Chapter 22
Leah stared at her impending text message to Seth. She took a deep breath, her jaw tightening.
6:20 PM… Leah: R u free 4 lunch this week?
She hit send to Seth’s phone and resumed her stroll, passing by a few parked cars that lined the street. She bypassed a few spots of uneven ground while walking over cracked sidewalks. Stopping in front of a flower shop, Leah got a scent of fresh flowers fixing her gaze on the bright colors and cheerful displays in the window.
Resuming her stride, she chewed on her bottom lip, mulling what to say to Seth. How would he react to her and Cole? Her body tingled once more recalling Cole’s lips on hers. How did a kiss alone have her as blissful as the evening stars? Thankfully, she didn’t melt into a puddle of mush at that moment.
She shut her eyes and exhaled. They weren’t even an official couple. What if the kiss was a mistake? Leah rubbed her forehead and ran her hand down the swoop of her cheek. It had to be, with the way his hands encircled her waist and his face glad as the dawn. The moment lasted forever but ended too soon.
How she wanted to wrap her arms around his neck. Would he be worth her giving up her dating hiatus? It wasn’t a permanent status for her but was it rational? Was getting romantically involved with a friend wise? What would happen if things didn’t work out between them? Then she would have been heartbroken by both Parsons brothers.
Seth wasn’t a bad guy, but they didn’t work out. Relationships were risky. Leah hoisted her purse farther up her shoulder and continued to walk. Drawing near his studio, her fears surfaced ready to spill over. She couldn’t backtrack, not after all the progress she made so far.
Perhaps Cole was the man she wished for in the fountain. He wouldn’t leave her behind for his career, would he? She wouldn’t have to hide who she was to win his love. Besides, it would be so easy to love Cole. Love? Where did that come from? Her phone buzzed, so she checked her messages.
6:26 PM… Seth: Sure can’t wait
Leah paused her steps in front of Cole’s studio. His closed sign hung on the glass door, but based on his last message two hours earlier, he wanted her to stop by after closing. She called him.
“Hello?” he said, sounding cheerful.
“I’m outside.” Her stomach fluttered.
In less than a minute, Cole opened the front door. They both hung up their phones, and once inside, he locked the door behind her. Then he reached for her, bringing her into his embrace. Leah melted, having missed his touch all day. Allowing her body to sink into his, the hard planes of his muscles enfolded her.
A low pleasant hum escaped his throat. “I missed you.”
The thought caused Leah’s mind to turn into a buzzing mess of static. She wrapped her arms around his neck, rising on her tiptoes. “I missed you too.”
“I have a surprise for you.” He broke away but still holding her hands.
She smirked. “What?”
“Close your eyes.”
“No way.”
“You’ll love it. Close your eyes.”
She tilted her head toward him, but conceded. Her senses went on high alert as soon as he embraced her waist from behind. Leah instinctively rested her hands on top of his. He then kissed her temple, which brought every neuron in her body to attention.
“Step forward,” he instructed.
Leah did, fighting the urge to peek. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see,” he whispered.
Soon they came to a stop. Leah kept her eyes shut, awaiting his instructions.
“Okay, open your eyes.”
Leah’s eyes fluttered open. She gasped. An open wicker basket rested on top of a checkered blanket. Candlelight illuminated the area, and Cole directed her to sit. She peeked inside the basket to see sandwiches, fruit, pretzels, and chips awaiting her taste buds. Cole took a seat across from her on the matted floor, immediately serving a plate for both of them. His relaxed appearance calmed her nerves.
Leah rapped her fingers lightly on the warm blanket. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Turkey or ham?” He offered both hands to her displaying both choices.
She chose the turkey sandwich from his left hand, brushing her fingers against his. She cleared her throat. “When did you do all this?”
“About twenty minutes before you got here,” he answered.
“It’s sweet.”
“Surprised?” He lifted an eyebrow.
“Yes.” She took a bite from her sandwich. After swallowing, she pointed to it in her hand. “Albert’s Deli?”
