“Among other things, yes.” He’s so fucking vague at times, I would love nothing more than to slap him.
“And you’re going to help me find people who’d like to sponsor my idea to open a better immersive art gallery where I would create the shows?” I ask, trying to clarify this situation.
“Yes, Starling.”
“Andyou want me to move in with you?” He clicks his tongue once, then stands up and collects our plates.
“Yes.” It’s the only answer he gives me before walking into the kitchen. I grab the rest from the table before following him.
“But you don’t like me,” I blurt out, and he gives me a single shrug of his shoulders.
“I don’t have to like you. I have to tolerate you, which I do, on good days,” Leonard says, and I let out an unamused snort.
“Then you already like me better than I do you,” I say, and he shakes his head, but, even with his back toward me, I can tell there is a little smile on his face.
“Yes or no, little demon?” I place the pan with the delicious vegan meal he made next to the sink. I could get used to this, him cooking for me.
“Can I think about it, Champ?” His back tenses at my nickname for him, but if he gets to keep using the one I hate, then I get to do the same with him.
“As long as you need, but, please, give us both peace of mind and stay here tonight. I cannot stand the thought of you going home alone when Tim might be pissed at finding out you have a ‘boyfriend’.” The thought sends a wave of fear down my spine, forcing it to tense up in response.
“Thank you for doing that, by the way,” I reply, but Leonard merely shakes his head.
“It was nothing, don’t worry about it.”
We don’t speak much after that. Leonard puts on a movie, and I sit on the opposite end of the couch. Benz is between us, her head resting on my feet and her butt on Leonard’s. He keeps petting her thigh, I do the same to her head. We’re acting like this is the most normal thing in the goddamn world, and when I fall asleep halfway through the movie, I’m not even surprised that at the end, he carries me to bed and pulls the blanket all the way up to my chin. I’m awake enough to realize what’s happening but too asleep to keep his name from slipping past my lips.
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
leonard
It’s been a week since I made Chiara the offer to come live and travel the world with me. When we were talking, I finally understood why I’m doing all of this for her. I want to pay her back for what she did for me when we were kids. Asking her to live with me isn’t part of that. No. It is, however, necessary. Her flat is in a dangerous area, and it doesn’t sit right with me that there is no security whatsoever. Yes, the little demon can protect herself, but she shouldn’t have to. No one should have to live in fear and unprotected.
I shake my head, focusing on my run. Today is the first day in May when it truly feels like spring. It’s getting warmer, so much so that sweat is dripping down my temple. I’m making my way along the Thames with Quinn, who decided to come on a run with me today. She’s my performance coach after all, so this isn’t anything out of the ordinary. It does, however, allow me to vent a little about the situation with Chiara and that creep Tim. By the time we end our run, I’ve decided to tell her about the offer I made Starling to work for me and travel the world too. It’s safe to say Quinn wasn’t expecting that in the least.
“Don’t you think it’s a bit unprofessional to hire the woman you have feelings for?” she asks, and I flinch in response to her ridiculous words.
“Feelings for? You know I don’t like her,” I explain, but my best friend shakes her head and wipes her hair off her sweaty forehead. Then she takes a sip of her water and smiles at me like she knows more than I give her credit for.
“You sure are going through a lot of trouble for someone you don’t like,” she points out, but I’m well aware of how ridiculous all of this sounds.
I don’t like Chiara, but I’m willing to do anything to protect her.
I can’t stand being near her, but I asked her to move in with me, to be by my side for the rest of the season.
I can’t stop thinking about her every second of the day.
“Chiara is family,” is all I reply, but Quinn shakes her head at me with a grin.
“Why do you do that? Why do you close yourself off from having any feelings for someone? You’ve done it in the past, and successfully so too. Why do you keep doing it? Don’t you think you deserve to have your shot at love?” I don’t know how she got there from me talking about Chiara, but her question hits me like a bullet to the chest.
“I don’t know,” I admit honestly.
I’ve been around beautiful women my whole life. Being a Formula One driver allows you to meet people all over the world, but I’ve never felt a connection with anyone, at least not one that made me want to put energy into a relationship. I have enough on my plate as is. I don’t have time to worry about someone else with my training and work taking up so much of my time. I haven’t met anyone who just fits into my life perfectly, who could come and be near me as much as they wanted to be. Except for one person.
Fucking hell.
No, it can’t be.
