Part 18 (1/2)
”Did you phone my parents?” I ask Harper. It's a question I've been dreading, but one I knew I'd eventually have to ask.
Harper is on guard duty while Leo went home to take a quick shower and change his clothes. The only way I could get him to leave my side and take a break was to tell him that he was starting to stink and it was making me sick. A slight exaggeration, but he looked absolutely exhausted and I really wanted him to relax, even if just for a short time.
He made Harper promise that she wouldn't take her eyes off of me. As if Harper isn't the most responsible person on the planet.
When her eyes soften I have a feeling I already know the answer to her question. ”I told them you were in an accident. I explained everything that happened.”
”They're not coming to see me, are they?”
Harper shakes her head.
Even though it's the answer I was expecting it's still like a punch in the gut. ”Did they say anything?”
”Your dad said maybe you really will get clean and sober this time.”
I know it's the response I deserve, but it still hurts.
When Leo returns he's freshly showered and his hair is still a little damp. For the first time when I look at him I don't immediately think about s.e.x. Not that I'm be doing much of that any time soon with a broken hip.
Harper and Rayne went home for a while so it's just the two of us.
It takes me a moment to realize Leo's carrying a small box with him. My immediate thought it that I hope it's not some kind of gift. I don't think I can emotionally handle that right now.
When he sits down in the chair next to me and hands me the box I cringe. I can tell it's jewelry and based on the size of the box maybe a watch.
Buying a girl jewelry has implications that I'm not sure I want to deal with right now.
”Open it.” There's so much excitement in his voice I feel bad for my less than enthusiastic reaction.
I gasp when I open the box and see it's a Cartier Miss Pasha watch. The one I mentioned to Harper that's worth ten thousand bucks.
”Why did you buy this for me?”
”Flowers are a cliche, right? Maybe I didn't want to be the King of Cliches just this once.”
”Cliche Mangler,” I remind him. ”Get your nickname right.”
”King c.o.c.k would be so much more appropriate,” he teases.
”Don't make me laugh,” I tell him. ”It hurts too much.”
His eyes soften. ”I don't want to do anything to hurt you anymore than I already have.”
”This isn't your fault,” I tell him.
He places a soft kiss on my forehead. It's such a sweet gesture it makes my heart skip a few beats. I glance down at his gift again.
”Why this watch? It's the one I mentioned to Harper. That can't be a coincidence.”
He shakes his head. ”It's not. I overheard her having a conversation with Nic about it. I wasn't being nosy. They were talking loud. And it wasn't in private or anything. Harper said you talked about it. That you wanted it.”
I blink back tears. ”This is a ten thousand dollar watch.”
”Why are you crying? I thought you'd be happy. I wanted that frown turned upside down.”
I shake my head. ”You're ridiculous. Just like a little boy.”
He laughs. ”So I've been told.”
I hand him back the watch. ”I can't take this.”
He looks struck. Like I just slapped him. And I immediately feel bad again.
”Don't you like it?”
I bite my lip as I try to think of the right words to express how I feel. ”It's absolutely beautiful.” I run my finger along the edges of the stunning diamond lined watch face. ”But that's the point. I'm not worth it. I'm not good enough for this watch. I'm a throwaway LCD watch. I'm not a watch that you treasure like this one.”
He carefully removes the watch from the velvet lined box. ”I treasure you. And I always will. You're worth a lot more than this watch.”
Lifting my non-injured arm he places the softest of kisses on the inside of my left wrist. Then he fastens the watch on my arm.
”You know I've never bought a present for a girl before.”
”Never?” I can't help the surprise in my voice.
He shrugs. ”I may have given a girl a few bucks for a pregnancy test once. Back in high school. The condom broke. That was before I started double wrapping.”
”What a gentleman,” I tease. Then I ask a more serious question. ”You've never even bought something for Raven? You've been-um-with her for years.”
He shakes his head. ”It's not like that.”
”Like what?” I probe.
He runs his index finger around the face of my watch then he looks back up at me. His dark eyes are fiery. ”Raven was more of a f.u.c.k buddy. Like one of the guys, but one you can screw around with when you feel like it. She's not like you.”
I swallow. My heart is starting to thump so hard I'm afraid Leo will be able to hear it pounding. ”And what am I like?”
”You're it.”
I wait, but that's all he says. I furrow my brow in confusion. ”What does that mean?”
”I was traveling on this road for so long. It felt like it was never going to end. It was packed with clubs and bars and high end restaurants. Even snack shops and fast food places. And they were all open twenty-four seven and they were all free. Anything and everything I ever wanted to eat or drink was just waiting for me to take whenever I wanted it. But then the road just ended. Bang. Just like that. Full stop. But at the very end of the road was this one place that had everything I could ever want for the rest of my life. I'll never need to go into any of those other places ever again, because this place-this perfect place at the end of the road has it all. And that's you. You're the perfect place at the end of that really long road. You're it. You're everything.”
”That has to be the most convoluted story I've ever heard in my entire life.” Only from Leo's mind could something that bizarre pop out. I kiss his cheek. ”But it's also the most romantic.”
”It's symbiotic,” he says.