Page 74 of Redemption

“No, no, share with the class.”

Leo paused, picking at the label on his bottle. “Well, she’s always known she never wanted to settle down and have a husband and kids. I don’t know why, she’s never really elaborated on that. But all of a sudden she’s going on all the dates like she’s trying to find Mr. Right and I don’t really get why.”

I eyed him up, the way he was pouting. “And you don’t like that someone else is playing with your favorite toy?”

“Don’t talk about her like that.” His tone held a hard warning.

“Calm down Buckle Boy, it’s an expression. Why are you bothered? Aren’t you just friends?”

He shrugged. “Well yeah, best friends, have been for over twenty years.”

“So what’s your issue?”

He fixed me with a glare. “Starting to regret feeling sorry for you and bringing you out here for some fresh air.”

“I ask the hard questions,” I joked.

“Then let me ask you one.” He took a swig from his bottle. “What’s happening with Kat?”

I pushed out a big breath and started picking the label of my bottle. “Fuck knows.” Leo laughed, a hearty deep laugh and I started laughing too. “She’s pushing me away and I don’t know why.”

“You really don’t know why?” His laughter subsided. “I don’t think it would go down well with people in town, given your history.”

“I know that. Of course I know that. I just thought…hell I don’t know what I thought. It felt different, like things were changing between us and maybe she didn’t hate me anymore. Surely she couldn’t hate me if we slept together?”

Leo shrugged. “I dunno, hate sex is some of the best kind.”

“I guess I’ll never know.”

“Just, maybe give her time. It’s a lot to process and she’s had her fair share of shit lately. If it makes a difference, you’re the first guy I’ve seen her with in a real long time, which has to mean something. I’ll be back, gotta take a leak.”

Leo went off to the restrooms and I played his words over. Kat had come to me, she had wanted me and if she hadn’t been with anyone for a while then Leo was right, surely it had to mean something? I felt strangely uplifted by his words, like I had some hope now.

When Leo came back, we played pool and chatted some more. He told me about his career and how Charlie helped him get started in rodeo.

“There’s a big competition coming up,” Leo said.

“And?” I asked when he didn’t elaborate.

“I dunno, man.” He ran a hand over his jaw. “It means leaving for a while and I don’t know if I could.”

I smiled. “Leave Maddy you mean?”

Leo just nodded.

“I can’t speak for whatever is going on between you, because clearly there’s something,” I added when he opened his mouth to deny it. “But you need to think about your future too. She’ll be here when you get back.”

He just nodded again and then changed the subject.

When he dropped me off at the cabin later, I thanked him for taking me out. “Felt good to talk to someone.”

“Same,” Leo said. “Does this make us besties now?” I flipped himoff and he laughed. “See ya later, bestie,” he added and drove off.

Teddy was thrilled to see me. I took him outside and played fetch in the dark, the lights from the cabin illuminating the ground enough so that I could just about see. I’d been neglecting him recently in my pity party so I spent extra time playing with him. When he brought me back a massive stick, I told him I wasn’t throwing that and he took himself inside, sulking.

Grabbing a glass of water from the faucet, I contemplated going to bed but my eyes flicked out the window towards the study. I could see Kat inside working away, doing whatever she was doing. God, I wish she’d just let me in to help her but she was stubborn as an ox.

I took a shower and came back out, topping up Teddy’s food before bed, knowing he loved a midnight snack. When I stood up and looked out into the night, the office window was dark. I turned away but stopped in my tracks when I felt the telltale prickle on the back of my neck.

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