She just knew this was going to bite her in her nonexistent ass, but she honestly didn’t know what other options she had. “I’ll think about it,” she said even though she knew she’d soon find herself under the same roof as Leo.
6
Leo still couldn’t believe that Abuelo Papo and Doña Fina’s spur-of-the-moment plan had worked. As of this morning, less than a week after the idea had come up, he was officially living with Sofi. Sure they were only roommates, but it was only a matter of time before those lines blurred as they always did when it came to him and Sofi. Of course, he’d help it along in any way he could. To that end, he knocked on her bedroom door. She’d taken the bedroom all the way across the apartment from his, claiming that it was the only other room with windows, but he knew it was because she wanted to be as far away from him as possible and she wanted to maintain some boundaries between them...good luck with that.
Sofi opened the door. She was wearing a pair of high-waisted biker shorts, a snug crop top that left a strip of her gorgeous brown skin exposed, and an oversized jean jacket. Her perfectly made-up face was looking up at him from under the brim of her black fitted baseball cap. God, she was beautiful. “What’s up?”
Leo shook himself mentally and remembered his plan. “I was thinking that we should probably go grocery shopping. I haven’t been in a bit and the kitchen is basically empty.”
She arched a brow. “You know I don’t cook.”
“But you’ll need some stuff like coffee, water, snacks, breakfasty-type things for before work...” He trailed off.
“Leo.” Sofi sighed. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“Sofi, it’s literally just grocery shopping. Chill out.” It one hundred percent was not simply grocery shopping, but she didn’t need to know that.
“Fine,” she huffed, all attitude. “But I’m on my way to my barre class right now.” She brushed past him and closed her door behind her.
Leo shrugged like he didn’t care. “How long is your class?”
“Fifty minutes.” She headed past the living room to the entry way where she sat on the small bench to put on her shoes.
“That’s cool. I have some stuff to do anyway, so I’ll text you where I’m at and you can meet me there.”
She stood up. “Okay.” She grabbed her purse and keys off the little table. “I’ll see you in a little bit, then.”
“Yep,” Leo said, wandering back toward the living room as if he had no cares in the world.
An hour and twenty minutes later, Leo stood in the middle of the cereal aisle hedged in by a plethora of colorful boxes. He looked down at his cart. There were already two boxes of cereal in it, one a boring adult cereal that advertised heart health and extra fiber and a super sugary kids cereal with tons of marshmallows. A guy needed options.
Why did I come over here again?
He knew something had sent him back to this aisle but he couldn’t remember what. He already knew from experience that trying to re-create the thought process that sparked whatever idea he’d had was futile. It would most likely only send him scrambling to another aisle and another only to end up still missing things. He should’ve made a damn grocery list, but Leo had never been a grocery list–type shopper. He bought exactly what he needed to make what he wanted that day and went about his merry way. ADHD brain for the win!
“Why are you just standing there looking like a little kid who can’t find his mom?” a warm and slightly husky voice asked from behind him.
He didn’t have to turn around to know who it was. Her voice was etched into his brain like engravings on stone. “Probably because Iamlost,” he responded as he turned to face Sofi.
“You’re in the grocery store,” she informed him with just enough snark to make it clear she was being a smart-ass.
He narrowed his eyes at her from under the brim of his Cubs snapback cap. “Cute.”
Her lips quirked. “I see you got started without me.”
“Well, I felt like a weirdo just standing at the front of the store waiting.”
She looked in the cart. “Beer, wine, water, and cereal. Food for champions.”
“Hey, I just started. Besides, I didn’t want to get stuff without talking to you first.”
“Like about whether or not we’re just going to split the bill?”
He nodded. “That was always the easiest way to go about it with Ricky, unless there is something one person wants that the other person doesn’t eat.”
“I’ve never actually had a roommate, so I’ll defer to you on that.”
Leo had forgotten about that. She’d never even lived in the dorms in college, preferring to pay rent for a tiny studio apartment. The apartment she’d stayed in by herself until leaving for France. “Great, then let’s get started.”