Page 87 of Loving Leo

“I don’t think we are.”

I finally peer over at her and arch an eyebrow. “I’m seeing someone else. So, yes, we are.”

Selena squeals and bobs her head. “Yes, and they are delicious together. Much better than you, Miss Snobby.”

“That’s rich coming from you, Selena. Don’t pretend you’re not exactly like me,” Lana retorts, but Selena just waves it off.

“I may not be better, but I am trying to be. Unlike you who is just a piece of shit.”

Lana gapes at her and I pull my sister away, leaving Lana to peer after us.

“You shouldn’t have engaged,” I say.

“I couldn’t help it. She is vile and even more fake than I remember. I’m pretty sure her face is different. In twenty years she could end up looking like a wax statue.”

I huff a small laugh at that and then we both come to a stop, my eyes flying to the patio of the house, several caterers wandering around with plates of food in their hands.

Oh fuck. Oh shit.

“Leo,” I whisper and my sister gasps.

“Oh! What’s he doing here? How exciting!”

“No, it’s…” Suddenly, I feel a dire sense of dread well up within me. Leo is here, in this den of vipers and there’s nothing I can do to save him from it. From me. From who I am when I’m here. When I’m around these people.

What if he hates what he sees? What if I disappoint him?

“This is bad,” I whisper, my voice breaking slightly.

“Why?”

“I can’t have our parents realizing who he is to me. Or Lana. No one can know.”

“Oh, well I’m sure he’ll understand if you ignore him. He seems very reasonable.”

“Selena…”

“I know. I know. I get it. He’s to be protected at all costs. I’ll do what I can to steer him away from you.”

I nod and then, knowing we can’t stay away from our parents much longer, we make our way toward them, my eyes looking everywhere but Leo. But I know when he sees me, can feel his eyes on me.

And despite wanting to turn toward him and smile, I can’t. I don’t want him to deal with my family’s shit.

I refuse.

I just want him to be safe.

SEVENTEEN

Leo

“Thanks for doing this with me,” Asher says as we move toward the back entrance of the expansive house. I stare up at it and whistle.

“Of course. Always happy to take an extra job. And help out my bestie. Plus this place is like the Roman Colosseum.”

“I’d say it’s more like the Pantheon.”

“Yeah, well, off we go.”

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