“I was looking forward to running into you here. But I was hoping for a little less of a crowd.” His grin is a little lopsided and my heart goes to fluttering. I’m leaning against the wall and he’s close. Close enough that I can see little specks of gold in those brown eyes.
“Yeah, it seems I’m always surrounded by family.” Is my voice breathless? Oh God, I think it is.
“That’s the main thing I remember about you. Always with…Look at me about to go off-limits.” He jokes and I swear he’s an inch closer.
A loud group of women turns the corner, headed for the bathroom, and we both jump. Leo’s hand grips the back of his neck and he looks a little frustrated. Then that one eyebrow rises, so of course I have to match it.
The look he gives me is worth the risk of being discovered by my family.
I’m still staring into his eyes when his hand slides into mine and he pulls me down the hall and out the side door. It’s dark and quiet out here. Judd’s band is muffled and it makes them sound better than they are. And once again, my back is to the wall and he’s standing in front of me. But this time not as close as I’d like.
“Look,” I say, blowing out a long breath and a ton of my own frustration. “I know you probably think it’s dumb that I want to…not hide this…that’s not what I’m trying to do. I mean, whatever this is…and I’m not saying it’s anything…it’s just so much easier if…you know who…we keep them out of it. I mean, you know what I mean.”
He’s laughing. Hard. I hang my head because I’m embarrassed by the flood of nonsense that just poured out of my mouth.
But then he’s there. Arms around me, the top of my head resting against his chest. And he’s talking quietly in my ear.
“I’ve never been around you withoutthem. Any of them. Except for this week. And I like it. I like that I don’t have to share you right now. I like that this is just ours and not theirs, too. Whatever this is. It doesn’t have to be anything. Or it can be something.”
My hands come up and I grab on to his biceps, making sure he doesn’t step away too soon. Because I like this. A lot. But I’m also still a little embarrassed and it’s easier to have him this close and not have to look at him.
“Okay,” I mumble. I want to say more, but then I also want to keep everything I’m feeling to myself.
“Do you have to stay? Or could we leave?”
I finally pull back and meet his gaze. “Where would we go?”
He checks his watch. “I have about an hour before I need to get some sleep so I’m ready for tomorrow. And if I have a choice, I’d rather spend that hour somewhere a little quieter talking to you than in there listening to that band with half your family.”
I’m chewing on my bottom lip, trying to figure out how we can both leave here without anyone knowing.
And as if he can read my mind, he says, “I already told the girls I was leaving. They know I wouldn’t stay here long since I have to play tomorrow. You could go make an appearance at the table while I wait out here for an Uber. I’ll text you when it gets here.”
When I think about what I would like to do for the next hour, hanging out with Leo sounds like a pretty good choice.
“I drove, so I’ll meet you at my car. Give me five minutes.” I don’t stay long enough to hear his answer or change my mind.
Judd’s band is taking a break and Judd is sitting in the extra chair Charlie pulled up earlier.
“I don’t know him and I’m not texting him,” Judd says to Charlie as I walk up to the table.
“I can’t believe he’s not here,” Charlie says, then jumps when he sees me. “Oh, hey!” And then he looks at the door again. I’m clearly missing something, but with Charlie, I don’t even try to figure it out.
“Y’all sound so good!” I say to Judd. “I had no idea you could play the drums.”
He wiggles his eyebrows. “Just wait until the next set. I have a solo.”
“You’re singing?” Sophie yells.
Judd holds up his drumsticks. “No. A drum solo.”
“Oh, that’s good,” she says, and relaxes back in her seat.
I lean forward so Wes and Sophie can hear me, too. “I’m heading out. I’m so tired and have to do it all again tomorrow.”
Wes is shaking his head. “This is the second night in a row you’re bailing on us.”
I shrug. “Sorry. Can’t do it.”
