Page 89 of Cheater and the Saint
“You think?” I asked, lifting my head and arching a brow at him.
A shy smile curved his mouth, and his dark eyes studied my face as he touched my cheek. “No. I know I do.”
“Good,” I said before brushing my lips across his. “Because I love you, too.”
Leo cupped my nape and grinned up at me. “Can you cook me breakfast now?”
I pushed against his chest and rolled off him, laughing. After we got out of bed and showered, I cooked us bacon and eggs. He’d come up behind me and stolen a piece of bacon before I swatted him away.
As we sat at the table afterward, eating and talking about some movie he wanted to go watch, I felt truly happy with my life. I no longer doubted him, and I didn’t believe we were on a course set for disaster anymore.
If anything, we were on a rollercoaster. There’d be ups and downs, unexpected twists, and probably some screaming, but in the end, I had faith we’d be okay.
“Leo?” I waited for him to stop stuffing his face with food and look at me. “I’m sorry I doubted you. You know, after Halloween night. I saw how much it upset you when Angel confronted you that day, and then when you asked me whether I trusted you, I was hesitant. I want you to know that I trust you. Completely.”
He was quiet a moment. His eyes were vulnerable, but I didn’t know why.
“Thanks, Frosty,” he finally said. “I admit, it hurt a lot knowing that everyone seemed to be under the impression that I was gonna fuck around on you. That no one had faith in me.”
“I have faith in you,” I said, reaching across the table and grabbing his hand. “You might’ve been a cheater in the past, but I don’t think of you like that anymore.”
“All it took was a saint to show me the light,” Leo said, flashing a crooked smile.
“You’re such a dork. Finish eating.”
I noticed how much he smiled after that, though, as if he’d been unintentionally holding his breath for weeks, and now he was able to breathe again.
“I’ve been thinking more about my dad,” Leo said after we’d cleaned up the kitchen. He leaned against the counter and folded his arms across his chest. His dark hair was a beautiful mess, making him look like the devil he was. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think I’m gonna go.”
I felt he was making the right choice, but I hadn’t wanted to influence his decision, and had stayed quiet about it.
“My mom’s gonna be sad you won’t be there,” I said in mock disappointment. “And all of that sweet potato pie will go to waste.”
“Fuck no it won’t,” he responded, pointing at me. “You’re gonna box that shit up and bring it back to me. I’ll need some pie after the hell I’m putting myself through.”
I walked over and laid my head on his shoulder. “When are you leaving?”
He’d said they lived a few hours away.
“Not until Thursday morning,” Leo answered. “I’ll wake up early and head out. I don’t plan on staying the night there, either.” He slipped his arms around me and tugged me closer. “Tell your mama I can come over the day after.”
“Yeah, there’ll be plenty of leftovers, and I’m sure she’ll send me home with most of them.”
“She sounds like an angel,” he said.
“She really is.” I grinned and kissed his chest. “I’m thinking of inviting Jacob over for Thanksgiving. He doesn’t seem like he has anyone.”
“That’s a great idea.” Leo pecked my cheek before unwinding from my hold and going to the table to grab his phone. “Guess I better call Heath and tell him I’m going.”
***
Mom took the news well about Leo. Since she lived close to campus, it wasn’t like Thanksgiving was the only day they’d be able to meet anyway.
“You tell that boy to bring his appetite on Friday,” she said that night on the phone.
“I will.” I put my hand on Leo’s thigh as we sat on the couch. “Jacob and I’ll be over early in the morning to help with food.”
“Sounds good, pumpkin. Love you.”
