Broken Course (Wrecked and Ruined #3)(63)

Leo had a few questions as well. He didn’t understand why I hadn’t dated anyone in seven years—or, more importantly, why I was willing to break the pattern and go out with him. I didn’t have an answer. I don’t know why either. I told him that it had to be some cosmic pull that forced me to immediately recognize that he was the one. I only made it about halfway through the sentence before I doubled over in laughter. He replied with a shrug and told me that he just assumed I was horny after all that time. I can’t say that he was wrong, but I secretly think I might have been partially right too.

The minute we got back to Chicago, I started mission ‘Apologize To Aiden.’ I decided to cook him dinner. Men love food—at least that’s always been my experience. So I made him my famous chicken and dumplings. I was worried that he wouldn’t like it, but he raved when he brought the Tupperware back the next day. For two weeks, I cooked him food to take home for dinner. Finally, he asked me to stop. He used some excuse about all the butter forcing him to stay at the gym longer. Then he gave me a hug and told me not to worry about it anymore. But I still felt bad, so I started making him protein smoothies for breakfast every morning. It made me feel a little better at least.

It’s been four weeks since we got back from our little getaway, and I have to say that, even despite how dramatic things got before we left, it’s been smooth sailing since we returned. True to his word, Leo sits down with me every Thursday night to talk. We started out just talking about generic parts of our relationship and how to navigate them.

On the first night, I asked him to start taking anti-depressants. He told me no. I didn’t push. I’m also not letting it go. I’ll let him say no for now, but not for forever.

For such a dramatic couple, Leo and I sure handle these chats like professionals. It’s obvious that we have both spent many of hours in therapy. We can fight like cats and dogs over what movie we are going to watch on Friday or who is doing the dishes after dinner, but we dive into deep stuff with level heads.

Tonight is our fourth conversation, and while Leo usually sits back and lets me take the lead, tonight, he jumped right into a tough topic.

"How are you still friends with Casey and Eli after what they did to you? They let you bear their cross for all those years. You should hate them!" he shouts.

Hmm… Okay, maybe we were doing a great job at keeping level heads. Clearly, we’re not anymore.

"Why are you yelling?" I ask, propping my feet up on the couch between us.

"Because, when I think back on all the things you’ve told me about your past, ninety percent of it all stems from guilt—guilt they could have relieved you of by not sitting on the truth for five f*cking years." His chest heaves, but something just doesn’t sit right.

"No. I don’t believe you," I say calmly.

"Don’t believe what?" he snaps.

"I don’t believe that the way you’re acting is because of your feelings toward Casey and Eli. What else is going on with you?"

"Nothing. I get pissed every time I think about it. Sarah, I’ll be really f*cking honest—I don’t like you hanging out with them. It’s not good for you," he declares sternly.

"Well, I’m sorry you feel that way. But it’s not going to change anything." I cross my legs at my ankles and point my toes so they brush his leg.

"Well, don’t expect me to hang out with them." He scoots away an inch so my feet can no longer reach him.

"Okay," I respond simply, not wanting to match his intensity. It’s a rare day when I’m the levelheaded side of our relationship, but it makes me smile to myself.

"You know what. I don’t feel like doing this right now."

"It’s Thursday, Leo," I gently remind him.

"We aren’t bound to Thursdays, Sarah. I don’t think the world will end if we move it to Friday for one week. I’m in a shitty mood, and if we try to do this, I’m just going to find shit to be an * about."

"I can see this, but what I’m trying to figure out is why you are in a shitty mood."

"Please just let me take you to dinner or something. I can’t do the talking thing tonight. I just can’t."

"All right. Let’s go." I stand up, sliding on my heels then heading for the door.

"Thank God," Leo breathes as he follows me.



DINNER DID little to improve Leo’s mood. He sulked for most of the evening, barely even talking to me. He even moved away once when I tried to take his arm. It’s completely unlike the man I’ve come to know, and quite honestly, it worries me.

"You spending the night?" Leo asks as we get to his car in the restaurant parking lot.

"I guess that depends if you want me to or not. I’m feeling a bit like a burden on you tonight."

"You’re not a burden, ángel. I’m in a terrible mood. That’s all. I think I’m just going to work out then head to bed."

"Since when do you work out at night?" I ask curiously.

"Since I have some shit to work through tonight, and taking it out on the weight bench seems like a better plan than being a dick to you," he answers, and I have to agree with his assessment.

"And just to be clear, there is nothing you want to talk about?" I ask, hoping to draw something out of him.