40. Cherise #2
Derrick blinked at me, clearly surprised I hadn’t resumed the violence.
A slow smile spread across his face.
“Thank you, Cherise,” Derrick said. Then he looked between Leo and me. “And I think it’s about time you two did the same.”
I glanced over at Leo. He smiled back at me.
Derrick stepped toward Leo and pulled him into a quick hug.
“I’ll leave you guys to it,” he said, clapping him on the back before stepping away.
Derrick looked back at me. “Try not to punch anyone else tonight.”
“No promises,” I said with a wink.
He grinned and walked off.
Leaving me standing there with Leo.
And a heart that was very much not ok.
I looked at Leo, still trying to process everything.
“So…Derrick is gay?” I asked, amazed.
Leo huffed out a breath, scratching his head. “Yeah, caught me off guard, too.”
My eyes widened. “Damn, I thought I had better gaydar than that.”
Leo laughed softly.
Then his expression turned serious.
He stepped closer and took my hand in his again, his thumb brushing over my knuckles.
“Cherise,” he said quietly. “Now with Derick’s confession and blessing, there’s literally nothing standing in our way anymore.”
My heart started racing all over again.
His eyes stayed locked on mine.
“Cherise…will you be my girlfriend?”
I pretended to think about it, tapping my chin like this was a difficult life-altering decision.
On the inside?
I was already gone. Completely and utterly gone over Leo.
I shrugged. “Ummm…maybe.”
His brows lifted. “Maybe?”
“On one condition.”
His lids lowered. “I’m almost afraid to ask.”
I gave him a mischievous grin. “You should be.” I cleared my throat. “You need to take karate…taekwondo…or even boxing. I cannot have my man out here getting his ass kicked.”
Leo’s face went completely flat.
“I’ll give you three seconds to run.”
I gasped and picked up the bouquet of peonies, holding them out like a weapon. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“One—”
I screamed and took off.
“Two—”
I ran down the hall, laughing so hard I could barely breathe, petals flying everywhere.
“Three.”
“AHH—"
I made it to my room just in time to try to slam the door, but Leo caught it. I screamed and darted to the bed.
Leo pushed through, grabbed me, and the next thing I knew I was falling. Landing on my bed with a bounce. Leo on top of me, pinning me down. Moose barked in the background.
I laughed, breathless, trying to wiggle free. “This is assault!”
“This is justice,” he shot back.
Then he stilled. Eyes softened as they looked right into mine.
“Okay,” he said, struggling to catch his breath.
“You know boxing can help you get in shape, too.”
He nipped at my neck with his teeth, and I squealed. “Okay!”
“I am going to ask you one more time…”
His voice dropped just enough to make my heart flip.
“Cherise…will you be my girlfriend?”
I stared at him.
At the boy I used to know.
At the man, I somehow fell in love with without even realizing it.
I lifted my hand between us.
“Never have I ever…” I said slowly, “fallen in love with my ex’s twin brother.”
I paused.
Then folded down one finger.
Leo let out a soft laugh. “So I take that as a yes?”
“That’s a hell yes,” I said, smiling.
And then—
He kissed me, and it was like fireworks erupted in the sky. A kiss I wanted to feel for the rest of my life.
Eventually, we pulled apart, both of us breathless.
I leaned over and grabbed what was left of the bouquet, lifting it slightly with a smile.
“Pink peonies are my favorite.”
“I know,” he said.
I turned my head and looked at him. “Damn, what don’t you know about me, stalker?”
He smirked, hands tucked behind his head. “Well, not much…” He glanced over at me. “Like, I already knew you were in love with me.”
I rolled my eyes and smacked his arm. “Shut up. No, you did not.”
He flashed me a grin.
Then reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. “Oh, I definitely did.”
Before I could question him, he hit play.
Then my voice filled the room.
Drunk. Messy. Unfiltered.
“I just—okay, listen—I don’t care if I am going to regret doing this in the morning. I don’t even care if you don’t feel the same anymore. I just need to say it because it is driving me insane—”
My eyes widened in horror. “Oh my God—”
Leo’s grin grew wider.
“—You make me feel things I didn’t want to feel. Like Love. Yuck. Because love is ghetto. And I hate it. I hate that I can’t stop thinking about you, and I hate that I compare everyone to you.”
“Leo,” I warned.
“—I love your smile. I love how kind you are. I love your...”
I lunged forward. “TURN IT OFF!”
He didn’t.
Of course, he didn’t.
“…your diiiiiiiick,” drunk me slurred through the speaker.
I froze.
“Oh my God.” I cupped a hand over my mouth.
Leo lost it.
“I LOVE your dick!” voicemail me continued, louder this time, as if I really needed to make sure the message was received. “Like…loooooove. Capital L. Should I name it?” I gasped. “I feel like it deserves a name. Like…like—”
“Nope!” I dove again for the phone.
He twisted away, laughing.
“—Like Sir…Sir...hold on…Sir…Big—no, that’s not right—”
“Leo, I swear to God!”
“—Sir Delicious—HAHA that’s stupid—wait—wait The Hammer?”
I covered my face with both hands. “I’m moving out of state. I’m changing my name. Better yet, I’m going back to Hawaii.”
Leo was wheezing now.
“—You know what, we will just have to think of a name later. Okay. I’m going to go night-night now.”
Click.
Silence.
I sat there in absolute horror.
Slowly, I turned my head to look at him.
Leo was wearing the most disrespectful shit-eating grin I have ever seen.
“You’re a dead man, Campbell.”
He shot out of bed. “Worth it!” he yelled as his voice trailed.
I grabbed a pillow and launched it at his head as he bolted out of the room.
“Get back here!” I screamed.
Moose barked and ran behind Leo.
I shook my head, laughing as I ran after my man.