A little while later, Leo went back across the bay to give me some time to grab my bearings before dinner. We agreed that I would come over around eight that evening. Alone in the house, adrenaline continued to course through me, even though I was supposed to be calming down. I felt like I was in the middle of a dream.
He was still technically married. I wished I had a better understanding of his expectations for tonight, but I guessed I’d find out soon enough.
When evening came, I drove myself to Leo’s rental. A feeling of déjà vu hit me the moment I pulled up to the house. Everything about this moment looked and felt the same as five years ago, aside from the fact that I now drove a small SUV rather than my old Fiat.
I had the jitters as I approached the door. Before I could ring the bell, he opened.
Leo wore a fitted black sweater that looked like it had been painted onto his broad chest. He’d dabbed on cologne, and his hair was damp from the shower. I’m sure it was partly how much I’d missed him, but he’d never looked more gorgeous.
“Come inside from the cold, beautiful.”
Leo took my coat and hung it in the closet. I wore a brown sweater dress that showed off my curves.
He smiled as he took me in. “You’re wearing a dress.”
“You say that like it’s a shock.” I batted my eyelashes.
“Well, I can count on one hand the times I’ve seen you in a dress, and this would be number three. The first was the red one the night we had clams—the night you devastated me when you told me we shouldn’t see each other anymore. Then there was the black dress you wore when you showed up in England. I suppose that was the day I devastated you.”
“Gosh, I probably shouldn’t wear dresses, should I? They’re bad luck.”
He flashed his gorgeous teeth. “Come. I have a surprise.”
I followed him to the kitchen. On the counter, he’d laid out a seafood feast. There was a tower of shrimp cocktail, oysters, and lobster.
“Did you rob a fisherman?”
“I know you love seafood. But I wasn’t sure what you’d be in the mood for, so I ordered multiple things.”
“This is your MO. It reminds me of the time you went to Dunkin’ Donuts and came back with every pastry under the sun.”
“See?” he said. “I’m not the only one who remembers the details of when we were together.”
“Most of it’s ingrained in my memory.”
“Yeah,” he said. “I’ve struggled to hold onto all of it, not wanting any of those memories to disappear.”
My eyes returned to the food. “This feels so surreal, Leo. I keep thinking I’m going to wake up, and you’re gonna be gone again.”
“It feels surreal for me, too, but in a good way. I feel free for the first time in my life. And on cloud nine. But still, I’m so hesitant to do anything that might hurt you or to presume that you’re ready to start over with me so easily, given everything that happened in England.”
“It’s funny that you use the words start over. For some odd reason, that’s what this feels like—a first date,” I said.
“In a way, it is a new beginning.”
“You’ve given up a lot to be here.”
“My showing up now is far from a fairytale. I know that. This is real life, a bit different from the whirlwind summer we once had. But you know, I’d rather have this than that. Because back then, there was always the feeling of dread that I’d have to leave you. And that’s gone now. I have my freedom, and I’m determined to live my truth—not to let anything or anyone get in the way of what I want in life. Despite all the money and power I have back home, from the moment I met you, Felicity, there was nothing I’ve wanted more than to be your boyfriend. And nothing ever changed that.” Leo reached for me. “You know what else never changed?” He took my hand and placed it on his chest. “The way my heart beats for you.”
I smiled. “If that’s not proof of how you feel, I don’t know what is.”
Leo lifted my hand to his mouth and kissed it. Such a simple thing, yet I burned up all over.
He let go of me. “Let’s eat while the food is fresh, shall we?”
After we plated our dinner, we took our dishes to the dining room, and Leo poured the wine. We reminisced a bit, and Leo updated me on Sig. He said his cousin would be enrolling in an MBA program in the spring. The long-term plan was that he’d work for Leo and take on some of the responsibilities of the Covington estate.
“That will be so good for him. It will give him something to focus on, at least.”
Leo’s phone chimed a few seconds later.
He looked down at it. “Speak of the devil…”
“Sig?” I laughed.
“Yeah.”
“What did he say?”
He rolled his eyes. “I’m not sure you want to know.”
“Oh boy. Show me.”
Leo reluctantly flipped the phone around.
Sigmund: Are you muff diving in the Red Sea yet?
My cheeks flamed as I sighed. “Is it weird that it makes me happy whenever he acts like his old self?”
“It’s been coming out a bit more. I’m proud of him for picking himself up and going back to school.”
I nodded. This was such good news.
I ate a few more bites of the delicious dinner. “So…you said Darcie is still living at the house. Where were you living?”
He took a sip of wine and nodded, as if to ready himself for the fact that I was going there.
“For the last month, I’ve been staying with Sigmund. There were other properties I could have moved to, but I chose to crash with my cousin.”
“Does Darcie get the house in the divorce?”
“I’m giving it to her, though our prenuptial agreement doesn’t require me to. My mother thinks I’m insane. Everyone’s criticizing me for it. But I don’t give a fuck. I left her. She doesn’t deserve to lose her home. Let her have it. It’s the least I can do.”
“I respect you for that.”
A serious look crossed his face. “Do you? Respect me?”
“Why would you doubt it?”
“I’ve often wondered if the fact that I left Darcie would influence how you saw me as a man. Like maybe you would have more respect for me if I’d honored my commitment. Or maybe you’d think, if I could marry someone and leave them, I might do the same to you one day.”
I shook my head. “I don’t see it like that at all, Leo.”
Relief warmed his features. “Good.”
The wine buzzed through me as I looked into his azure eyes, wishing more and more that he would reach across the table and kiss me.
“Care for dessert?” he asked, dropping his cloth napkin to the table.
As good as the food was, my stomach was full of butterflies. I could think of little else besides what might or might not happen between us tonight.
I managed a smile. “No. Actually, I’m pretty full.”
After we took our plates into the kitchen, Leo turned on the electric fireplace in the living room, and we sat together on the same couch where we’d fallen asleep the very first night I’d slept at this house.