Page 50 of One Life to Loathe

I shrugged. “He doesn’t strike me as the sort of guy who wants to settle down in a house and hit Essex Street to try on hats every Halloween.”

“I don’t know,” Daisy countered. “I think he might like doing exactly that.”

“No.” I shook my head, even as a wistful pang filled my chest. “That’s not who he is. He won’t last on this show. Even if it’s a huge hit, it’s not what he wants to do. He wants to be an action movie star. He wants to move from set to set every three or four months. He doesn’t want a home.”

“Everybody wants a home,” Daisy countered. “Leo is no different. He just doesn’t realize that’s what he’s looking for.”

“I don’t think so.” I had to be realistic about this. Yes, my heart did funny things around Leo. So did my lady parts for that matter. We were not meant to be, though, despite the hearts in Daisy’s eyes. “All I need for him to do is not be a jerk.”

“Have you ever considered that he’s a jerk because he has feelings for you and doesn’t know what to do with them?” Levi challenged.

The mere thought of that was hilarious. “Absolutely not. He definitely doesn’t have feelings. I mean … we barely know each other.”

“Fine. Feelings was the wrong word. He does want to get you naked and sweaty and see if you guys can rattle the headboard, though.”

“So I can be another notch on his belt? That would ruin the show.”

“Are you sure, though?” Daisy pressed. “Maybe if you guys give in to these urges?—”

“We’re not thirteen-year-olds playing kissing games in a basement,” I countered. “That’s the only thing I can picture when you mention urges.”

“I stick by my word choice.” Daisy was having none of it. “Maybe if you actually give in to your urges, you guys will find out that everything you think about one another is entirely wrong.”

“And what are the odds of that?”

She shrugged. “Probably about the same as the odds of a newly minted hotel owner falling for the party planner he thinks is overpaid.”

I sighed. “We’re not like you guys.” The next part was hard for me to admit because my heart kept trying to lodge regular protests, but I did it anyway. “We’re not destined for a happily ever after. At least not together. You need to let it go.”

“Fine.” Daisy didn’t look happy, but she nodded. “I still think you should give it a shot, though.”

“That would never work. Trust me.”

I HAD MORE COCKTAILS THAN WAS LIKELYsmart. It didn’t help that I was a lightweight and four cocktails had me leaning against the wall that separated Salem Witch Village from the cemetery and staring down at the long-forgotten tombstones as I internally debated if I should head home and go to bed.

“What are you doing?” a familiar voice asked, practically jarring me out of my skin. When I looked up, I found Leo closing in on me.

“I’m having a heart attack,” I replied, rubbing my hand over my chest. The night had turned cool, and the dress I was wearing didn’t offer a lot of cover. That’s why my heart was pumping so hard, I told myself. It was trying to keep me warm.

“Sorry.” Leo offered up a small smile. “You’ve been gone a long time. I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I mean … Salem isn’t exactly a hotbed of crime, but I’m sure bad things happen here too.”

I stared at him several seconds, then shook my head. “You came looking for me?”

“I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I knew you had a few drinks.”

“Why?”

“Why did you drink?” He shrugged. “I think you’re in a better position to answer that question for yourself.”

“No, why are you like this?”

He looked genuinely baffled. “Like what?”

“I want to hate you.” It was easier to admit than Miss Manners would’ve liked. “You’re a jerk eighty percent of thetime. The other twenty percent of the time, though, you’re … nice.”

He chuckled. “If you’re expecting me to have insight into my own twisted brain, you’re going to be severely disappointed. I have no idea why I’m the way I am.”

“I thought we were going to be friends.”

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