Page 101 of My Promise To Keep

‘I did.’ I practically call out the words in desperation for him to believe them. ‘I always wanted to come. Wanting it was never the problem.’

‘So now you changed your mind. Two days and all your hesitation, your bar, your house, your family, none of that’s a problem anymore.’

‘No.’ I walk toward him slowly, and he doesn’t move. I take in the slight drop in his shoulders that gives me hope.

‘What changed.’

‘I went to see Grandma Dee.’

Leo smiles softly. ‘I love Grandma Dee.’

‘She helped me see sense — that I was holding on to other people’s dreams and letting go of my own.’

I stop when I’m in front of him, in touching distance, but not touching.

‘What’s your dream?’

‘You,’ I answer without hesitation and step closer. ‘You’re my dream, Leo.’

‘Zoe,’ he sighs my name, and my heart sinks. ‘I don’t want you to let something go, just to follow me onmypath.’

‘And I don’t want to letyougo. Leo, the only thing I know right now is I want to be where you are. I want to be by your side. Youaremy dream. I’ll follow you anywhere.’

‘You really want to come?’ The question is soft, quiet, and I reach out, needing to touch him, my palms finding the hard plains of his body, the contact grounding me.

‘There’s nothing I have ever wanted more. Please can I come?’

‘I love you.’

Tears wet my eyes, and I press my lips together.

‘Is that a yes?’

‘You’re an idiot, munch. You know that?’

‘I do, but is that a yes?’

‘Of course, it’s a yes.’

I practically throw myself into his arms, and he wraps my legs around his waist, bringing his lips to meet mine in a frenzied, desperate kiss.

‘We’re telling them now, right?’ he asks in between kisses as he carries me to his bedroom.

‘Yes, we’re telling them.’

My words light a fire in him, and he throws me down against the mattress.

‘Take your clothes off, Zoe.’

Sweet lord, when he tells me what do…

‘Naked sleepover?’ I ask, smirking, and he laughs.

‘No, there will be no sleeping. Clothes. Off.’

He Wanted This

Leo

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