11. Leo
CHAPTER 11
Leo
My phone buzzes right when I climb into the car. I spent an hour at the cemetery without any interruptions. I won’t lie; I didn’t miss having a cell phone while in prison.
At first, not having that connection to the real world was hard. Not checking my phone every five seconds for an email or a text. It was liberating.
I lift myself off the seat, wiggling the device out of the front pocket of my jeans. Settling back into the chair and starting the car, I finally look at the screen to see a text from Myles.
What are your plans for the night?
Seeing as I don’t have a social life, nothing.
You do have a social life. It just happens only to involve me and your family.
There is nothing wrong with that, by the way. I’d hate for you to go out and find new people to socialize with.
I chuckle at his response before I type my own.
I don’t know; there is a new guy at the shop who asked to get drinks one night. Maybe I’ll see if he wants to go tonight.
I laugh to myself as I hit send. It’s a lie. A new guy is at work, but he is a quiet mouse who is only there to get the job done and not make friends. I just like getting under Myles's skin.
What’s his name and address so I can kick his ass for trying to steal my best friend?
And don’t you dare make plans with him. It will break my heart if you do. Your sister and I are having a party tonight. Chloe really wants you to be there.
Relaxing back into the car seat, I blow out a breath and stare out the windshield. Spending a night around people I don’t know doesn’t sound like fun.
I’d rather go home and hang out with my dad or Carter. My nephew was ecstatic that I was home and couldn’t wait to show me all the drawings he did while I was away.
Carter has come a long way since drawing dinosaurs as a six-year-old. Now, he draws his favorite characters from movies and TV shows and creates his own designs. I am amazed at how his skill has grown.
I exhale before my eyes fall back to the phone in my hand. My thumbs hover over the keyboard before they start typing.
I’m not sure I’m up for a social gathering.
I understand, but you’ve been home for almost a month. Tonight, there will be people there who are going to the wedding or who will be in the wedding party. It would be nice for you to meet them.
Wait… do you have other groomsmen besides me?
You’re my best man, dipshit. And because Chloe had more than one person in her wedding party, I had to ask some of the guys at the office to be groomsmen.
We aren’t taking no for an answer. Be here at seven, or I will hunt you down and drag you to our house myself.
Okay, Dad.
Myles responds with a kissing emoji and then tells me he is going into a meeting. I set my phone in the cupholder and grip the steering wheel; one night around people other than my family won’t hurt.
I can do this.
I just have to plaster on a fake smile for Chloe and Myles's sake. I know most of Chloe’s friends anyway, and I met a select few of Myles’s co-workers when he invited me out for a beer with them.
Once.
One night. How bad could it be?
My palms sweat as I wrap my fingers around their front door handle. When I got out of the car, I could hear the faint music from the house. The beat of whatever song is playing inside picks up, and my heart matches the rhythm.
Inhaling a deep breath, I twist the handle and open the front door. Laughter floods my ears right when I walk through. Now, hearing the sound of everyone inside has me questioning if I should be here.
I breathe harder at the thought of being around a group of people. The last large group of people I was with were prisoners.
Dismissing the thoughts of all the men I’ve spent the last three years with, I step into the house. The entryway is large; two light brown, narrow tables sit against each white-painted wall on either side of me.
One table has Carter’s shoes neatly tucked on the rack underneath, while the other table has a clay bowl. It looks like Carter made it, and I see car keys sitting in it.
There is another door with a big glass window in the center, enclosing the entryway from the rest of the house, but it is slightly open. I push past it and glance to my right to find an office painted a deep green, most likely for Myles. To my left is a colorful playroom where toys are neatly put away.
Out of the corner of my eye, I can tell I’m not alone. My attention gets stolen as a figure walks out of the kitchen and into the hall. Blonde hair I know all too well, and when I glance at his face, he is wearing a wide grin.
“Leo! I’m so glad I didn’t have to bring you here physically,” he jokes as he slings his arms around my shoulder. “Let’s get you a drink or two.” Myles drops his voice to a whisper. Barely able to hear the words he mutters, he says, “Lord knows you’ll need them.”
