Wilde by Abby Brooks

Chapter Thirty-Six

Amy

Leo’s arrival feels like lightning snapping and crackling through the air. I don’t even have to turn around to see he stepped through the door. My body just knows. I should hightail it to the breakroom until he leaves but silly me, I turn around anyway and there he is.

His dark hair swoops back off his face, doing that thing I could never get enough of. His muscular body looks downright amazing in his jeans and t-shirt, but it’s his eyes that draw me in. There’s something there. Something new. Something important.

Damn him and damn the butterflies churning through my stomach and damn the fact that he slides into our booth…which just happens to be in my section. I will not, under any circumstance deal with this. Not here. Not at work.

Will he never learn? He can’t just insert himself back into my life like nothing happened between us. Because things did happen and they were hard and they hurt and I…

I just can’t.

“Hey, Harper? Any chance you could take that table for me?” I indicate Leo with a nod of my head and her eyes light up.

“Holy shit. Is there a reason you’re handing over a guy that looks like that? Are you just totally overwhelmed by your handful of customers or are you doing your new best friend a favor by setting me up with the hottest hottie that ever hotted?”

I glance at Leo. Our eyes meet. He dips his chin and offers me a smile, then flips open a sketchbook and looks away. A long sigh slips past my lips and I lift a trembling hand to brush my hair from my eyes.

Harper watches me for a few moments before her eyes go wide. “That’s him? That…” She looks from Leo to me and then back again. “That baby is going to be a freaking model. I mean, combine those genes with yours?” She shakes her head, then blinks as she comes back to her senses. “I’ll definitely take care of him, but like, are we talking mess up his order take care of him? Or do you want me to ask him to get the hell out and leave you be?”

I lift my chin and swallow hard. “He can sit in that booth as long as he wants and there’s no reason to mess with his food. I, however, won’t be giving him the time of day.”

“Atta girl. Show him what he’s missing.”

And that is exactly what I do. After taking some time in the bathroom to make sure my hair and makeup are as on point as possible, I push up the girls—who are way perkier than they used to be, thank you pregnancy—then parade around Plinky’s, greeting each customer like a long-lost friend. I never look at Leo. I never so much as glance his way. I strut by his booth at least fifteen times, doing my best supermodel impression.

It feels good…

…right up until I notice his table is empty.

He left.

He’s gone.

His absence hits me like a bullet and I race to the booth like I can scoop up some of his energy and bring him back. Sheets of paper are strewn across the table. Sketch after sketch after sketch, all laid out like he left them there on purpose.

I pick one up and my knees go weak. I lower myself to the bench as the paper trembles and quakes in my hands. Scrawled in his barely legible handwriting are the words ‘my perfect woman.’ Beneath that? Me. In my Plinky’s uniform. With my baby bump and perky ponytail. My smile is wide, my chin is lifted. I look determined. Strong. Beautiful.

I trace the lines, unable to hide my smile, then pick up the next drawing.

It’s us. Leo and me. Hand in hand. He’s cradling a baby while he looks at me with adoration. Scrawled across the top? ‘Perfect.’

The rest of the drawings are memories. The two of us at this very booth, the smirk on my face at once sassy and adorable. Me, asleep on the plane, so serene and unaware of what was waiting for me at home.

And lastly? A note.

Amy-

I never knew what I had until it was gone. I’m sorry I ran. I fell in love with you. I mean, look at who you are. Who wouldn’t? When I thought you chose Avery over me, I felt betrayed. And you’re right, I acted like a child. I wish I’d let you speak. I wish I’d heard what you were trying to say. I wish so many things. I can’t change the past, but know this, Amy Sinclair. I loved you then, I love you now, and I’ll love you and our baby forever.

--Leo

I push out of the booth and rush to the exit, bursting through the doors into the evening air. I don’t stop until I hit the parking lot because maybe, just maybe, he hasn’t left yet. But the Scarlet Harlot is nowhere to be found.

“Damn it!” I cover my face with my hands and growl. Why all the drama? Why didn’t I just talk to him? Why did he leave?

I turn to head back inside and stop in my tracks because there he is, leaning against the wall, his eyes locked on mine, a light smile quirking his lips. He pushes off the brick and closes the distance between us. I start to speak, but he shakes his head, putting a finger to my lips.

“I have so much to say, and I hope, maybe, you’ll agree to meet me someplace when you get off work so we can talk. But for now, it’s important you know how sorry I am. I overreacted and pushed you away. You called me childish and I proved you right.”

I blink, trying to make sense of my thoughts. “I…”

“I’ll understand if you don’t want to talk to me. I’ll hate it, but I’ll understand. I just couldn’t bear the thought of never seeing you again. Of you never knowing how much I love you.”

“You love me?”

“Oh God yes. I got out to LA and it’s just not what I thought it’d be, because everything I really want is right here. I know you’re working and this is the absolute worst time to try and have an important talk. I just couldn’t go any longer without seeing you.”

“I’m off in an hour. If you want to wait. We can talk after.”

“I’d love that, Amy. I really would.” Leo smiles and cautiously steps forward, opening his arms to me. I step into him, letting his warmth, his strength, his comfort seep into me and I think it’s the first full breath I’ve taken since Avery showed up in my father’s driveway.

As I head back into Plinky’s, I pause and turn around. “Where’s the Scarlet Harlot?”

“Jezebel’s still in LA.” He points to a green minivan. “This is my ride until she and I are reunited.”

Raising my eyebrows, I burst into laughter, then head back to work, laughing at the thought of Leo Wilde behind the wheel of a minivan.

* * *

True to his word, Leo’s waiting for me outside when I finish my shift. We drive out into the country, find a place to park, and talk. I vent. He listens. He vents. I listen. He apologizes, over and over for letting his pride get in the way of hearing what I had to say.

“I’ve learned some hard lessons lately. Seems like I’ve had a lot about life wrong for the last decade or so and there’s a lot of stuff I have to relearn. But, if you’ll let me, I want to learn them. I want to be a good dad—not one of those weekend warrior types. I want to be there for you and the baby.” He swallows hard. “Not just for you. With you. I want to be with you and the baby. If you’ll have me.”

I pretend to weigh my options, but can’t keep the act up long. Instead of saying anything, I grab his shirt, pull him close, and press my lips to his.