“I just want to be bold and clear in what I want.”With the time we have.
“Well, aside from the obvious . . .” she started.
“What?”
“Just talking to him. But I’m sure you already did that.” She side-eyed me, and I gave a non-confirming shrug. “Body language is everything. Little touches. Accidental boob grazes and booty bumps,” she said right as Mr. Geoffrey Neal walked in. He shot a disapproving glare toward Clara, who just waved back with a twinkle of her fingers.
“Hmm, I could do that. But I still think that’s too subtle.” I sighed. “I think we need a new location. There are too many damn people in our lives,” I snarked.
She snorted. “You really are hard up,” she said.
“It’s been a while,” I grumbled. “Either I’m exhausted, or we’re at Janice’s, which...I mean, she gives us our space and is gone a lot, but I don’t know. I want privacy.”
“What about your place? You might be overthinking this, babe. He’s a dude. It’s not like he needs champagne and roses.”
But Leo deserved it. It might sound corny, but Leo was a sensitive soul. Why shouldn’t men get to have a little romance during sex? Lord knew he always took care of my needs.
“My apartment is just so blah. I’m never there. When I am, I just wish I was somewhere else.”
“I think that’s worth investigating. But okay, I get your point.” She pursed her lips and tapped her fingers in thought. She took a deep breath in and started to count off her fingers. “Back of a truck. On a blanket near Bandit Lake. Donner Lodge. The backseat of a car. In a barn. Next to a bonfire.” I reached forward to cover her mouth as she mumbled against my hand.
“Okay, okay, thank you. God, you’re like a deviant Dr. Seuss.”
Mr. Neal was now fully glaring at both of us. I dropped my arms.
“Thank you,” she said. “Needs must, and all that,” she added flippantly. “My point is, the key is not to overthink it or put too much pressure on it. It’ll happen when the time is right.”
I worried my lip. “We don’t have time.”
“Says who?”
I waved away her question. “It’s more complicated than that. There are things you don’t know about.”
There wasn’t even time to go into explaining it. I could see the writing on the wall. Leo wasn’t happy in Green Valley. He had made up with his best friend and his band. He may have had issues playing and touring before, but now that he could communicate his feelings with Vander, they could work around it. Aside from his obligation to Cath, which was over in just a few short months, nothing kept Leo in Green Valley.
“Mari, I don’t think Leo is going anywhere any time soon. Look at all he’s?—”
“I have a plan,” I snapped loudly. “Operation Seduce Leo begins.” I smacked the table loudly.
She sighed. “Then I guess the only thing you can do is take an everything shower, wear some sexy underthings, and jump the man,” Clara said. “Oh, get laid, Neal,” she called when he gasped.
I wanted Leo. He wanted me. The time was nigh.
CHAPTER 27
LEO
The week before the holiday, I took Mari to help set up the performance band inside the gazebo wrapped in twinkling lights. She never specifically asked for my help, but since I woke up in her bed and followed her here to the Christmas Market, it was assumed. So long as she let me, I’d always be a given in her life.
The first hour blurred by as together we found missing sheet music and extra reeds and fixed any last-minute wardrobe malfunctions. When the band performed, I studied Mari from the sidelines with a proud smile on my face. They went on early so that the local choir could go on by the time the sun set.
Now, as we strolled through the stalls of local vendors selling goods, the Christmas Market glowed with holiday magic.
Cath came and hung out for a minute after they played but quickly went off to meet some of her friends.
If pressed, I could name every student in all of Mari’s classes and what instruments they played. And not only that, but I could also say the name of almost every Green Valley resident we passed and recall at least one detail about them. There was Devlin’s wife, Kim, arm in arm with three other women, walking past as they talked and laughed animatedly. I wouldn’t recognize myself only a few short months ago. I was filled with content warmth just walking side by side with Mari, even if I wished she’d reach out and hold my hand. Various members of the Bunco Broads were out and about with their families, and they all stopped to chat and not so subtly pry into my relationship status with Mari.
I’d like to know that too.
