Page 98 of The Retaliation You Deliver
“Hey Paulo,” I say with a wide, genuine smile as we walk up to the counter still hand in hand. “How are you?”
“All the better for seeing you. And you brought the football star back too.”
“How could I refuse another of Maddison’s best subs?”
Paulo’s cheeks redden at the compliment. Who knew my football star could even charm old men?
“Two meatball subs, please,” Leon says, making butterflies take flight in my belly.
“It would be my pleasure.” Paulo turns to make our order while Leon tugs me into his side, pressing his nose into my hair and breathing me in.
“Did you just sniff me?”
“I did, baby. Problem?”
“You’re ruining your rep, you know that, right? Being seen in public with me more than once, making it look like I’m your girlfriend.”
His breath catches in his throat at my words.
“You are.”
“I am what?” I ask, too lost in his sparkling green eyes to remember what I just said.
Dropping his lips to my ear, he whispers. “My girlfriend.”
I rear back in shock. “I am?”
“Don’t you want to be?”
“I… um… uh… I didn’t realize we were… that you…”
Taking both of my hands in his, he turns me to face him.
The group of kids sitting at the window don’t pay us any mind as my heart rate picks up and butterflies take flight in my belly.
“Macie,” he says, his voice strong and confident. “Will you… be mine?”
I stare at him, not believing that this is really happening. That Leon Dunn. The Panthers #14. MKU’s star wide receiver is standing in a sandwich shop asking me to be his.
Despite everything I’ve always told myself, despite everything we’ve been through, all my doubts and fears melt away as I stare into his eyes.
Everything he’s told me, his darkest secrets, the parts of himself he never wanted to expose. All of it tells me that right now, the Leon I’m looking at, the one whose both been so wicked with me and also so tender is the real him.
Yes, I’ve still got so much to learn about him. But he has a lot to learn about me too. Our pasts might be messy, but together, I have faith that we can carve out a much cleaner, healthier future.
I know we’ve still got issues to deal with, because even if he told me to forget about his revenge mission on my uncle now, I don’t think I’d let him because if I’m being honest with myself, I want it as much as he does. It’s time Richard Fletcher paid for what he did to us, what he did to the others that we don’t know about.
“I-I…” His brows pinch as I hesitate, and although it might be evil, that one little pause, the slight fear that trickles into his features tells me everything I need to know. “I will.”
Before I know what’s happening, he’s got his arm behind my back and he’s dipping me movie-style in front of the sandwich counter.
I have no idea if anyone notices us because the only person I focus on is him and the wide smile on his face.
“Macie Fletcher.MyMacie Fletcher.”
“Leon,” I breathe.
“You’ve turned my world upside down, baby, and I never want it to stop.”
