Leonidas stills against my hands. I can feel his jaw clench against mine, which makes me smile. Obviously, I’m just teasing him. Nothing about Leonidas is childish. He’s a stunning, jaw-dropping nineteen-year-old guy. If I walked past him on the street, I would think he was a model who just finished a shoot. Leonidas makes looking sexy and handsome effortless, which blows my mind.
If it was even possible, he pushes me against the wall further. Every inch of my body presses against his. Heat overtakes me as a slight, low pant leaves my lips.
Now, it’s his turn to whisper in my ear. “Do I feel like a fucking little boy to you?” His voice is husky and rough, making a shiver roll down my spine.
When he pushes his waist harder against mine, a squeal leaves my mouth.
Nope, definitely not a little boy.
I grip his forearm when he bites my earlobe lightly, running his tongue along my skin. Moving his tattooed hand down the length of my body. He stops at my butt and gives it a quick tap.
“Thought so.” He moves away from me and walks toward the door.
Twisting around, he gives me a pointed look. “Thought I would also let you know that your mother is worried sick. Go home and show her you’re alive at least.”
His body disappears from my view once he climbs down the ladder.
Slumping down onto the ground, I let out a shaky breath.
Leonidas will be the death of me.
* * *
I carry Leonidas’s backpack over my shoulder as I walk through the front door. If I could, I would never come back here. But I’m eighteen years old, and I would still get a search party assigned to me even though I’m a legal adult. No, thank you.
Mom is home. I can tell because her shoes are on the shoe rack. They’re usually neatly placed, but today, it looks like she tossed them. My head still throbs like a bitch because of all the tequila I drank. My eyes burn. Dragging my feet to the kitchen, I lean against the wall when she turns around and spots me.
“Oh, thank God!” She rushes to me. Pulling me to her body, she cries into my shoulder.
Oh, so now, she cares about me? It looks like I have to go missing for more than a day for her to show an ounce of love to me.
That makes me want to laugh.
“Sweetie,” she says and pulls away. Gripping my cheeks in the palms of her hands, she gives me a kiss on the nose. “I’m sorry. I know how hard you’ve taken your father’s death. I should have been more understanding. I still struggle with being a single mom. Please forgive me.”
I gaze down as my eyes water with mixed emotions.
“I love you so much, Trinity. I want what’s best for you.” Her eyes find my own as she gives me a weak smile. “I know I lose sight of what’s important … and that’s you. Please forgive me?”
One thing that I learned after the murder of my dad is that no one is guaranteed another day.
A part of me still can’t forgive her. She’s made me doubt myself countless times. She’s made me cry until I couldn’t breathe. But I think about losing her …
She’s the only parent I have who’s still alive. So, that’s why I wrap my arms around Mom, and we both cry into each other’s shoulder.
* * *
“So, his name is Leonidas?” Harper asks over the line.
“Yeah. Sexy, isn’t it?” I reply and internally swoon at the thought of my next-door neighbor.
She sighs. “I’ve never met someone with a sexy name like that.” She pauses and gasps. “Actually, that band with the triplets, X3, the guy’s name is Leo. I would drop my pants for him any day.”
I scoff. “You would drop your pants for anyone—” I say, but she cuts me off.
“Do you think your Leonidas is Leo?”
Is she crazy? Why would a singer move into our boring small town? She’s living some book fantasy.