“I was only planning on having one tonight,” I tell him softly. “Wait, why will I need them?”
We stop in the hallway, and he huffs out a breath. “I told Chloe it wasn’t the best time, but she insisted.”
“Insisted on what?” I question.
“She has this girl she wants you to meet.” Myles takes a swig of his beer, still not looking at me.
I step out of his hold to face him. “That was the plan all along? Chloe wanted me to come so she could set me up with someone?”
“That isn’t the only reason. She is your sister, after all.” He sighs and flashes me a look of sorrow. “Of course, Chloe wants you here to hang out and party. Let loose a little. Like I said, I told her…”
“Told me what?” Chloe interrupts Myles as she joins us in the hall. She wastes no time wrapping an arm around my body and squeezing me tight.
“That you want to set me up with someone,” I tell her.
“Myles!” She removes herself from me to swat at him. “I told you I’d handle it!”
He raises his arms in defense and apologizes.
“As much as I appreciate it, Chlo, I don’t think right now is the best time to meet someone. I’ve been out of prison for, like, a month.”
“I know, but I just know the two of you will hit it off!” Chloe puts on her infamous pout that she always pulled when we were younger to get her way. “Give her a chance. See what the vibes are like; it's fine if you don’t feel anything! I didn’t promise her a marriage proposal! You two could be good friends!”
My eyes dance between my sister and my best friend. Myles has a tight smile, his eyes holding an apology, while my sister’s eyes gleam. Her smile is bright and hopeful, which makes me sigh.
“Fine. I’ll meet her, but I’ll need that beer first.” I narrow my eyes at my best friend.
“On it!” Myles hurries away to the kitchen to grab me a drink.
Chloe loops her arm around mine and leads us toward all the people. I allow her to drag me through the house until I am met with a small crowd in the kitchen. Myles quickly shoves an open beer bottle in my hand, and I don’t hesitate to take a huge sip.
Myles and Chloe introduce me to friends and coworkers of theirs as we make our way through the room. Some of Myles's co-workers are now Chloe’s since he got her a job at the office.
Old friends of Chloe say hello to me—hesitation in their body language as I am in their presence. It contrasts starkly with how they acted the last time I saw them. Of course, they all know what I did.
Coming tonight was a mistake.
I take another sip of my beer when we approach two women. One has pitch-black hair and blue eyes, while I can only see the back of the second girl. Deep blonde hair falls to her mid-back, shining vibrantly against her black sundress. The fabric is adorned with tiny, beautiful roses.
Chloe lets go of me and stands beside the two women. My sister apologizes for the interruption while placing her hand on the back of the blonde’s arm.
My heart is racing in my chest. This will be my first interaction with a woman in three years. After strictly being around men, I probably lost my touch.
The one with dark hair walks away, and my sister turns to me with an eager smile. The blonde beside her spins on her feet and flashes me a bright smile.
My heart, which was racing, has now stopped abruptly.
“Leo, this is Camille,” Chloe introduces us. “Camille, this is my brother, Leo.”
Camille holds her hand out for me to take, but I don’t move. Not right away. My eyes drop to her outstretched hand, and then I look up at my sister, who looks confused about why I am suddenly frozen.
Slowly, I lift my hand and enclose it around the woman’s. “Hi.”
“It’s nice to finally meet you! Chloe has told me all about you. All good things, of course.”
I shake her hand once more before dropping it. I tighten my grip on my beer bottle, hoping the glass doesn’t shatter in my hands. She and I hold eye contact. I attempt to die down the hatred in my eyes for Chloe’s sake.
Camille has a twinkle in her green eyes—a playful, wicked gleam.
Hearing her say those words is strange to me. Nice to finally meet you.
We’ve met before. We have done way more than meet. I’ve kissed her lips. I’ve held her. I’ve been inside of her. I’ve shared secrets with her.
My heart twists, and my stomach turns as I make eye contact with the woman standing before me.
This woman isn’t Camille.
It’s Veronica.