Page 79 of Leo, My Partner

I hang up and place my hand on Leo’s thigh, his quads feeling hard and tight. Someone has been killing it at the gym lately. “What did you think about the ceremony?”

Leo shrugs. “It was nice. I’ve never been to a wedding before, so I didn’t know what to expect.”

Even almost eight months after we met, it’s strange to realize Leo didn’t have a normal life. He didn’t really have friends until he moved here and met June from what he told me. It makes sense that he’s never been to a wedding.

“That’s pretty much what all weddings I’ve been to are like. Sam and Beth kept it simple, which is great.”

We slip into silence as we pull up to the condo so we can get changed. The suit is nice, but I’m not used to wearing one, and the shirt is pinching at my throat.

Leo pulls me against his body, kissing down my neck. “After you change, we need to stop by the coffee shop and bakery. Then I have a surprise for you.”

I’m confused, since he was so intent on getting my clothes off before we went to the wedding, but now he wants us to leave? What is he up to?

I don’t question him though—I just take a quick shower, since I was sweating under those lights, and step into the bedroom. Leo has a pair of black joggers and a black T-shirt laid out for me.

Again, I don’t ask questions. When I’m dressed, I meet Leo in the living room, and we head to the bakery.

Tessa and Ray’s Bakery and Beanery has been busy since we opened our doors three months ago. After I hired a few recent graduates from the local culinary school, we hit the ground running. It took them no time to learn and memorize my recipes and get them displayed in their cases.

June suggested we hold a grand opening, which built up a lot of buzz for the desserts I baked. On opening day, the line was almost out the door. I had to step into the back a few times so I could cry in private, knowing people were loving the recipes my mother and I perfected.

Word got out about my recipes statewide, so much so that I had to build a website so I could ship orders. Even though it’s only about a month old, it’s doing well, giving me another avenue to have people tasting our food. I thought it would be hard to have an online presence, but with the help of the two bakers I work with, it’s been easy, and we’ve been busy on that front too.

The regulars at Ray’s already loved what was on the menu initially, but they went crazy the first week I baked the pirog. I had so many requests for it that I made it a permanent part of my menu. I still get teary eyes when I see it listed on the product board. He probably wouldn’t say it, but if Ivan was around, I think he’d be proud.

Even though I only knew Ivan for a matter of months, I still think about him often. Our conversations in his last days were a comfort for me. The situation wasn’t the same, but being there for him gave me closure for my mom’s death. I wished I was there with her in her last days, but that wasn’t to be since she never regained consciousness after her accident. Being there for Ivan and taking care of him healed some part of me, even though his death broke my heart.

I find myself smiling whenever I see the butterfly knife on my nightstand.

Every time we go to the cabin, I think about Ivan and how he would regale me with tales of Russia and how he grew up. Ivan lived an interesting life. If I was an author, I would have loads to write about him, though it would have to be marketed as fiction. No one would believe half the shit he told me, but he wasn’t lying. I even heard about a few high-profile kills on the news he told me about, namely a prime minister being shot and killed about fifteen years ago that is still unsolved.

I’ll miss our talks for sure, but it opened the door for Leo to tell me about some of the kills he and Ivan did together. His story about he and Ivan sniping a group of sex traffickers before any of them knew what was happening was riveting. They worked together so seamlessly when they killed the couple in London, which spoke to their ease with being partners.

Though he doesn’t admit it, I know Leo misses Ivan too. One day when I asked if he wanted to take a case alone, he said he was waiting to see what Ivan had for him, then got quiet, a tight expression on his face. He may not feel normal emotions, but I know Ivan’s death is still fucking with him. Leo misses the old man exponentially more than I do. All I can do is be there for him.

Blu and June come to listen to some of the stories too, both of them as riveted I am.

Over the past few months, June and I have gotten closer, texting and calling each other often when he isn’t in our condo or I’m not up at theirs. We spend a lot of time baking and talking. June is now a professional at making the red velvet cupcakes and the homemade icing.

“You need to stop feeding me, or I’m going to have to buy new clothes,” he told me a few days ago.

I chuckled, sliding the cookies into the oven for Blu. “You can always join me and Leo at the gym.”

“Ugh, no. Blu already makes me run on the treadmill. That’s good enough.”

I smile as I pull on my pants. They’re a little snug around my waist, but I’m not sure if it’s because we’ve been in the gym and gaining muscle or because the calories have been getting to me. I tell myself I’m going to stop making as many sweets on my off time. Blu will have to come into the coffee shop to get his cookie fix.

Stopping in front of him, I hug Leo around the middle. “Okay, I’m dressed. What now?”

“To the coffee shop, then to your surprise.”

“What’s the occasion for this surprise?” I ask, looking out of the window of the car, watching the world pass me by. Since Ivan died, I’ve been trying to enjoy the little things more.

“It’s because I love you. Does there need to be another reason?” he asks with a wry smile.

“That’s a good enough reason for me, baby.”

Leo only stops at Tessa and Ray’s for a moment, tacking up the new schedule since they like to have a printed copy after sending out the electronic one. It’s Leo’s week to oversee the day-to-day stuff with the bakery and coffee shop, so he has to be on it.

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