“Your first message, sure. That was our introduction. Your second?” He tips his head to the side, almost tauntingly. “I already knew everything about you by then.”
“I—I don’t understand.”
I always thought I’d feel nothing but happiness when all my cards were finally on the table, and there would be nothing keeping us apart anymore. And now... now I don’t know what to think.
There’s a misplaced sense of betrayal, and I can’t quite pinpoint its origin. I’m a goddamn fucking hypocrite for being upset about any of this. I have no right to feel betrayed or lied to because we really are one and the same.
Leo’s not fitting into the Leo-shaped box I put him in, and I don’t know how to process this.
I shake my head, trying to clear it and make sense of everything. “I’ve been going to your house for months, and messaging you for longer, and all this time you werestalkingme too.” Saying it out loud doesn’t make it any more digestible.
“You call it stalking. I call it taking an interest. And don’t pretend yours wasn’t deeper than mine.” Leo edges around the island to stand in front of me. I hold my breath when he reaches out to curl my hair around his finger before tucking it behind my ear. “You were begging for attention long before I gave it to you.”
It feels like I’m burning alive from his proximity. Every cell is vibrating and coming to life from the warmth of his skin near mine. I want to close the distance, urge him to touch me again, but I stop myself before I completely fall.
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
Why didn’tyou, Mina?
He couldn’t have been worried I’d reject him if he knew the lengths I was going to because of my obsession with him.
I spent however many freaking days thinking he had agirlfriend, and helet mespiral about it.
“You watched me because you wanted something. I watched you because I already knew what it was.”
I shake my head again and lean back, needing the space to think. “Nothing you’re saying is making sense.” There has to bemore than just that. “This must be some kind of sick game. I—I can’t do this right now.”
“You can deny me all you want, but you follow after me like you’re afraid I’ll disappear. I’m not going anywhere.” He trails a finger along my jaw, and I shudder. “Pack up your things. You’re moving in with me.”
My eyes widen. He wants us tolivetogether? Elation and worry war within me. I’m too stunned to do more than stare at him.
I want that, and I don’t.
Leo isn’t the man I thought he was, and I still can’t reconcile the man in front of me with the one I’ve been idolizing on-screen.
What I need is time.
Time to come to terms with my new reality.
Time to figure out how to break the news to my mother.
Oh,God.The anxiety rises in my chest thinking about it. She’ll fuckingblow. Telling her is a death sentence. She won’t approve of Leo. Oh, God—not to mention she’ll have to tell Tita Agnes that Thomas and I won’t be a thing.
Father wouldn’t entirely care about what Leo does, or where he’s from—although, he’d hate the tattoos—but he’s still Mom’s sidekick. As long as she’s in the room, he’s on her team, only half listening and nodding so long as she’s happy.
“It’s too soon,” I whisper, rising from my seat to put some distance between us.
I’ve never fully considered the logistics of what to do when this thing between us becomes a reality, and it’s stressing me the hell out because I have no idea how to navigate this new territory and bring Mom into the mix.
Leo frowns at the space I’ve created. Or it could be his disappointment over what I said. “Maybe I need to put this in simpler terms: Either you stay in my bed, or I’m staying inyours. One will have repercussions, the other will not. Whatever happens, you won’t be sleeping alone.”
My lips part. “I’ll change the locks.”
“You have windows,” he counters.
“I’d wake up.”
“You’re a heavy sleeper.”
