Part 11 (2/2)
”I saw it once during gym cla.s.s.”
The fact that Leo had watched my thigh at some point during gym cla.s.s almost made me blush. ”Anyway, so what rumors about --1 you are true? Have you really been suspended?”
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”I was suspended last year for busting out Daniel Lum's teeth.
Even though I didn't really mean to do it. What ever, the guy's dad's a dentist,” Leo mumbled.
”What else?” I pulsed the c.o.ke through the straw in antic.i.p.ation.
”I was also suspended for having a 'weapon' ”- he fi nger quoted-”in my locker, which was bulls.h.i.+t because it was a pocket- knife. Boy Scouts are allowed to have them.”
”Are you a Boy Scout?” I asked.
”What do you think?”
”How old are you?” I prodded. The rumor was that he was really twenty after being held back twice.
”Twenty- six,” he answered. I coughed on my c.o.ke, until he said, ”Really? You believed that?”
”What? I don't know you. I mean, for all you know about me, I could be a serial killer.”
”I'm counting on it.” He smirked. Melt. ”And I'm only seventeen.”
”So you weren't held back?”
”I was, actually, after we moved. Behavior c.r.a.p. But I had skipped kindergarten because I was so ahead of everyone. So it all balanced out.” We both nodded, and he said, ”What about you?”
”I'm seventeen. No skipping or going back.”
”I meant your half empty.”
”Oh yeah.” I wasn't sure what to say, if I wanted to get into Becca's cancer. But he was honest with me, and I didn't have to go into great detail. Not that I had many details. ”My half empty is that my best friend has cancer. And she started treatment today, and I don't -1- know what's going to happen or if she'll live or die or when I get to see 0- her or talk to her or if she'll live or die and I know I just said that-”
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I ner vous ly lifted my straw in and out of my cup, willing myself to hold it together.
”Jesus, Alex, I had no idea. That sucks. That's like gla.s.s almost completely empty. s.h.i.+t. I thought you were going to say something about your dad, but, d.a.m.n. I don't really know what to say. Sorry is such a loaded word.”
”Thank you for not saying that.”
”Alex!” Doug yelled from the kitchen. ”Get your a.s.s back in here! I have to take a p.i.s.s!”
”Fine dining, it is not,” I noted to Leo.
We stood up and took our baskets to the garbage. ”I guess it's just half empty today.” I frowned.
”I'll do my half full really quickly. I got to have dinner with you.
And I got a free drink, too.”
”You can pay me when I give you your a.s.s tattoo,” I told him dryly. I dumped the contents of my basket into the garbage and gave a little wave to Leo. ”Have a good night,” I said, feeling awkward that I didn't know quite how to say good- bye. I didn't have to know.
Leo held my face in his oversize hands and pressed his lips to mine.
He was such a good, powerful kisser, I involuntarily hummed with plea sure as I kissed him back, standing on tiptoe as he leaned down to meet me. I gripped the front of his t-s.h.i.+rt with a tight fi st to steady myself. The kiss wasn't long, but it was enough to make me wobble back to my spot in the kitchen after Leo uttered, ”Good- bye, pickle breath.”
I think I found my half full.
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