Page 134 of Her Wicked Plan

I look over at him. “Did she say that?”

“Something along those lines.”

“We have both been busy. I mean, she works in another ward.”

“So it has nothing to do with crazy pants?” He smirks. The driver has been sneaking glances back at us at this point of the ride.

“It has everything to do with her,” I admit. “I thought it was only sex, but then I started getting... feelings for her.” I sigh in frustration. “Fuck, it sounds so stupid.”

Myles shrugs. “It does, but it doesn’t.”

“How does that even make sense?”

“Given the circumstances, yes, it sounds stupid, but you can’t control your feelings, Leo,” he tells me.

“We could never be together. Never in a traditional way.”

“Maybe, maybe not.”

“Alright, stop with that shit.”

Myles laughs, but the driver pulls up outside my parents before he can respond. We leave the car, grabbing the bags we packed for the stay. The weather has been decent except for the occasional rain showers. With it being late April, it’s expected.

This is my childhood home. It is a picturesque home for a family: a white two-story house with a red door and black shutters. Mom wanted to make the shutters red, but our father said it would be too much. A white picket fence with flower baskets hanging over the edges surrounds the house.

Seeing this place brings a smile to my face. It warms my heart. There have been so many good memories here. Chloe and I playing tag in the front yard. Climbing up the ladder to the treehouse in the middle of the night to sleep out back.

Mom and Dad knew what we were up to most of the time, so there wasn’t much sneaking around. They just let us do it because they knew we were safe.

Dad set up a tent one summer out in the back because I thought I could spend a whole week out there—survival guide mode. Mom always left me snacks outside the tent without me seeing her, and I would pretend it was food I hunted for.

It lasted only two days. I kept hearing weird noises that scared the shit out of me as an eight-year-old kid. I rushed inside, ran up the stairs, and dove into my bed. Then, I helped Dad take the tent down the following day.

The front door swings open, and Carter runs down the stone path toward us. His arms are in the air, and he squeals with the biggest smile, “Uncle Leo!!!”

I put my bag down and scoop him up into my arms. He giggles as I spin us around. “I missed you, bud.”

With his arms wrapped around my neck, he squeezes tight. “I missed you, too.”

“What am I? Chopped liver?” Myles pretends to be hurt that Carter hasn’t noticed him.

“Uncle Myles!” Carter reaches over for him, Myles taking him from my arms. The little boy playfully pinches his nose. “You smell like chopped liver.”

“Oh, you little...” Myles's hand dives in and begins tickling Carter senselessly. The laughter fills the front yard, and my eyes dart back to the door to find Mom and Dad standing there, Chloe making her way to us.

“He isn’t wrong, Myles,” Chloe says as she stops. “You do smell awful.”

He gives her a smug smile. “It’s good to see you too, Chloe.”

She shakes her head with a laugh before turning towards me and wrapping her arms around my body. “It’s so good to see you.”

“You too.” I kiss the top of her head.

Chloe lets go of me. Carter is now playing in the grass, and I’m making my way over to my parents. A gleam shines in my mother's eyes, and a tear escapes and rolls down her cheek.

“Come on, mom. There’s no need to cry.” I give her a soft smile, then pull her in for a hug.

“I’m just so happy you could make it.”