“The one and only.”
She leaned over the basket. “Any muffins?”
“Not tonight.” Cole’s face was grim as a mask.
Her eyebrows shot up. “What?”
He covered his mouth as if to stifle a laugh. “Kidding, Leah.”
She threw her napkin at him. “Jokester.” Her mouth turned upwards, giving into a grin.
Cole wiped his own hands with a napkin. “How was your day?”
“Busy.” She rested her gaze on him. “I can’t thank you enough for the photos. It’s done wonders for my business.”
“Glad I could help.”
“You did. More than you know.”
His eyes smoldered with intensity. He reached over and clutched her hand. “You did the same for me.”
Becoming suddenly still, she asked, “When?”
His eyes raked over his studio walls. “I came back to this town to slow down. I’ve traveled the world, but nothing felt like home.” He paused, releasing a deep breath. “I’ve always felt caught in my brother’s shadow and desperate to please my dad. I thought I wouldn’t be good enough to make others proud like Seth did. I sought credibility, especially from my dad. I’m through with that now.”
She laced her fingers with his, knotting them together like a cord. His father always struck a sore spot with him, so she listened instead of voicing her opinion.
Cole kneaded his shoulder with his free hand. “With you, Leah, I don’t have to perform. It’s as if you see me for me.”
“I thought… if I went along with everything, the guys I dated would stick around. Seth leaving made me question myself. Before I knew it, I stopped using my voice, thinking I would lose anyway. I wasn’t being myself. I let the fear of rejection rule me.”
“So, you took a break from dating?”
“I thought if I got back to me, I could find myself again.” Her voice cracked as she held back tears.
Cole drew closer, careful not to knock anything over. He hooked a hand underneath her elbow. “Did you find her?”
Her breath caught, but she answered. “Yes, but I think… you always knew where she was.”
“She’s beautiful.”
Leah parted her lips to respond, but as he inched closer, her lashes fluttered. Cole didn’t give her a chance to reply. His lips barely caressed hers as her phone buzzed.
Cole sighed, resting his cheek against hers. “Don’t answer it.”
“I don’t want to.”
He kissed her cheek and pulled away. “Go ahead. It may be important, since you’re famous now.” He waggled his eyebrows.
“Thank you for that.” She reached for her phone, but her body stiffened once she read the message.
7:19 P.M… Unknown: It’s Brian. New number. Need 2 talk 2 u? Please
Leah squeezed her eyes shut. They had nothing to talk about. Nothing. Her skin prickled with irritation.
Cole’s eyes squinted. “Anything wrong?”
She swallowed the lump in her throat. This raised the stakes. What good could come out of Brian wanting to talk? Head shaking, she replied, “No, nothing’s wrong.”
“In that case…” He reached behind him and pulled out a small camera. “Feel like another photo shoot?”
Leah threw her head back with a laugh. “Are you kidding?”
He got to his feet. “Not at all. You know the drill.” He gestured his head to the other side of the room.
Her mouth hung open.
“Are you coming?” He tapped his wristwatch. “You’re on my time, Ms. Morris.”
She rose to her feet. “I don’t have an appointment.”
“So, you’re a walk in?”
She swayed from side to side. A pleasant hum escaped her throat. “I thought the photographer here would be kind enough to make an exception. We go way back.”
Cole lifted the camera and clicked a photo. “Did he like you back then?”
“You tell me.” She laced her fingers together behind her back.
His body went still, his eyes piercing into hers. “He did.”
She held her breath for a moment. All this time, how did she not know? How did their friendship change to something more? Leah covered her face with her hands. Then Cole’s hands brought hers away from her face. His thumb grazed over her knuckles.
“Tell me what’s wrong,” he asked, sounding worried.
“Nothing. It’s…” she met his eyes with hers. “So much has changed, and it’s…”
“Overwhelming?” He raised an eyebrow.
“A little.”
He then released his grip on her fingers and rested his hands on her shoulders. “We can take it slow. There’s no rush.”
