Chapter 27 #2
It didn’t take them long to load the dishwasher and wipe down the surfaces.
They chatted while they did it, discussing work and the meeting at the coffee shop earlier.
Vidya was amazed at the gentle domesticity of it.
She knew him well enough already to feel comfortable around him.
The only thing that made things awkward was her overthinking things.
And his overthinking things. They both worried too much.
She had a sudden vision of how their future together would be.
They were careful, methodical people. He would never push her to do anything she didn’t want to do, and she had no doubt that he would support her in whatever she did.
Clearly, she would never have to tidy up after him or rescue him from his own bad decisions.
It would be a partnership. Wasn’t that what she’d always wanted?
Vidya watched him fold the leaves on the table and put it away.
Then there was the added bonus that he looked so buttoned up all the time and she got to see him like this.
Dressed in jeans and a Henley that suited him so much better.
Relaxed enough to smile unguardedly. Her own private Leo. She could get used to this.
Taking a gulp of wine, she said, ‘So …’
‘So.’ He took her hand. ‘I guess we should talk about us.’
‘Yes. We should.’
‘Well … I like you. A lot. You know that already. I … want this to go well.’
Vidya smiled. ‘I want this to go well too.’
‘That’s good to know.’ Leo looked up, meeting her eyes for the first time and her heart went wild. He ran his thumb over her knuckles and a dart of heat ran right through her. She put down her glass.
Leo stepped closer. A quick tug on her hand brought her close so that she had to put her free hand on his chest to steady herself. She looked up at him. He smiled his lovely, precious smile, and kissed her.
It was a gentle kiss that slowly unwound her.
She slipped her arms around his neck. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her snug against him.
His other hand cradled the back of her neck.
The kiss deepened gradually. When they finally moved apart, she felt light, like she’d been spun around in a warm cocoon.
‘See,’ she said. ‘No reason for nerves at all.’
A smile touched the corners of his mouth. ‘I dunno. The last time I took my shirt off, you looked like you were going to throw up.’
She laughed and laid her head against his chest. ‘I’m really sorry.’
‘It’s okay. Now I know why, it’s fine.’
She looked up at him again. ‘So, are you going to take your shirt off?’
Leo walked her backwards out of the room and into the bedroom. ‘And hopefully, you will do the same.’
‘We’ll see,’ she said, still smiling.
He let her go and, in one swift movement, pulled his Henley off. Vidya’s mouth went dry. He quickly folded the top and put it on a clothes rack. She reached up and touched the tattoo that had caused so much trouble. Her touch sent a tremor through him.
‘Well,’ he said, ‘you’re still here. We’re doing better already this time.’
She laughed and took off her jumper. She was about to throw it into a corner when she remembered that Leo didn’t really like mess, so she folded it and put it on the clothes rack too, next to his top.
‘Oh my God, I think I love you.’
Vidya turned to look at him. He looked a little surprised too, as though he hadn’t intended to say that out loud.
‘Why?’ she said. ‘Because I folded my jumper?’
He gave a small nod.
‘But you don’t like it when things are all over the place. Has no one else done that for you?’
Leo sighed. ‘I know I’m weird, Vidya. I’m uptight and awkward and strange. There aren’t many people who look past that.’
He said it lightly, but she could see the weight in his eyes. He had been told this by someone he cared about. The idea that anyone could do that to him made her angry.
‘Did your parents tell you that?’ How could someone who was supposed to love him damage him so much?
She put her hands on his shoulders. ‘Leo, you are uptight and awkward and strange. But I’m not looking past that.
I’m looking at it. It’s part of who you are and I like you. All of you. Including your quirks.’
His eyes studied her face. She gave him what she hoped was a reassuring smile. He grabbed her waist and pulled her to him to kiss her. This kiss was nothing like before. It was all ferocity and need. Vidya threw her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
This time she was definitely not running away.
***
When Vidya woke up, it took a moment to remember where she was. Leo was asleep next to her, his breathing deep and even. His hand rested on her hip. She cautiously sat up. What time was it?
A small digital alarm clock glowed on the bedside cabinet on Leo’s side. She leaned across to see. It was nearly seven a.m.
‘Shit.’
Leo made a quizzical ‘mmmpf’ sound.
‘I should go home,’ she said. ‘I promised Udeni I’d go to the community centre with her to look at mum-to-be classes.’ Vidya slipped out of bed and started looking for her clothes.
Leo turned the bedside light on. She froze, realising that now he could see her. He pulled a T-shirt from under his pillow and passed it to her.
‘Thanks.’ She pulled it on. It was better than scrabbling around naked. The good thing about putting things neatly on the clothes rack was they were much easier to find in the morning.
‘I’ll order you a cab.’ Leo got out of bed and put on a pair of pyjama bottoms.
‘Thank you.’
She finished getting dressed, while he sat on the bed and typed on his phone. He looked up. ‘It’ll be about fifteen minutes.’
His hair was messed up, from where she’d run her hands through it. He was shirtless and barefoot, his pyjamas sitting low on his hips. He looked absolutely delectable. Vidya smiled.
‘What?’ he said.
‘Nothing. It’s just that you look … messy.’
Leo put his glasses on and looked down at himself. ‘Oh.’
She went to him and put her hand on his bare chest. ‘I like it. I feel like there aren’t many people who get to see you like this.’
He picked her hand off his chest, brought it to his mouth and kissed the backs of her fingers. ‘Hardly anyone, in fact,’ he said, pulling her closer.
‘Well, I’m honoured.’
He kissed the tip of her nose. ‘We should do this again sometime.’
Vidya giggled and nuzzled into him. ‘We should.’
‘How about tomorrow?’
‘You mean, today?’
He looked at the clock. ‘Oh, yes. This afternoon maybe?’
She chewed her lower lip. She wanted to, really she did. But she couldn’t just disappear like that. ‘I want to …’ she said. ‘But …’
‘You need to spend some time with your sister,’ he said. ‘I understand. It was a pretty big day for her yesterday.’
She looked up and rested her chin on his chest. ‘I’m sorry, Leo.’
‘It’s okay.’ He moved a strand of her hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear. ‘I should probably see how Caleb is coping too.’
She hugged him tight, and he hugged her back and held her for a long moment. Then he said, ‘I’d better put more clothes on so that I can walk you down to the taxi.’
She nodded and let him go. It was cold now that his warmth had gone. So, she went and found her coat and put that on too.
A sudden thought occurred. ‘About work,’ she said.
Leo was putting on his shoes. His head shot up. ‘Can we keep this a secret? At least for a bit. I don’t think anyone needs to know.’ The habitual frown, which had disappeared for a few hours, returned and Vidya felt sad for being the one to put it there.
‘It’s not that I’m ashamed of us or anything. But I dated someone at work before,’ he said. ‘It all went badly wrong and I don’t want—’
‘Us,’ said Vidya, smiling. ‘So, there’s definitely an us then?’
‘Of course.’ Leo looked surprised. ‘Did you think there possibly wouldn’t be? What do you take me for?’
Vidya laughed. ‘I’ll take you as often as I can have you.’
She was rewarded with one of his smiles. Whatever he was going to say next was forestalled by the phone buzzing. ‘That’ll be the taxi,’ he said.
He opened the door and they walked hand in hand out of the flat.