Page 28

Roxanne

I finish getting dressed in yesterday’s clothes, since I don’t have anything else here at Leonard’s house, and start drying my hair.

It’s taking way too long to complete this simple task, which normally takes no more than ten minutes.

But I’m dreading having to go downstairs and explain to my sister what’s happening in my life.

I saw the shock on her face when I showed up at the door, and even though she insists that Leonard is a good guy, doubt creeps into my chest. What if she’s disappointed?

I shouldn’t be concerned about her opinion.

At the end of the day, this is my life, and I should do what feels right for me.

Still, I know it will hurt a little if she doesn’t approve of our relationship.

“Are you ready?”

I turn around to find Leonard leaning against the door, dressed casually in sweatpants and a t-shirt. He looks surprisingly put together, and I can’t understand how he can be so calm knowing there are people downstairs waiting for a complicated conversation.

“Not at all, but we have to face them at some point.” I’m not just referring to my outfit; I honestly don’t feel emotionally ready.

He smiles, pushes off from the doorframe, and wraps me in his arms, kissing the crown of my head. A warm sensation spreads in my chest, and I realize I really appreciate this sweet side of him. I feel protected, and even my strong, independent self isn’t going to make a fuss about it.

“We’re not doing anything wrong. Like you said, we’re adults, and we’re making our own decisions.” His words resonate in his chest, and I squeeze him tightly.

“I know, but did you see my sister’s face?” I lock my gaze with his.

He chuckles. “Did you see Raphael’s?”

A smile curves my lips, and I take a deep breath. Raphael seems on the verge of a breakdown. I’ve never seen him so flustered. He’s a politician; he knows how to hide his feelings. Not this time.

“Let’s go, or they’ll barge into this room,” I say, breaking away from his embrace and grabbing his hand, pulling him downstairs.

As we enter the living room, conversations come to an abrupt halt, and everyone’s gaze shifts toward us.

I focus on the two people who matter most: my sister and her husband.

Silver seems to have recovered from the shock, with a small smile on her face.

Raphael, however, looks as if he’s just swallowed a frog.

“Can we just get over with this conversation so we can enjoy the rest of the day?” Leonard sighs as he sits in the armchair in front of the others and pulls me onto his lap.

I can’t help but let out a small squeal, which brings grins from Harrison and Aaron. They are clearly pleased at this turn of events.

“What’s there to say? You fucked her behind our back, and you got caught.” Raphael raises an eyebrow and takes a sip from his glass, which I assume contains liquor.

“I didn’t do it behind your back, and I definitely didn’t get caught. You barged into my house uninvited,” Leonard retorts, clearly irritated by his friend’s comment.

Meanwhile, Silver elbows her husband, and he responds with a grunt.

“You didn’t tell us!” Raphael grumbles, and everyone suppresses a laugh.

I’m about to explain that this is none of his business, but Leonard cuts in with a scoff.

“Of course, we didn’t tell you. It’s a pretty new development, and we’re trying to navigate it. You shouldn’t be upset; you need to respect our timing. This is our personal life, and we deserve respect.”

“This is a very mature argument,” Dakota says, smiling at Raphael and raising an eyebrow in a clear message that he shouldn’t be so childish.

I hold back a laugh, biting my lips.

“Being forty years old has its perks,” Leonard winks at her.

We’re all making fun of Raphael. No one in this room actually has a problem with our relationship; they’re simply surprised that this situation came out of the blue.

I believe that Raphael isn’t angry with us, either; he’s just reacting to the unexpectedness of the situation.

He’s used to having everything under control, and the fact that we managed to catch him off guard is unsettling for him.

I breathe a sigh of relief. For a moment, I thought I was going to have to fight with my sister.

“Yeah, yeah. But a heads-up before catching my sister-in-law wearing only your shirt as you standing there in boxers would have been nice,” he mumbles, and we all laugh.

“That was quite shocking,” Sienna admits. “I thought you two hated each other.”

I grin at her, not quite sure how to answer that. Yes, last time we talked Leonard and I weren’t exactly on good terms, but we weren’t openly fighting either.

“Angry sex is the best,” Mia chips in.

“Amen!” I agree.

“Please, stop talking about sex. I still have to digest this information. I don’t need a detailed visual of those two together,” Raphael grimaces.

