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“Now, I’m not going to let you go saying that. You would’ve gotten there eventually. It’s all you, not me. You’re the one with the dream, with the passion, and with the business sense. I’m just thankful to be a part of your journey. And I love you, too, by the way,” he replied.
If I really stopped to think about it, how quickly it had progressed, it made my stomach flop like I was on a rollercoaster. Four short weeks to go from falling down the stairs to falling for Leo Turner—and falling hard. Still, as we talked about our plans for the upcoming week and my coffee shop, it didn’t feel unnatural or wrong. It felt like the easiest, most natural thing I’d experienced.
But before we could finish planning our visit to the local aquarium, Leo’s phone buzzed again. It was the third call he’d declined. I noticed he looked agitated when he saw the number.
“Jasper?” I ventured, putting down my fork and taking a sip of wine.
He shook his head. He said nothing else. I raised my eyebrows.
“Is everything okay?” I felt a little guilty then. I’d been going on and on about the coffee shop and my day; I hadn’t stopped to see how he was doing.
He paused then, too, putting down his fork. “It’s my parents. They know where I am. And things are spinning out of control back home.” His words were solemn, and with them, the magic faded a little. It seemed like the restaurant grew darker, the romance fading a bit.
“So now what?”
He sighed. “I don’t know. I mean, I knew this would happen eventually. I knew I couldn’t hide here forever. And I know I can’t just give up. I do love singing, I do. It’s just...I wanted to come back on my terms. Not theirs.”
His words alarmed me. I felt like the candles had gone out completely. But I kept a brave face. Leo had supported my dream this summer. I had to support him.
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out,” I said calmly, feigning a confidence I didn’t have.
He changed the subject, and I was thankful for it. We finished our dinner and then took a romantic walk by the beach. We kissed, and we kissed some more.
And for a while, I forgot about the fact I was in love with Leo Turner from London. I tried to shove aside the fears of what would happen next and the rationalities of how impossible it would be. For that night, I let myself walk on the beach with Leo, the man I’d fallen for, the man who had brought my heart back to life again. I let my mind wander to forever with him.
But, as it always does, the night ended. He dropped me off in my red dress at the condo. We kissed, and he told me he loved me. I told him I loved him, too. I stood on my crutches, waved goodbye, and turned from him.
I walked into the condo feeling a little less magical. The summer would end, sooner than expected—and so would the magic with Leo.
I just didn’t know if my heart was strong enough to be broken a second time. But sometimes in life, I guess you don’t always have a choice. You just march on, the sand shifting beneath your feet as you try to find solid ground.
The only problem with that was that Leo had quickly, insurmountably, become my solid ground. I was terrified of what falling again would do to me.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
The next week both flew by and dragged on simultaneously as I sorted out official documents, business plans, and pitches. I made a million phone calls, barely any of which were to Leo. He not only understood, though—he forced me to focus, stopping by to drop off lunches but refusing to come in and distract me. I smiled at the sweet notes he left in the takeout bags, though, and how much he was supporting my dreams.
