Page 107 of My Promise To Keep

He doesn’t give me an answer, so I make it anyway. Then, after handing him a cup, I head for the living room.

Moving wordlessly but in unison, we put down our drinks and sit at opposite ends of my couch — awkward considering how familiar we are.

‘I need to understand,’ I say eventually, unable to take the silence anymore.

‘I know.’

‘So, talk, Leo.’

He takes a deep breath, and I steal a look at him. He’s leaning forward, elbows resting on his knees.

‘It came from nowhere.’ He shakes his head. ‘He’d been getting everyone to make these promises, and I knew he was going to ask something of me, but I had no idea it would be…’ He turns his head to look at me, and it’s an arrow to the heart. ‘I need you to know that my feelings for you are more real than anything in my life. I love you, Zoe. Please believe that.’

After a steadying breath, I reach out my hand for his and watch as relief washes over him.

‘I need you to tell me.’

Holding my hand, he turns his body toward me and continues.

‘He asked me to love you the way he loved you. I argued with him.’ He shakes his head. ‘He was dying, and I argued with him, but I couldn’t believe what he was asking me. Then he said he knew how I felt about you, and he’d always known. He knew Iwouldn’t act on it, but he wasn’t going to be there.’ I gasp for breath, realizing I’m crying as I see the heartbreak in his eyes. ‘I told him I couldn’t wait in the wings for you, and he understood, so he asked me to be there for you and, if our feelings ever developed, to know that it was okay.’

Exhaling, I look up to the ceiling and release his hand to reach up and wipe my tears.

‘I’m so mad at him,’ I say before turning to look at him, defeated. ‘Leo,’ he looks at me, ‘is this real?’

‘Munch, nothing has ever been more real to me than us.’

‘I’m not just a promise to him.’

He moves quickly, dropping to his knees at my feet, pushing my legs apart, and reaching up to hold my face in his hands.

‘Baby, you’re it, you're everything. I want it all with you. I want forever with you. We’re fucking perfect, me and you. We’re golden. I just want to shine with you for the rest of my life.’

‘I want to travel,’ I admit out of the blue, and he smiles.

‘I know you do, munch.’

‘You told me you were giving me forever.’

He nods. ‘Yeah, I am.’

‘I’m taking it, Leo. You can’t have it back.’

‘Keep it.’ He pushes up, pressing his lips to mine, relief and love and pure happiness pouring out of us both. ‘Forever with you.’

‘Leo.’ I pull back, and he looks at me, curious. ‘Take me upstairs.’

‘Naked sleepover?

Cackling, I nod, ‘Naked sleepover.’

‘Call me every timeyou stop,’ Mama says as she holds me tightly.

She’s excited for us but so nervous about our journey. Doug and I had a night at Bree’s — one last sibling night before I leave. Bree cried and told me to go out and grab the world by the balls. Doug told me to stay safe and stick with Leo as if I would be anywhere but by his side.

‘I will, I promise.’

‘I’ll check in when she forgets, Lynnie,’ Leo promises, and my mom pulls him into a hug just as tight as mine.

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