Page 62 of The Player + The Pact = I Do

My stomach flips as Leo hits play.

We’re two episodes in when he hands me a second pastry, and I don’t turn him down. “I want to eat everything in New York City right now. A hangover and a binge of British baking isn’t a recipe for calorie control.”

He laughs and settles deeper into the couch. I wonder what he’d be doing right now if he wasn’t here with me, helping me nurse my hangover. Before I can ask him, my phone beeps. It’s Natasha.

Just coming to life. My head is about to explode, but had a great night celebrating with you. Tell Leo hi and thank him for me. What a swoon-meister.

So not only didIwant to thank Leo last night, but Natasha wants to thank him this morning. For being a swoon-meister—whatever that is. Maybe it’s an Ohio thing.

As I reread the message from Natasha, I get another one, this time from Sophia.

Hope you’re feeling better than I am. Say thanks to Leo. Hope to meet him soon.

That’s it. I’ve got to know what we’re all so thankful for.

“Leo, why did I come into your room last night to thank you?”

He shrugs. “Can’t remember.”

I’m not buying it. It wasn’t about my dad if my friends are grateful, too.

“But Natasha and Sophia messaged and asked me to thank you. What’s going on?”

He groans and stays focused on the screen. “Such bad luck on the technical. I think he’s going home. Joanne’s got this series in the bag. I’m calling it.”

“Leo,” I say. “Please tell me. Even if I did something really embarrassing, I want to know.”

His eye slice to mine. “Why would you have done something embarrassing?”

“You’re obviously avoiding telling me why we’re all so grateful to you,” I say. “Probably because you want to spare my feelings. I can handle whatever it is.”

“It’s nothing. I just… picked up your tab last night, that’s all. It’s no big deal.”

My heart clenches in my chest. “You paid for our dinner and drinks last night? How?”

He narrows his eyes. “With a credit card,” he says, like I’m a simpleton.

“I mean, how did you even know where we were?”

He shrugs. “I recognized the restaurant from the picture you sent.”

“So, you just decided to?—”

“It’s really not a big deal. I called them and gave them my card number. It’s nothing.”

But it wasn’t nothing. Just like him dealing with my dad yesterday wasn’t nothing. It was a big deal. A really big deal. Not just because of the money—the money doesn’t mean much to Leo. His thoughtfulness and kindness, though? His generosity and humility? Those are the kinds of things a boyfriend—or a real fiancé—brings to the table. At least if they’re one of the good ones.

“That was really nice of you, Leo.” My voice is a little shaky. We’re not joking around, teasing each other. He did something really nice and I’m grateful from the bottom of my heart.

He must catch the difference in my tone, because he pulls his gaze from the TV and regards me. “It’s fine. Itwasn’t anything.”

We stare at each other for a beat, then two. He circles his fingers around my ankle and pulls me toward him. “You’re worth it. I wanted you to have a nice time. You’d had a rough day.”

I want to kiss him. I want him to kiss me. I know he’s not the guy I’m going to end up with—I understand a man like Leo can never settle down and commit to a woman. But right now, I don’t want to think about commitment or settling down. I just want Leo Hart to kiss me.

It’s like he can read my mind, because he shifts over me, pushing me back onto the couch, his breath against my neck.

“You look so sexy right now.”

---