Leo (A Sign of Love Novel)(36)

"I'd love to go to the dance with you, Leo. Only, I don't exactly have anything to wear. It's not like Jodi will buy me anything for something like that." I look down and my cheeks heat, too.

He nods, looking at me thoughtfully, probably realizing that he didn't think about the fact that we'd need dress up clothes. "Then we'll say we're going to the dance and instead we'll come here and dance under the stars. No dressing up required for that. Our foster parents will never even notice that we're not dressed right for a dance." He smiles a little sadly at me but I know he's right about that. But then he smiles bigger, "I just want to be with you. I want to hold you close."

"Where will we get music?" I ask quietly.

"I'll bring my hand held radio." He grins.

I can't help but to grin back. "We'll probably get arrested and spend the night in juvi."

"I'll risk it."

I tilt my head to the side. "Okay. It's a date." I smile hesitantly as he grins back at me.

He stares at me for a few seconds and then says very seriously, "Someday, I'm going to buy you a whole closetful of the most beautiful clothes money can buy."

I smile up at him. "I don't need fancy clothes, Leo. I just need you."

"You can have both," he says smiling back.

I stare at this boy, my Leo. How did things change so quickly? Did I fall for him so slowly that I didn't even notice while I was falling? As he grabs my hand and pulls me off the swing and we start walking back, my heart starts beating wildly in my chest. I think dazedly that falling, whether to the ground or in love, is always at least a little bit scary, even if you do it slowly.





CHAPTER 19


The next couple of days go by quickly in a flurry of work, laundry and other mundane but necessary activities.

Jake offers to drive me, or have his company driver chauffeur me to and from work but I tell him no. I don't mind taking the bus. I can read while I'm riding and it's convenient for me. He doesn't seem particularly pleased about this but I need to maintain my independence. I already feel like things are moving so fast between us and it scares me to become so wrapped up in someone so quickly.

I talk to Jake on Monday between my two jobs but he's at work and he sounds distracted so I make it quick and tell him I'll call him on Tuesday night while he's in San Diego. He has a smile in his voice as he says he'll be waiting for my call.

On Monday night I work for Tina at a small art gallery downtown and Landon is there too so, between filling trays in the kitchen, I fill him in on my day and night with Jake. He hangs on my every word and fans himself dramatically as I throw in a few tidbits about our night together.

"Down boy, that's all you're getting. A girl's got to keep a few secrets," I say teasingly when Landon asks for more details.

"No fair, I've been waiting a very long time for this," Landon grumps back.

I smack him lightly on the shoulder, "You act like I was the last virgin known to mankind."

"Not the last known to mankind, but possibly the last one over 21. Have you looked around our society lately, Fancy Face? I was just dying to know who exactly you were saving yourself for." He winks and grins at me.

"I wasn't saving myself. You could have had me anytime." I say back bumping my hip to his playfully.

"That's it. I officially renounce my gay-ness. I'm yours, Fancy Face. Take me now!"

"Ha ha. Don't think it works that way, Lan, but I appreciate the sentiment." I grin at him and get back to work.

But later I think about what Landon said about saving myself. Had I been? Because deep down, I realize that maybe me denying it wasn't entirely true. I had made a promise a long time ago and although that person was no longer a part of my life, nor was he ever going to be, somewhere inside I always knew that if I was going to fall in love again, it was going to be because something in that man reminded me of Leo.

**********

On Tuesday evening, I make a couple batches of chocolate chip cookies, dropping one off to Mrs. Jenner and one off to Maurice. I chat for a few minutes with both of them and then make my way to the bus stop, off to see Mr. Cooper. He's sitting on his porch as usual, waiting for me when I walk up, smiling and greeting me with a big hug.

"Evelyn!" he says, gesturing for me to take my usual seat on the porch swing as he sits down in a cushioned chair. It's a crisp evening and so he offers me an afghan to lay over my legs and I keep my coat on. He has a blanket over his legs as well.

"How are you?" I ask, smiling, placing the cookies down on the small table next to the porch swing and taking the foil off the plate.

He smiles warmly "Couldn't be better. Got a pretty girl to visit with and a plate of homemade cookies."

I smile back, "Take one," I gesture towards the plate and he grabs a cookie. I follow suit.

After a minute he says, "And what's new with you Miss Evelyn?"

I finish chewing before I respond, feeling a little shy, "I'm dating someone," I say quietly.

He looks surprised for a second, probably because I've never mentioned a boyfriend in all the years I've known him. But then he smiles widely. "And who is the lucky gentleman?"

"His name is Jake. He runs a company that does something with X-ray technology," I wave my hand indicating I'm not real clear on what exactly that is, "He's… nice, and smart and handsome and…" I blush, looking down and feeling awkward suddenly.