“That’s right, I do.”
He gives me a look that tells me he knows I’m faking my way through, but I’m grateful he doesn’t call me out on it. I’m grateful he understands, because those ‘what ifs’ can be brutal and devastating. I don’t want that for him—or for me.
I scoop up a bunch of cheese, lettuce, and tomato onto my chip and shove it all into my mouth.
“You are such a pig,” Audrey teases.
“Oink, oink,” I say between chews.
“Talking with your mouth full is unbecoming,” Isla tells me.
I give her a look. “And?”
She shrugs and laughs. “I’m just repeating what my mother tells me.”
“Oh, those manners… Elan doesn’t mind if I forget about them while I eat, do you, Hottie E?”
“Nope, I don’t mind at all, Foxy J.”
I look over at Elan with a smile, but it quickly fades as Leo stands there listening, staring right at me. This time, I look away and pretend not to see. I’m not giving him the attention he’s seeking. Maybe it’ll be good for me or maybe it’ll be better for him. Maybe he’ll finally let down those steel walls he’s closed all around himself.
Maybe.
