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“Was she your mom’s mother?”
“No,” he grinned. “That old woman is still alive in Italy. “She drinks enough wine to make herself dizzy, and then she goes and gossips with the neighbors.”
I laughed. “Sounds delightful.”
“Oh, she’s anything but. That is where my mother gets her kindness from.” Leandro’s eyes were gazing out to something in the distance, almost like he was remembering something from long ago. His brow lifted, then his eyes returned to mine, and he said, “Just in case you were wondering.”
I gave a nod. “So, your grandmother was your dad’s mom.”
Leandro agreed. “I spent my childhood in Italy. We moved here when I was about twelve. The year after that, my grandmother died.”
“It’s not easy.”
“No, it’s not.”
Leandro lifted his phone a little, but I didn’t want the conversations to stop there. I was finally getting to know the real Leandro, and he was fascinatingly deep.
“How did you get to where you are today?”
“Well.” He shrugged, lowering his phone down once more. “I worked really hard, then I sought out my own opportunities. Not all that different from you, Jourdanne.”
“Really?”
Leandro turned and put his elbow on the back of the chair. He leaned his head onto his folded fist, then smiled. “Yeah. You’re doing whatever it takes to forge a better life for yourself. And…” He put his hand on my arm. “For the people around you.”
“Your mom didn’t think so.”
Leandro basically rolled his eyes at that. “Don’t worry about her. She doesn’t know everything.”
“But…” I hesitated to say what was on my mind. Sometimes I just wished I knew how to keep my mouth shut.
“But what?”
“I mean… it just seems like you care a lot about what she thinks.”
To this, Leandro kept silent. He started to daydream again, and his gaze slid from me to the open space around us.
“I’m not trying to be rude or impose.”
“No, I know.” He nodded along as he tapped my arm. “I don’t really have an explanation.” He ended with a shrug, then he faced forward. He gripped his phone but didn’t pull it to his eyes just yet. Instead, he kept staring outward.
“Leandro, I’m sorry. I just want to help.”
“You are, Jourdanne.” Leandro grinned at me, then he brought his phone to his face. “You’re here, and that’s helping.”
“Am I just a distraction to you?”
“Please.” He shook his head at the idea.
“Will I have to pose for pictures? What else?”
“Jourdanne, you don’t have to worry about all that.”
“No?”
He faced me for a pause, then said, “No.”
I sat there watching him check emails for a few seconds before the announcement was made to board the plane. Leandro got up and collected his things, and I copied. We walked down to board the plane, but I stopped short with a thought.
“What is it?” Leandro’s mysterious eyes searched me over.
“I just want to know what we’ll be doing on the trip.”
“Right now?” His brow lifted as he drew a grin. “We have to board.”
“I know, I’m just a little nervous.”
“Okay.” Leandro met me and put his arm around my back. With the slightest touch, he ushered me along. “Is it the flight that worries you?”
“No, it’s not that.” How could I tell him that it was the fact we’d be alone for the weekend that was the reason for me suddenly having a panic attack? Sure, we had an arrangement, but the part about Geneva was vague. How far would he go to solidify the right image in the public eye?
Leandro titled his head as if he suddenly realized what I was thinking. “Listen, you’re safe with me. I would never do anything to hurt you.”
I nodded along. It wasn’t that I feared him, it was more that I felt like I was cheating on Matt by going away with Leandro. How did I let things get so weird?
“I’m just worried about Matt,” I whispered, finally letting out a thought. Leandro was quick to smirk. “Aren’t you?”
Leandro shook his head. “Of course not. Matt is a part of this arrangement too. He knows what to expect.”
“But doesn’t it bother you that we’re traveling without him? I mean, I’m supposed to keep him company while you’re away.”
Leandro and I stopped at the entrance to the tunnel. He handed over our tickets, and we started toward the plane.
“And you will. In time. This weekend is for me, though. I don’t think that’s so much to ask considering I’m allowing him to have his way with you.”
I made a face. He was right, though.
Without an argument from me, Leandro continued ushering me along to the plane. He put me in the seat along the window, then sat at my side. First class was incredible, and before take-off, we had already gotten a glass of wine and some cheese and crackers. The weekend in Geneva would be interesting but living the luxurious life—even if for only one summer—was starting to feel worth it.
