12. Veronica
CHAPTER 12
Veronica
Staring at Leo’s picture was one thing, but standing before him… looking into his eyes? My stomach turns to liquid. I don’t miss how his eyes burn with hatred for me, and he puts on a good show for his sister.
He dropped my hand too soon. It was nice feeling his warmth again, but now my hand feels like ice without his touch.
Now, we stand here awkwardly because Leo has nothing else to say to me. Since the silence becomes too much, Chloe chimes in to ease the tension.
“I’ve only told Camille good things about you. I did, however, tell her about you going to prison,” she says, which catches Leo’s attention. His eyes cut to her, and he doesn’t let up on the heat he held for me in those pretty greens. Chloe sees that fire and quickly says, “She would have found out anyway if she went online and read the articles!”
“She’s right,” I say, causing his attention to return to me. I need to feel his eyes on me again, even if it is full of disdain. “I never saw the articles; I don’t go online much. Your sister never told me why you went away, and honestly, I don’t care.”
The lies I spew filter right through him. He slowly nods in fake acceptance and brings the beer bottle to his mouth.
Watching him press the glass to his lips makes me wish mine were against his. I was never one for kissing, but I enjoyed it when it came to Leo.
“Can I get you another drink?” he asks with a hint of politeness in his tone. It was enough for Chloe to buy it and take the hint to leave us alone.
I nod when Chloe says, “Okay! I am going to mingle and let you two get to know each other!” Then she turns to me. “We are still having lunch on Saturday, right?”
“Uh, yeah! I have been dreaming about that burger since we planned this last week.”
“Good! Alright, have fun, you two!” Chloe winks at me before wandering off.
I drift my eyes back to the man in front of me, bringing my beer bottle to my lips. I hide my smile behind the rim as I take the last sip. Lifting the bottle before me, I wiggle it in my hands.
“How about that drink?”
I watch his chest rise and fall briskly as he attempts to control his angered breathing. Without a word, he twists away from me and beelines to the refrigerator, tossing his empty glass into the trash.
Leo opens the right side of the fridge, sticking a hand in and pulling out a fresh beer—only one. He uses the opener on the island to pop off the cap, which drops onto the counter, and then leaves the room. I take a sharp breath, glancing around the room at the others. Chloe is engaged in a conversation with Kara, a childhood friend.
Without her eyes on me, I slip out of the room and follow Leo. He isn’t in the living room, office, or playroom. A door shuts upstairs, causing my head to whip toward the sound. Making sure no one is in the hall with me, I head up the stairs, knowing the coast is clear.
My footsteps are quiet, given that the stairs and hallway upstairs are lined with carpet. Every door is open except for one, making it easy to know where he is.
Stepping up to the closed door, I grip the handle and twist it. It’s unlocked, which doesn’t surprise me.
He wanted me to follow him.
There is no way we could speak freely in the kitchen full of people. I push the door open to see I’m entering a bathroom. Carter’s bathroom, I’m assuming, due to the colorful bathmat and shower curtain. Stepping fully into the room, Leo is leaning against the sink, sipping his beer.
When I’m fully in the bathroom, I turn my body away from him to shut the door softly, and the moment I spin to face him, he is storming at me. Leo lifts his hand, wrapping his fingers around my throat.
Pressure can be felt on the back of my head from how hard he pushes me into the door. His eyes dance between mine, but I can’t help the smirk that pulls at my lips.
“Why the hell are you smiling? You think this shit is funny?”
“No.” I attempt to shake my head in his hold. “But you wouldn’t believe me if I told you I’m smiling because we are in the same room.”
“You’re right.” His jaw ticks. “I don’t believe you.”
“Pity.” I pout as his fingers tighten, restricting more air that’s wanting to fill my lungs.
“What are you doing at my sister’s house?”
“She and I are friends.” I wet my lips and drop my eyes to his mouth. “Are you… planning on kissing me? Because…” I gasp for a breath before I continue, “I missed how your lips taste.”
His eyes drop to my parted lips for a split second before he looks back at me. “You aren’t friends with my sister. You don’t do friends. ”
“I didn’t… use to.” I grin again. He isn’t going to like what I’m going to say. “Chloe and I have been friends.”
Leo loosens his grip on my neck at the confession. His eyes widen, and his brows dip in confusion. “How long?”
I heave in a deep breath, filling my lungs momentarily before I grant him my attention. Placing my palm on his chest, I push him backwards, away from me.
“Around six months.” He stumbles back, shaking his head in disbelief.
“You’re lying.”
“Am I? Go downstairs and ask her yourself.”
He looks at me, his eyes filled with perplexity. “You’ve been back in Seattle, where you could be caught and taken back to the asylum or prison? Befriending my sister? Why?”
I intake a sharp, audible breath. “That’s another answer you won’t believe.”
“Try me.”
I tread slowly toward him, and when standing before him, I allow my palms to run along his chest. The gesture causes his body to flinch at my touch. Slowly, I lift my eyes to his face and tilt my head to the side.
“I came back to scope things out, and in doing so, I kept a careful eye on your family since I know how much they mean to you. By the way, you should be thanking me for that.” My finger begins to draw small circles against the fabric of his shirt. “After being here for a few months and realizing no one was out to get me, I decided to stay. That’s when I overheard them discussing your early release and decided to stick around.”
“Why?” he asks again, his tone growing irritated.
“I came back for you.”
With my palm against his chest, I can feel how erratically his heart is beating. It’s a beautiful rhythm—a song his body is creating due to my presence. I look at him through my lashes to find his face filled with a mix of emotions.
Confusion, anger, hurt.
“If that were even true,” he snatches my wrist, “what makes you think I want you here? Don’t you remember the last thing I said to you when you were dumb enough to visit me in prison?”
I roll my eyes. “Something about sweet, sweet revenge. But, Leo, you had three years to get over all of that.”
“Get over it?” He laughs in disbelief, strengthening his fingers around my skin. “You fucking stabbed me, Veronica! Left me in the middle of the woods, not knowing if I would survive!”
“I made sure not to hit any internal organs.”
“You almost did.” He sneers down at me. “They said I was lucky.”
My lips part with a light gasp. I didn’t know that, but how could I have? I must have been in a panic that night, hearing the alarms and shouts all around us, that I didn’t stick the knife where I wanted to.
“Maybe it is a good thing you are here.” He squeezes my wrist tighter, bringing me pain and tugging me closer to him. Our bodies press together, our mouths an inch away.
I can smell the alcohol on his breath, and for a split second, I think he will kiss me. I hope he will kiss me. But he doesn’t.
Instead, he says, “I was going to track you down. Figure out where you were and make you pay for betraying me. But now? You inserted yourself into my life. You made it too easy.”
I swallow hard, trying to school my expression to remain calm. “You don’t have revenge in you, Leo.”
A dark smile pulls the corner of his lips upward. “It’s been a long time, Veronica. You don’t know anything about me anymore.”
We hold eye contact; it only falters when the bathroom door swings open. Whoever walked in would assume Leo and I were kissing because we were close. Leo’s eyes dart over my shoulder, softening his eyes as he drops my hands.
Controlling my breathing, I peek over my shoulder to find Chloe standing there with a delighted smile. “I knew you two would hit it off!”
I stare at her when Leo says, “We sure did. Thank you for introducing us.”
That fake smile lines his lips as he walks out of the bathroom.