Page 82 of Raising Love
“Oh, shit,” I muttered under my breath, my lips curving into a slow, astonished smile. “Wow.”
Because in that moment, I realized something I’d never thought I’d admit.
That’s exactly what I wanted.
EIGHTEEN
ivy
I balanced Levi against my chest while trying to single out the key for the house. Moments ago, we’d stepped out of my car—a new luxury SUV I traded my sedan for to better navigate Greene Gardens and make trips to the city with Levi when needed. Like today. I’d taken Levi to his first mommy-and-me activity.
The ladies in the group I’d found online were fascinated by our story, constantly mentioning what a blessing I must be to him. Little did they know he was more of a blessing to me, and I was finally starting to see that.
For May, the weather was beautiful. With summer just a month away, Greene Gardens was living up to its name. Lush green grass, blooming trees, and vibrant flowers created a picturesque view. Outside the house, the scenery felt like an extension of a painting.
With the key in hand, I slid it into the lock, turning it to enter. The moment the door opened, the smell of food hit me.
I paused, wrinkling my brows.
“Hey,” Leo called from the kitchen, waving at me.
“Hey…” I stepped inside, blinking through the momentary shock. “What are you doing here?”
He chuckled, turning his attention to a pot on the stove, steam swirling up from it. “I gotta have a reason to be here now?”
I shut the door behind me, heading in his direction.
The last time I saw Leo was a few days ago when he’d dropped Levi back at Greene Gardens after having him for a weekend. Even then, he was acting strange.
Actually, he’d been acting strange ever since his awards ceremony.
That night, I’d noticed something different in how he looked at me. He was attentive, more present, even flirty—like the version of Leo I’d seen with other women he was attracted to. It felt nice, I won’t lie, but it was equally confusing.
I dropped Levi’s baby bag near the shoe rack as I made my way to Leo. Levi stirred a little in my arms, still drowsy from his nap after our mommy-and-me meetup at a Gymboree in Manhattan.
“Are you… cooking?” I asked, stopping by the kitchen island.
“Yeah.” He nodded casually. “My mom shared a chicken stew recipe I figured you’d like.”
I arched a brow, rising on the arches of my sneakers to peek into the pot. The sight actually made me smile. “And it looks… edible.”
Leo snorted. “Don’t play me like that. I grew up in a single mama household. Of course, I know how to cook.”
“I grew up in a single mama household and I can barely boil water.” I leaned against the counter, watching him.
“Well, your mother is mad laidback. My mama wouldn’t let me live under her roof, eating the way I did, without knowing how to cook.” He shrugged. “It’s a Cheryl thing, I guess.”
We stood there for a moment, staring at each other.
Even the way he was looking at me now was different. It wasn’t teasing or playful like it usually was. His gaze was softer, more intent, and it did something to me.
Leo always joked about how uptight I was, teasing me for my need for order and structure. But now, there was no trace of that.
“Everything okay?” I asked, adjusting Levi against my shoulder.
“Yeah, everything’s good.” He smiled. “Why?”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Because you’re acting weird.”