Her lips parted in a grin. “Are you sure? Because you’ve already kissed me.”
He chuckled. “I kissed you?”
“If I remember correctly, yes. Thank goodness Mrs. Hartley intervened.”
“As I recall, someone was on the other end of that kiss.” He embraced her waist. “I don’t recall hearing her complaining then.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Maybe she didn’t want to.”
Cole leaned in but paused, bringing their mouths within the same breathing space. “How about now? Does she trust me?”
She whispered, “She’s always trusted you.”
“Good.”
Their lips met, and euphoria washed over Leah as white foam on swept sands.
****
Cole dropped his keys in the basket. He hated saying goodnight to Leah, but he lost track of time and the hour drew late. As he entered his room, his body tingled. Leah. She mattered to him more than anything in the world did. Could they make it work? Did that explain her sad eyes at the studio?
Cole settled on his bed, rubbing one hand down his pant leg. Did Seth text her? Would she tell him if he did? He rubbed his eyebrow. Now came the test, and he wouldn’t fail.
He waited too long for this moment. The nights they spent studying together, how he wanted to drape an arm around her. The night of prom, he wanted to kiss her goodnight. Graduation day, he longed to hold her hand when they tossed their caps in the air. He asked tonight if she trusted him. Transparent as the shining sun, she answered from her heart. Didn’t she?
Yet, his doubt lingered like an unloved guest. Though Leah played off her frustration, he sensed something more, but he didn’t pry. Things being so new between them, he didn’t want to pressure her.
Lowering his head, he couldn’t deny the joy blossoming inside. Heat radiated through his chest. Whatever the future, he wanted to face it with Leah. Love beamed on him like an unclouded sun.
****
“Leah, you seem sad,” Luis pointed out as they danced back and forth.
Leah pressed her lips together in a slight grimace. Though the salsa music played in the background, a heavyweight settled in her chest like a stone. In less than forty-eight hours, her life had flipped. Then she fumbled, tripping over her own feet, throwing her and Luis off balance. Thankfully, he steadied her.
“Leah, do you need a minute?” he asked, sounding concerned.
She blinked her eyes, refocusing on the conversation. “I’m okay. I’m sorry.”
He cocked his head toward her. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
She and Luis resumed their positions, falling back into the rhythm of the class. For the rest of the class, Leah kept up with the rest of her salsa lesson. By the time Juan and Gia called it a night, Leah dabbed the sweat from her forehead. If only she could hide out. If Cole were with her now. He had held her hand gently as he kissed her, brushing his fingers against hers.
What did Brian want? As soon as she accepted her feelings for Cole, Brian texted her and later called when she made it home from Cole’s studio. She couldn’t avoid him forever. Waving goodbye to her dance classmates, she stepped out to the sidewalk. She heard the cars driving past, along with the breeze fluttering. Curiosity rising inside her, she listened to the voicemail.
“I guess I missed you,” Brian said. He cleared his throat. “Look, Leah, I need to talk to you. I don’t want to say it over the phone because it’s too important. Call me back, please.” Silence followed.
Leah lingered with her phone to her ear as she paced to her car. Did they not settle everything when he left Piedmont Valley? She would never forget the tears she shed when he moved away. Her heart wept like a full sponge and loneliness had struck her like a blow.
Yet, Brian’s voice sounded serious. Perhaps he wanted to catch up, but why? Leah was living her life and getting along without him. New beginnings stood ahead for her. Contentment spread through her body.
Entering her home, she saw a note from her dog walker. Then she heard Chip’s barks. He rushed to her feet, and she squatted to embrace him. She scratched his belly, and Chip wiggled on his back, his tongue hanging from his mouth.
“When did everything get so complicated?” She couldn’t talk to Brian—at least not now. He would have to wait. Leah stood, leaving Chip wagging his tail in front of her.
She strolled to her kitchen and rested her elbows on the island. How did she clean this up? Meeting with Seth for lunch, he didn’t deserve her silence, although he agreed to give her time to think. Leah blew out her cheeks, clueless on her next move.