We chuckle, and he shakes his head, rolling his eyes. He’s not angry over our relationship, just horrified because he caught me half-dressed. That’s just Raphael’s protective side showing up.

“Can we talk about the real elephant in the room?” Dakota asks, her eyes widening.

We all turn to look at her, puzzled. She gestures toward where Leonard and I are seated. “He’s wearing sweatpants and a T-shirt. Doesn’t that bother you?”

We all burst out laughing, Leonard included. I don’t think they’ve ever seen him dressed less than perfect.

“Blame her,” he says, gesturing toward me. “She forced me to buy comfortable clothes, and wouldn’t stop pestering me.”

Dakota smirks, and Aaron shakes his head. “You were the last man standing—the only one who still refused to bend or change his habits for a woman.” He lets out a low chuckle.

I glance at Leonard, wondering if he’ll be irritated by Aaron’s comment, but to my surprise, he’s smiling. This is a refreshing change, and I’m glad I could bring it into his life. He’s usually so grumpy and serious; this feels like a significant accomplishment.

“Okay, does nobody want to acknowledge what the real problem is here?” Harrison asks, looking incredulous as we all turn to face him.

“What are you talking about?” Sienna replies, rolling her eyes, likely used to his dramatic antics.

“The fact that at her sister’s wedding, she was clearly fawning over me, and how she got over her crush so quickly,” he jokes.

We all let out a collective groan of amusement. Typical Harrison.

“Quickly? It’s been four years!” Silver chimes in.

“I don’t want to crush your dreams, but as soon as I saw Leonard at the wedding, I completely forgot you were there,” I add, only half-joking.

Everyone bursts into laughter, and Harrison clutches his chest, his mouth wide open in mock disbelief.

“You are so, so cruel,” he replies, feigning hurt in his voice.

I turn to Leonard and am surprised to see admiration in his eyes as he looks at me. A blush creeps up my cheeks, making me feel warm. Is it just me, or does he gaze at me as if there are deeper feelings hidden beneath that perfect exterior?

I’m so focused on him that I barely notice everyone standing up around us.

“Silver, you have to teach me how to make that amazing cocktail you prepared last time,” Dakota chirps.

My sister smiles. “The secret is spanking the mint.” She winks at her.

“What?” Aaron asks, half intrigued and half worried.

“Do I even want to know?” Raphael adds.

I laugh, and Sienna looks intrigued too.

“Yes! Instead of simply breaking the mint’s leaves, you have to clap them between your hands to make the flavor pop. Spank the mint!” she explains, clapping her hands.

“Just when I thought I’d heard everything, you manage to surprise me,” Leonard mumbles, shaking his head as he helps me stand up to follow the others into the kitchen.

As soon as I pass my sister, she reaches out her hand to stop me. Now that the others are out of earshot, I know she has something to ask. Her silence earlier had been too suspicious.

She smiles at me. “Leonard?”

“It wasn’t planned,” I reply, nervously shifting my feet.

“I don’t think these kinds of things can be planned.” She raises an eyebrow.

“Yeah, I suppose you’re right.”

“Does he make you happy?” she asks, probing when I remain silent.

“Yes,” I respond so quickly that the realization catches me off guard.

It’s true. We had been so caught up in the intensity of our physical relationship that I never took the time to consider my feelings for him.

And I’d been angry with him for so long I overlooked the possibility of feeling something else.

Am I happy? Yes. Does this happiness outweigh the resentment I held for him? The answer is yes again.

“Are you upset because I didn’t tell you?” I finally express what has been bothering me.

She frowns. “Why should I be? As Leonard said, when you’re ready to share, I’m here to listen. We should apologize for ‘outing’ your relationship before you were ready.”

“It’s not your fault either. But I’m glad you’re not angry with me about…him.”

“He’s a good guy. If he treats you the way you deserve and makes you happy, who am I to tell you not to date him?”

A genuine smile spreads across my face. I didn’t realize how much I valued my sister’s opinion until I thought I had disappointed her. It’s surprising, considering we grew up apart.

“Let’s go spank the mint before someone does something they might regret.” I grin at her.

She lets out a soft chuckle but doesn’t protest when I lead her toward the others, bringing our conversation to a close and lifting a weight from my chest.