Page 59 of The Ruckup
Too much to keep him.
20
Emo Leo
Leo
I THOUGHT ABOUT not coming this morning. Almost skipped out in favor of sitting at home alone in my misery, letting Gill try to turn my stomach into biscuits while I stared at the ceiling in silence.
But I’m pissed. Angry as hell, actually. Because this is at least partially my parents’ fault.
If they would’ve just minded their own fucking business and stayed out of mine, maybe Maddie’s parents wouldn’t have gotten her all worked up and I could have made her understand that I don’t give a shit if I come out of this looking like a bad guy. I don’t care if my reputation is fucking tarnished. Hell, I don’t even care if the Swamp Cats terminate my contract.
All I care about is her.
“But how do you know leaving her alone would have kept her safe?” I walk into my parents’ house and hear my sister in the kitchen, pleading a case that is now irrelevant. “You haven’t seen how her ex is. I have.” There’s sadness in her voice, and it’s tearing me up. “And I’m not sure Maddie would be any saferwithout Leo in her life.” She pauses. “Actually, Leo probably gives him someone else to hate, so she’s probably better off.”
Stepping into the doorway, I cut her off because I can’t let her take on a battle when there’s no longer a war. “Not anymore.”
Alexis spins at the sound of my voice, taking a step back as her blue eyes scan me from head to toe.
I know what she sees. I look like shit. I haven’t slept. I haven’t eaten. I’ve barely been able to think since Maddie broke things off yesterday. It’s been the longest fifteen hours, forty-seven minutes, and—I check my watch—seventeen seconds of my life.
The worst part is I want her to be happy. I want her to do what she chooses.
I just really thought she would choose me.
“Maddie dumped me last night, so everybody can fucking celebrate. You got what you wanted.” I move to the island, snatching a scone off the countertop. My stomach is chewing a fucking hole in itself right now, so I bite off half of the pastry before continuing. “She said she wasn’t going to let me destroy my life, and then she blocked me.” I spread my arms wide. “So, congratulations. You win.”
Alexis stares at me, her mouth hanging open.
And for some fucking stupid as reason, my mom thinks suddenly everything’s fine between us.
“Oh, honey.” She acts like she’s going to hug me.
I take a step back, even more pissed that she thinks she has any right to comfort me. “Don’t.” I shake my head. “Don’t act like you’re sorry, because I know you’re not.” I continue backingaway, ready to get the fuck out of here. “I’m not staying. I just came to give you the good fucking news.”
Spinning on one heel, I storm out.
Alexis follows right behind me. “Leo, wait.”
Jerking to a stop, I face her. “If you’re here to apologize, you don’t have to. I wasn’t talking to you in there.”
“Maddie loves you, Leo.” She blurts the words out at me. “She didn’t say it, but I could tell.”
My brows lift, not because I don’t believe her, but because I’m curious to hear why she thinks she knows this. “You’re an expert on love now because you fucking love Gavin?” I don’t mean to sound so harsh, but the bite of jealousy makes my words sharp.
Shit has been so easy for Gavin and Alexis. No parent bullshit getting in their way. No crazy ex-husbands ruining any happy moment that tries to exist.
They can just love each other without having to fight for it.
“Kinda?” Alexis sounds guilty, and for some reason that makes me feel better. That at least she knows how much I’m suffering.
Gavin moves in behind her, standing close. I love him, but right now I hate him at the same time. Hate that he can touch her. Hold her. Protect her. Support her.
I have to force my gaze back to my sister. It won’t do me any good to stand here sucking their happiness away. “Do me a favor and take care of Maddie.” I drag a hand through my tangled hair. “She really likes you, and she needs all the support she can get.”
“I really like her too.” Alexis gives me a small smile. “If it makes you feel any better, she’s pretty much stuck with me and my friends forever.”
