If I was going to tell my dad to go screw himself, it would work better in person.
He wouldn’t take it well, that much I could predict, but I needed to be strong for myself and for Leo. Kane’s words really resonated. I’d keep making the same shitty mistakes until I learned from my past and forgave myself for it. Forgiving didn’t mean forgetting, after all.
When I pulled up in their ostentatious semi-circle of a driveway, I sat in my car for a moment, working on my courage. It shouldn’t have been so hard, but making the decision not to do what my parents wanted, or even making it look like I was doing what they wanted went against my usual behavior. I smiled wryly. In the past, I would have been far more likely to remove myself from the equation entirely by accepting another job overseas.
But that was out of the question now. I couldn’t have everything and also have Leo.
And what I wanted most in my life was Leo.
So I had to go and get him. Right after I’d set my parents straight on a few things.
I blew out a sigh that consisted of all my doubts and inhaled a deep breath of courage as I pushed my car door open.
I walked up the stone steps to the imposing landing, complete with twelve-foot columns—an imitation of the lifestyle to which my parents aspired. But as I raised my hand to knock on the door, it opened and Leo emerged.
“What—” I started, but Leo’s face was flushed red, his eyebrows drawn down into a glower that only intensified when he saw me.
“Were you going to tell me you were seeing someone else?” he demanded.
“I…I…” I shook my head. “But I’m not.” My voice came out to penetrate Leo’s anger, and he stared at me, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths.
I glanced into the house and met Mom’s gaze as she stood just inside the doorway, a slight smirk on her face.
Anger wiped away my other thoughts, and I grabbed Leo’s hand to lead him away. I had to explain and undo any damage my parents had done. If I screwed this thing up with Leo, I’d own that, but I was taking back control.
“I swear this isn’t what you think,” I told him. “My parents have twisted everything. Can you just wait for a second while I sort all of this out and then we can talk?” I held his hand loosely as I spoke.
Conflicting emotions crossed his face, and I clutched his hand tighter as hope swelled inside me, but he shook his head. “No, Shayne. I can’t do this to myself. I won’t be your secret again or let you put me on the back burner like I don’t even matter.” For a moment, a grin flickered across his face. “I’ve had too much therapy to regress to that.”
While Leo was still in there, I still had hope. “Please.” I cupped his cheek and he didn’t flinch away, so I continued. “Please just come with me and listen. You won’t have to wait long for answers, I promise. I owe you so much more, but please watch this part first.”
I needed to apologize to him and make things right again, but this was my first step.
Still holding his hand, I walked back over to where Mom was watching us from the open front door. The twist of her lips still held amusement, but also a small amount of confusion now, like she couldn’t tell quite what was happening.
I tried to control my temper, breathing in and out a couple of times as I drew Leo closer to my side. “What the hell did you say to Leo?” Okay, so the breathing thing hadn’t entirely worked, but at least I managed to growl my words out relatively quietly.
Mom’s eyes grew wide. I never spoke to her like that. I could manage a bored tone when I didn’t want to engage, but never an angry one.
I turned to Leo, whipping around to face him. “Well, what did she say to you?” I wasn’t angry this time. More urgent.
Leo’s eyes went almost as wide as Mom’s, but I was probably acting like a crazy guy, so I couldn’t blame him.
“What did she say?” I repeated it more calmly.
He glanced toward my mother. “She said I wouldn’t be seeing you anymore because you’re seeing someone else.”
I glared at my mother.
“I was told not to interfere and that I should