“I don’t see how this is any of your business.”
Ricky chuckled, handing him the filled glass, beer spilling over the edge. “Fine. I’ll lay off. I guess it’s only been a week.”
“A week since what?” a woman’s voice asked from behind him.
Leo turned and saw Kelsey, a tiny baby wrapped up and strapped to her front. He was not at all surprised by this. It wasn’t unheard of to see the other two O’Henry kids running through the bar on occasion.
“Hey, Kels.” He stood and attempted to hug her without squishing the small human attached to her. “She’s adorable.” He peered down at her, getting a closer look. “Good thing she doesn’t take after her father.” He chuckled.
“Right. The Lord is good,” Kelsey teased, smirking at Ricky. “So,” she patted Leo on the shoulder. “How are you holding up?”
He stiffened. “Peachy keen,” he said.
She frowned, obviously seeing right through him.
“I talked to Izzy yesterday.”
“You did?” His tone sounded anxious, and he hated it.
“She sounded awful.”
“Yeah?” Something like hope fluttered in his chest.
“Oh yeah. Depressed as all get out.” She shook her head. “You do know she told that Harrison guy to hit the road, yes? How you two couldn’t make things work this time around is beyond me.”
He wanted to say that he didn’t understand it either. But instead, he simply hunched his shoulders in a dramatic shrug. Because what Kelsey didn’t know was, he hadn’t given up yet.
Not completely.
“Enough of that, Kels,” Ricky hollered over the music, pouring a beer for a regular just down the bar. “I invited him here to forget about Izzy.”
Kelsey winced, biting her lower lip.
“It’s fine,” Leo waved her off. “But Ricky did promise me a night I’ll never forget.”
“Or,” Ricky waggled his brows suggestively, sliding another beer in his direction. “A night youwillforget. Huh? Huh?” He nudged him in the shoulder with his fist.
“You’re not children anymore,” Kelsey reminded them. “You both have responsibilities.”
“I do, for sure. But what does Leo have to do?”
Leo hesitated before speaking. He didn’t know if he was ready to let Ricky know what had been on his mind the last few days. “Speaking of responsibilities, I’ve been thinking it’s about time for me to get outta Dodge.”
“Hey, a vacation is a great idea. You definitely need it.”
“No.” Leo shook his head, his chin ducked and his thumb tracing the condensation bubbles on the glass. “Maybe something longer than a vacation.”
“What do you mean? Where would you go?”
Leo lifted his gaze. “Maybe East.”
“East, huh?” Kelsey side-eyed him, bouncing on her toes when Charlotte fussed.
“You better not be thinking of something permanent. Landon is here. Your dad. What about me, man?”
“Ricky,” Kelsey said in a warning tone.
Ricky leaned on his elbows, stretching across the bar, and released a sigh. “Please just tell me you’re not considering leaving because of Isabella?”
