There was a time when Leon and I were young––and foolish––when I thought we could have been something. A couple, dating, anything, but aside from a couple of secret heat-filled kisses, Leon has never made a move since then.
I gave up on any hope-filled fantasies I had of us being more than just friends a very,very, long time ago. Between my protective brother warning Leon off me, and the fact that Leon allegedly slept with every puck bunny who waited for him after hockey games, I buried my feelings for him to keep our friendship and accepted the ‘friend zone’ label where we’ve been for so long, I’ve lost count of the number of years. I’ll admit, I often wondered what could have been.
It’s pointless to think about us that way anymore. We’re friends, and that’s how we’ll always be. I know that’s what he wants to keep things between us, or he would have made a move by now, surely?
At the top of the stairs, I walk along the long hallway toward Leon’s bedroom.
Upon entering, I’m hit by a wall of his woodsy, rich aftershave that he wears like a second skin, and I bathe in the familiarity as it wraps around me like a warm blanket.
I cross the room, moving toward his ensuite, which is almost the same size as his bedroom. As an elite hockey player turned sports agent, it’s ridiculous that at forty-three, Leon doesn’t share his extravagant lifestyle with anyone. I feel like a princess inside his home. A bedraggled one, but a princess, nonetheless, protected by a prince named Leon in his castle made of sandstone, glass, and marble.
I cringe at my appearance as I walk closer to the mirror above the vanity. Aside from my hair, still styled in perfect waves, my makeup looks like it was applied by my three-year-old niece,Grace. I run my fingers under my eyes to wipe away the smudged black mascara. I don’t know why I cried. Maybe it was tears of joy for finally deciding not to go through with the wedding. Or maybe they were sad tears for the way I had hurt Huck and humiliated him. Who knows? What I am sure of is that despite my appearance, I no longer feel that endless anxious sensation in my chest that’s been there for months.
I lengthen my spine, feeling confident that I made the right decision to run.
“I feel ugly in this dress,” I whisper to my reflection.
“You’re beautiful.” Leon’s voice echoes across the space, startling me. “But that dress doesn’t suit you.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Erika– The Past: 3 years ago. (Erika: 35, Leon: 40)
Ever the gentleman, Leon opens the door of my cab, ushering me out. He lets out a long whistle of approval, mischief dancing in his eyes, before he says, “Fuck, you look beautiful tonight.”
“Just tonight?” I ask, mirroring his playful tone. My heart stutters in my chest as he looks me up and down, his gaze lingering a little too long on my legs. He does this often, but tonight, standing in my black bodycon dress and red heels, I feel like he’s really looking at me, like he wants to eat me alive. But that can’t be true. It’s all in my imagination, since he’s still getting over Gigi, his ex.
“You look beautiful every day.” He throws me a cheeky wink, then closes the car door as I step onto the sidewalk. “Happy birthday.”
I suddenly feel shy, nerves fluttering in my stomach. “Thank you.”
“No, thankyoufor coming tonight. I know it was a last-minute invite, and I know it’s your birthday and you wanted to be a couch potato, but you have no idea how grateful I am, Erika.” He approaches me and gestures toward the entrance of the upscale restaurant he invited me to. Since he’s meeting apotential client tonight, another hockey player, I believe, he likes to have a date with him, especially if they bring their partner. According to Leon, it apparently helps the conversation flow.
Leon gently places his hand on my lower back, sending goosebumps across my skin with his tender touch. To strangers, we look like a couple, though we’re not. Leon and I spend so much time together that it wouldn’t be the first time people have mistaken us for one.
“Evening, sir, madam.” The restaurant doorman tips his hat as he opens the door for us to enter.
With Leon’s hand still placed on the small of my back, I step through the entryway first as Leon follows close behind. Everywhere we go, he’s never far away, sometimes close enough to feel his breath on my neck.
Tucking a wavy lock of hair behind my ear, I survey the busy restaurant as I teeter on my skyscraper heels. The ones with the designer red soles Leon bought me for my birthday. He surprised me earlier by sending them to my house by courier, along with a beautiful note wishing me a happy birthday and urging me to wear them tonight. He even got my shoe size right. I have no idea how he knows that. I often think he knows me better than I know myself.
“My usual table?” Leon asks the host whom he seems to know.
“Yes, Mr. Hill. This way, sir.” The host then walks through a pathway between the tables.
Leon juts his chin, gesturing for me to move, his hand never leaving the bottom of my spine.
He’s always touching me, not inappropriately, but sometimes, just sometimes, his touch feels like we could be more than just friends.
I push those stupid thoughts aside. “So, who are we meeting with tonight?” I ask through the side of my mouth, keeping my voice low as we pass by the diners enjoying dinner.
“You’ll see,” he replies.
“Do I know them?” I discreetly pull the hem of my short dress down, since it likes to creep upward.
“Yes,” he confirms, easing my nerves.
For some reason, I’ve felt on edge all day because everyone has been acting strangely. For starters, when Lily stopped by my house earlier, she apologized for leaving my present on her desk, then only stayed for a quick cup of coffee before running off to pick up the kids from school. Then my mom called to say something had come up and she wouldn’t be able to stop by today after all, even though she has never missed seeing me on my birthday and makes a big deal about. I haven’t heard from Ash today. Not even my two best friends, Lucia and Sofia, have been in touch. Weird. Although I only have myself to blame, I did tell everyone I was taking a day off to laze on the sofa and watch movies, with no intention of leaving my house. That was, until Leon called at lunch, begging me to join him as his plus one tonight.
