AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Leo the Liar
But sitting in my parents’ condo, none of it seemed true. As Leo headed off to finish setting up his new home and gave me the number to his brand-new phone, I wondered if the tabloids were completely wrong—and if I’d get to find out firsthand this summer.
Chapter Nine
Leo was gone by the time my parents got home—and it was all by design. I didn’t need Mom peppering him with questions or Dad having him weigh in on my law school aversion. It didn’t matter, though, because as soon as my mother walked through the door, she was scanning the condo like she was looking for the last item in a scavenger hunt.
“Where is he?” she asked, and I didn’t have to ask who. I swear that woman had spies everywhere. No wonder I didn’t get away with anything as a teenager.
“He left,” I replied, reaching for my crutches as I decided it was no use trying to deny it.
“Sit, sit,” she said. “Why didn’t you invite him to stay for dinner?”
“How do you know he was even here?” I asked, wondering if Dorothy had called her but doubting it.
“I have my sources. Don’t you forget it. How do you think I kept track of you during your teen years?” she asked, confirming my suspicions. I tried not to roll my eyes like an insolent teenager, although she was certainly making me feel like one. A few moments later, Dad came through the door carrying a pizza.
“Dinner,” he announced. “Is the singer bloke still here?”
News traveled fast. I groaned inwardly, leaning back on the couch before getting my crutches and hobbling to the table, despite my mother’s arguments.
“It wasn’t a big deal. He just feels bad,” I said, taking a seat at the table. Still, when I thought about it, my heart jolted to life like Frankenstein’s monster seeing the world for the first time. Leo Turner, the famous popstar, had spent the afternoon in our condo. With me. Alone. How many women would die for a chance like that?
But before I could even chastise myself for letting my romantic notions get away from me, Dad squelched any hope of romance I had.
“You need to be careful, Tillie. He’s from a different world. He’s here for the summer, for a bit of fun. But don’t let him distract you. You need to get your head in the game. He might make all sorts of promises, but guys like him don’t need to keep them.”
“Your dad’s right, Tillie. I mean, I think it’s exciting and could be a fun fling. But don’t let love distract you from sorting through things, you know? I don’t want to see you get your heart broken again,” Mom added, joining his side for once.
“There’s nothing going on with me and Leo Turner. He feels bad about the accident, so no one needs to worry,” I argued, taking another slice of pizza. It was interesting how quickly the tides had shifted since their starstruck encounter. It was also a little disheartening that they thought I would fling myself into the abyss so quickly again.
“Well, I’d just hate to see you get distracted again and end up in the same boat as when you were with Brad,” Dad announced.
My blood boiled at the mention of his name and at the fact my dad was insinuating I was some lovesick woman whose poor romantic choices led to my failed business.
“You know my coffee shop was successful, right? As in, I had about eight great years before it started to fail. It’s not like my relationship got in the way.” My words were soft but accented in a way that caused both Mom and Dad to stop chewing.
