A few minutes later, Leo appears in the doorway.
He leans on the frame. “Your roommate’s got spirit.”
I arch a brow. “If you mess with her, she’ll eat you alive. And I’ll hand her the fork.”
He huffs a laugh, nods once, and steps farther in, the door clicking shut behind him.
“How you doing, E?” His voice is low, stripped of swagger. “Missed you.”
It throws me. Leo doesn’t say things like that, not out loud. My throat tightens, but I manage, “I’m fine.”
He shakes his head. “You’re not.” He drops onto the sofa beside me, forearms braced on his knees. “I know about Max.” His jaw works, hard enough to crack teeth. “You should’ve told me.”
My chest twists. “So you spoke to Nate.”
“Yeah.” His face darkens. There’s fury there, regret too. “He filled me in.” He glances over at me, softer now. “And I’m sorry. For the circus Nate and I pulled the other day. For taking that note back then. I was a complete bastard.”
The words land heavy. I stay quiet, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes.
“I knew how you felt about him, and I thought I wasprotecting you. Truth is, I was being a jealous idiot who didn’t want his little sister growing up. It was uncalled for.”
“And hypocritical,” I add, biting back the wobble in my voice. “Don’t forget that part.”
His mouth lifts, rueful. “Yeah. That too.”
Silence stretches, then he shifts the subject. “The clinic’s looking good. Heard you’ve got half my gym on your books already.”
That coaxes a laugh out of me, shaky but real. “Thanks for sending them my way. It helps.”
“I’ve always tried to help, E,” he says. “Might not’ve been how you needed, but I was looking out. Best I knew how.”
I nod, a lump in my throat. “I know. And I appreciate it.”
He leans back, stretches an arm along the sofa. “So. Max.” His eyes flash dangerously. “Want me to go find him? Break his face?”
The corner of my mouth twitches. “Better hold off on that, champ. Might not even be necessary. Word is, he’s already in deep with some finance firms. The kind of trouble that lasts longer than a smashed face.”
Leo snorts. “Good. Karma’s a bitch.”
We sit for a beat, the air easier now. “I want to be better,” he says finally. “Not just the guy who throws punches when it’s too late. I want to show up before it gets that far. For you.”
I sink back against the cushions, feeling the stone in my gut unclenching. Leo doesn’t do apologies.
“Okay,” I whisper.
“Okay.”
He blows out a breath, scrubbing a hand over his jaw, worn out. Then he glances at me sideways, and the edge in his voice eases. “Long day?”
“The longest,” I admit. “Clients are trickling back, whichis good, but it means I’m running myself ragged. I’m doing therapy sessions, then cramming in paperwork—insurance claims, scheduling, case notes. I’m running two jobs at once. I don’t have a full roster yet, so there are gaps, but the back-and-forth is killing me. It’s mentally harder than just being in the room with patients.”
Leo nods, the corner of his mouth curving. “Sounds like business is picking up, though.”
“Slowly,” I say, sinking deeper into the cushions. “Once I can afford to hire help, it’ll be easier. Right now, I’m just…holding it together.”
“Good thing I showed up, then.” He straightens, all fighter bulk. “I’ve got just the thing.”
I narrow my eyes. “If this involves a punching bag or a protein shake, I’m out.”
