Anthony slept in my bed. BUT and this is a big but, we did not have sex.”
“I don’t know,” Mel said. “He looked pretty happy this morning.”
“We did not have sex,” Carly said again.
“Did you do anything?” Leah asked.
Carly sighed. “No, but not for lack of trying.”
“What the fuck does that mean?” Melanie asked.
“I basically threw myself at him and he turned me down.”
“He did?” Leah said, her level of respect going through the roof for Tony.
“Do you know how embarrassing it is to throw yourself at someone and have them turn you down?”
Leah remembered how it felt when she had first met Brandon and he had said no to sex. So she got it.
“Did he say why?” Mel asked, “and also, I thought you hated him?”
“I don’t hate him, I just don’t like him and that’s why I asked for sex. I thought it could be a total no strings, one-off kind of deal. But nooo, he had to go and be all ‘you”re drunk and you’ll regret this in the morning’.”
“Ah,” Leah said. “That’s sweet.”
“No it’s not,” Carly said. “It’s only sweet to people in love like you. To the rest of us, it’s annoying and stupid and embarrassing.”
“So if he turned you down, why did he sleep in your bed with you?” Mel asked.
“I tried kicking him out but he wouldn’t leave. Something about not wanting me to be alone.” She waved her hand above her head. “Stupid boy.”
“Do you want me to have Brandon beat him up for you?” Leah asked, completely serious. “Cause I”m pretty sure he will.”
“As much as I’d like to watch that, I think I’ll pass.” She chewed on her bottom lip.
“Is something wrong Carls?” Mel asked her. “You’ve been odd the last couple days.”
“I’m fine,” she said but Leah could tell she was lying, meaning that Melanie could too. “There’s just a lot going on.”
“I can add a little good to our lives,” Leah said, turning to her desk and grabbing three envelopes. “It’s our first official payday!” She waved them in front of her face.
“You mean we actually made enough money to get paid?” Mel asked.
“Yep and even better, it seems that all the kids have signed back up for our next session. So I think it’s time to start trying to open a few more classes.”
“So what you’re saying is that we did it,” Carly asked. “We actually did it.” Her voice was full of wonder.
“It seems like we did,” Leah said.
Melanie bit her bottom lip. “I’d say we should celebrate but I’m pretty sure we did enough of that last night.”
Leah laughed. “I know I did.”
They got serious and talked about what new classes to open and the new studio hours. They decided that they would stay closed on Sunday and continue with only morning classes on Saturday. But now instead of being open only Tuesday and Thursday during the week, they would add Monday and Wednesday nights.
After they discussed everything, they each went their separate ways, all working on different things. Since they had started the day at noon, five came fast and they all packed up and headed home.
When they got to their house, they found Logan sitting outside on the porch, his big camera hanging across his body.
“Did you go home?” Carly asked, “or have you been here all day?”
“I went home, got a little work done and then came back about twenty minutes ago.”
“You know there is no reason for you to be here, right,” Mel asked when she passed by him. “The three of us are together.”
“I know,” he said and followed them in the house. “I just feel better being here.”
“Suit yourself,” Mel said as she went up the stairs.
Leah watched Logan shake his head and sit down on the couch. Sitting across from him she said, “You know she’s just used to being independent, right?”
“I know.” He said, sounding completely sure of his answer. “How are you doing?”
She rubbed her lips together. “As good as to be expected I guess. I thought when I left New York, I left all the drama and crazy behind. But apparently it followed me.”
“Drama and crazy aside, I am glad you are here. You make Brandon happy and that’s a pretty big deal.”
“I never thought when I moved here that I would meet and fall in love with such a wonderful man. This town unexpectedly became my home.”
Logan lifted his camera and before she knew what was happening he snapped several pics of her. She was getting used to him always taking pictures but it was a little odd to be the sole focus.
“Sorry,” he said. “It’s just very rare that I see moments of pure happiness. I had to capture it.”
She laughed. “I’m glad I met you too, Logan.” She stood and bent over and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
Since she was hungry and she figured everyone else was too, she headed to the kitchen to come up with something for dinner. Carly looked to be doing the same thing when she walked in.
“Want some help?” Leah asked.
“I haven’t decided what to make yet.” She was staring in the fridge and freezer as if something was going to magically jump out at her.
Leah looked over her shoulder. “Hmm, what about something easy...spaghetti and meatballs?”
“Works for me,” she said and pulled out the hamburger. “We even have garlic bread.” She held up the box.
Together they got busy preparing dinner and somewhere along the way Mel joined them and turned on some music. They sang and laughed and at some point, Logan was in there snapping away on his camera.
“Does that ever get old?” Leah asked, indicating to Logan with her head.
“I got used to it a long time ago,” Carly said.
“Me too,” Mel added. “I almost forget he’s there half the time.”
“I heard that,” Logan said loudly over the music.
“I meant for you too,” Mel snapped back at him.
When dinner was ready the three of them plus Logan sat down and ate. They were loud and boisterous, all of them talking and adding to the conversations. When Leah had grown up, a dinner like this would have never happened in her house. They ate in virtual silence with her mom or dad asking her questions here and there about her day or life.
This was better. Way better.
And when she thought about her future and what she wanted it to look like...loud, fun dinners with friends and family is what she saw.