I offer a weak smile. "Morning."
His brows furrow ever so slightly, but he dips his head in greeting before turning around and leading us through the lobby and out of the building.
We walk silently through the cold, wet streets of central London, people actively avoiding us as we move, some staring for far too long, others glancing away as soon as their eyes graze over Leo's face.
"I'm glad you're not like them," he says, tucking his chin to his neck as we stand by the traffic lights waiting to cross with a crowd of people surrounding us.
I glance up at him, assessing the way his eyes dart around. Even with his head ducked down, he's still on high alert, observing everyone around us.
"Like who?" I ask, jamming my thumb into the button. We wait for the red man to turn green, signalling we can cross the road and finally make it to the park, where there are fewer people.
"Everyone around us," he says, moving his hand to my upper back and guiding me across the road once the traffic finally stops to let us cross. "I know you already knew of my scar beforehand, so it wasn't exactly a shock to you, but I'm glad you don't stare at it every time you're around me."
"Why would I? That'd be rude."
He turns to face me, his lips upturned in an almost smile as he chuckles.
We enter the park, and I unclip Jellybean's lead, allowing her to run over to the patches of green around us as we walk down the winding path.
"Now I'm in Dom's good books, I think it'd be a good idea to go shopping sometime soon," I suggest, stuffing my hands in the pockets of my coat to protect them from the cold, harsh wind. "You'd be alright accompanying me with that, right?"
"It's not like I'd have much choice in the matter," he huffs, side-eyeing me.
I grin at him as he whistles for Jellybean before she runs off too far.
"I mean, you could leave me to my own devices."
He scoffs.
"I'd get my arse chewed out if I did that. Besides, you seem to attract trouble, and although I think you'd be fully capable of handling yourself, I'd prefer to be there to intervene if I needed to."
I gape at him, pull my hand out of my pocket, and press it against my chest.
"That almost makes it seem like you care about me, Leo," I tease.
He rolls his eyes at my theatrics and shakes his head.
"If thinking that helps you sleep at night, then sure."
"Oh, come on, you don't need to deny it. I think it's fair to say we've built a friendship in the time we've spent together, so it's okay to care for me. If it helps, I care for you, too."
He grunts in response and glances at his watch on his wrist.
"We should start heading back. It's almost noon, and I have some things to do for later tonight."
I frown, and my stomach twists.
Is he involved in what's going down tonight?
I call Jellybean over to us so I can connect her lead again, and then turn back in the direction we came from.
"What exactly is it that you have to do?" I ask.
He glances at me, a confused, curious look on his face that probably matches the expression I'm currently wearing.
"Work stuff," he states.
My stomach twists again, and my hand tightens around Jellybean's lead as the guilt from earlier returns.
