Chapter 8
I shrugged. “You changed the passcode. You ignored my calls. You didn’t respond to my texts.”
Leo exhaled sharply, stepping over the wreckage in the living room as if it were nothing more than mild inconvenience.[]
After shoving the groceries into the fridge, he pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing. “I was on a date with Layla. How would it look if she kept hearing me on the phone with you?”
Something in my chest twisted, but I forced my expression to remain neutral.
I used to bring up dating seriously. He used to brush it off like it was some joke.
And now, here he was, talking about serious relationships.
“Things are going well with Layla,” he continued, his tone light, casual, like we were discussing the weather. “She’s soft spoken, thoughtful. I need to take this seriously and move slowly with her.”
Then, he glanced at me with a small, amused smile. “She’s not like you.”
Not like me.
“That’s why I don’t talk to other women when I’m with her.“[
I swallowed down the bitterness rising in my throat.
Then, as if sensing the shift in the air, he let out another sigh, smiling as if none of this mattered. “You probably haven’t eater yet, right? I’ll cook. Stay and have dinner before you go.“]
Before I could refuse, he added quickly, “Just think of it as a farewell meal. For old times‘ sake.”
I didn’t answer.
I simply watched as he moved around the kitchen, completely at ease, as if nothing had changed.[]
I clenched my fists, blinking hard against the heat behind my eyes
One hour later, the table was filled with dishes.
It almost felt like old times.[]
For a fleeting second, I thought maybe, just maybe, we could still pretend. That even after everything, we could sit here as old friends, cat, laugh–acknowledge the years of history between us without tearing them apart.]
Maybe, in another universe, we could have been those kinds of people.]
But then-[]
“Don’t”
Leo’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts Just as I reached for the food.]
1 stilled, confused, as he hurried over, pressing a small plate into my hands
A tiny dish. Barely bigger than my palm.[]
“Just take a small bite of everything.” he instructed, voice filled will casual case pred to bring the pee is Layla white as still warm.”
I stared at him.
He didn’t notice.
Leo simply held up the plate, oblivious to the way my entire body had gone rigid‘]
“Try everything first. Tell me which dish tastes best, so I can pack more of it for her.
A short pause.
Then, with a warm chuckle, he added, “If there’s something you don’t like, I won’t bring it to me. I leave it here for you.“]
Snap.
My grip tightened
The chopsticks slipped from my fingers, clattering loudly against the table.
Leo blinked, startled, his hand still frozen mid–air.
Slowly, I stood up, my chair scraping against the floor with a sharp, grating noise.
“Leo,” I rasped, my voice unsteady.
He didn’t move.
I lifted my gaze, meeting his eyes.[]
“Did you know?” I whispered. “I never thought of you as just a friend.“[]
A sharp breath.
His lips parted slightly, confusion flickering across his face ||
“I really loved you.” My voice shook, but I refused to break. “Every sweet wond, evert mowered hueant, thaan all.–1]
Leo didn’t say anything
His brows furrowed, as if he wasn’t sure if this was real or if he had just getti
I didn’t wait for a response.||
I turned on my heel and walked out the
fin
As I stepped into the cold night air, 1 exhaled, a bitter smile tugging at my s
“But I finally understand now–just how foolish I was.”
