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Leandra.
I have two choices. I could take the low road and worry about this being a pattern, a constant push back that is impossible to make work, or I can sit back and look at the facts. We’re brand new. In the span of a couple weeks, Leandra met me, found out she was pregnant, watched me nearly get castrated by a cactus, realized we were cursed, and had a meeting where she introduced me to her whole family. That’s pretty damn brave. For every small hiccup, she’s taken strides which are freaking leaps big enough to jump over an entire mountain. I know she’s not playing games. Everything that’s happened in such a short time would cause anyone to have wild, frayed, uncontrollable emotions. She’s not playing games. These are real, honest emotions and I don’t blame her one bit. We’re both real people, with flaws and pasts.
Maybe I should be pushing back or running or hiccupping too, but that’s the last thing I want to do. Ever since I met her, I’ve wanted to know Leandra. It makes sense now. I mean, we’re cursed soulmates, so my inability to banish her from my mind and get on my with my life is understandable. I think. I’m not sure I really understand that curse yet, but I do understand this.
This letter.
This letter where Leandra fearlessly poured out her heart to me.
I’m not sure she’ll answer because she might be at work or she might not have her phone on, but if she doesn’t, I’ll leave her a message and text her. There’s no way I’m going to let her think that I’m not picking her up tonight. I most definitely am.
And this time, I’m bringing candles and takeout and getting dick punched isn’t in the itinerary.
Chapter 17
Leandra
I thought I knew what I wanted to say to Daniel. I’d thought about it all day. Yes, I sent the flowers, but there just seemed to be so much more. Now that I’m pulling open the glass door of my condo building and stepping out of the lobby and into the dusky evening, I’m not sure what all those words were for because I can think of only one perfect thing to say to the man in front of me.
The man who is wearing a black dress shirt and jeans and is basically the definition of mouth watering and savoury. The man holding the bouquet of red roses. The man with the most adorable, sheepish grin on his face.
My god, I just want to rush at him and hug him. I don’t. I’m not sure that would be appropriate. I’m not entirely sure that we’re on hugging terms, even though Daniel called me earlier and told me not to worry, not to stress because it’s unhealthy, and that everything was fine and was going to be fine. Maybe that’s why the curse paired us. I’ve never thought of myself as not easy going, but then I met Daniel and I realized the true definition of ease. Of forgiveness, kindness, and understanding. I’ve been told my whole life that I’m pretty on the outside and the inside, but Daniel is beautiful. Man beautiful.
I hold out my hand, but I don’t take the roses. This is a now or never moment and I gulp in a deep breath of sultry, sticky NOLA air. It’s so humid that I can feel my curls straightening themselves and re-curling, turning into a pile of frizz.
“I’m Leandra.” My throat feels closed up and my fingers tremble, but I don’t tuck my hand back at my side. I swallow thickly and force my wobbly voice into compliance. “It’s good to meet you.”
Daniel stares at me like I might have lost my mind for good this time and it’s hardly appropriate to use the baby brain excuse this early in the game, but if I did, I know he’d give me the benefit of the doubt. “Uh- it’s good to meet you?”
I crack a smile and he looks relieved and then he’s smiling too, and gah, those dimples are showing and my body is dimpling and my nipples are- well- not dimpling. They’re getting hard and pointy. Definitely not in an inward direction either.
“I thought we could start over. The past two weeks have been rocky, socky, pocky, okay- nothing rhymes with rocky. But they haven’t been easy. So, if you’ll let me introduce myself, I’ll give you fair warning this time. I’m Leandra Cromwell. My granny is the most crazy, wonderful woman I’ve ever met. She loves nothing more than meddling in my life, which is how I came t be cursed. If you get to know me, you might become cursed too. My family is full of boneheaded men who are all older than me and have bossed me around forever. They’ll give you a run for your money and probably ruin your pool, and they’ll always, always lick your cake. They’re all cursed too, and they’re with the world’s best women, so there might be hope for them yet. I find you ridiculously attractive, and I was just standing here thinking how beautiful you are on the inside. No. Sorry. Not supposed to say that because technically we haven’t met yet.”
