Minutes later, when I hear Dom's footsteps descending the stairs, I close my eyes, slow my breathing, and pretend to be asleep as he moves closer to me.
His fingers brush against my face, and then his lips press against my forehead before I feel his hands slip around Jellybean's body, softly removing her from my hold.
"Come on, Jelly, let's take you for a walk before bed."
Holding my breath, I remain motionless, waiting until he's left the apartment before I allow the tears to fall from my eyes.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Alicia
Waking up the next morning, I'm surprised to find myself in my room, instead of on the sofa, but as I rub at my eyes and glance around my room, I find another note left for me on my bedside cabinet, explaining he's out for most of the day, and Leo will be around to for me if I need him.
Adding the note to the rest I've kept hidden in my drawer, I grab my phone, scrolling through the few notifications from my sister. I'm choosing to ignore them for now, not wanting to think about my brother or the issues he could cause me now that I've angered him.
Deciding I need a distraction, I leave my phone on the side, quickly get dressed, apply a little mascara to my thick lashes, and then hurry out of my room, whistling for Jellybean to follow.
"Come on, girl. Let's go do some shopping."
Grabbing my purse and sliding my boots on over my leggings, I make my way to the elevator, Jellybean hot on my heels.
"We're gonna have a good day today, baby girl," I tell her, stroking my hand over her fur as the elevator starts moving, taking us down to the lobby where I know Leo awaits us.
Exiting into the lobby, I flash a bright smile at him. He jumps up from his chair when he sees me walking out of the elevator, and I pass Jellybean into his waiting arms so I can zip up my coat.
"Remember when I mentioned a shopping trip?"
He glares at me and groans.
"I thought you were joking about that."
"Well, maybe I was at the time, but now, I need the distraction, and there's no better way to occupy your mind than to do a little retail therapy," I tell him, winking as I turn and walk out of the lobby.
He follows after me, putting Jellybean down once we're outside. When he catches up to me, he grumbles something about wishing he'd palmed the job off to someone else.
My shoulders shake with laughter, and I glance over at him, amused by the disgruntled look on his face.
"Oh, come on, Leo. We both know you love our budding friendship, and you wouldn't pass up a minute with me if you didn't have to."
He scoffs, shaking his head, but his denial doesn't hurt me in the slightest, because I know, deep down, it's true.
After browsing at least ten shops, only buying items from three of them, Leo had Charlie come and pick up my bags, telling me he would lower himself to babysitting duties, but there was no way he'd act as my courtesy clerk.
Now, we're headed to a quaint café down the street, one Leo himself recommended.
As we grow closer to the end of the street where the café is situated, chills break out across my skin, and a sense of dread settles in my gut.
"Leo," I say, slowing my pace and pretending something in the shop window ahead of us has caught my eye. "Someone's following us."
He moves closer to my side, almost squashing Jellybean between us as we come to a stop outside a boutique, staring at the mannequins in the glass window.
"Yeah, I know. I realised a few moments ago, just before your shoulders locked up," he says, pointing at god knows what.
My attention is focused on the reflection in the glass window before us. My eyes scan the people walking around us, and the few people who have stopped across the street, looking in shop windows, just as we seem to be doing.
"Dark hair, blue jacket, outside Mayfields, eight o'clock," Leo mutters, his shoulder brushing mine as he once again points at the glass in front of us, this time, pointing out the reflection of the man he's spotted.
As soon as my eyes glance over his blurry dark features—the tanned skin that stands out against his dark leather jacket, the way his hands are stuffed in his pockets while he seemingly scans his surroundings, and his gaze landing back on us every few seconds—I know immediately that Leo's assumption is correct.
