Page 32 of The Ruckup
I huff out a little laugh. “My abuela taught me everything I know in the kitchen.” Going to the selection of spices now lined down the counter, I pull out garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and chili powder. “My mom makes the kind of food my dad likes.”
And my dad is a delicate little flower when it comes to any sort of spiciness. He’s also not adventurous and doesn’t like trying new things. His version of authentic Mexican food is a grilled cheese burrito from Taco Bell.
Which is… shitty of him. The way he turns his nose up at the food my mother was raised on, expecting her to cater to his limited and boring pallet, really shows the kind of man he is.
And I’m not sure how to come to terms with that.
“I’m assuming your dad is like my dad and just wants meat and potatoes.” Leo leans in to inspect the onions and pepper before turning to me. “Tomatoes now?”
I have a hard time responding immediately, because I realize Leo’s not just helping me. He’s also trying to learn. He’s genuinely interested in what I can show him.
After a couple heartbeats, I manage a nod. “Tomatoes now.”
He scrapes them into the pan, mixing all the vegetables together. “This already smells good.”
I pop the cap off the garlic powder. “And we haven’t even added the best part.”
I go to work sprinkling on the selection of spices while I answer his earlier question. “My dad is simple and stubborn in what he likes to eat, so the only place I had this kind of food was at my abuela’s house. She was the one who made sure I knew who I was and where I came from.”
Once I finish with the spices, I put them back in place, turning to find Leo giving me a wicked grin. “I bet your abuela hates your dad.”
“You are correct.” I pick up the plate of crispy tortillas and add them to the vegetables as Leo continues to stir. “Though, to be fair, she’s starting to not be such a big fan of my mother either.”
Leo steps aside, giving me a little room as I reach for the eggs. “She sounds brilliant.” Leo winces. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be a dick. I’m just still pissed that they feel so comfortable telling everyone what’s going on in your life.” His eyes move to my face as I crack four eggs over the top of the contents of the skillet.“That’s why I think maybe we should look into hiring a new attorney.”
Once the eggs are in, I put the lid on the skillet and turn off the heat, leaving them to steam since I like my migas with intact eggs instead of the scrambled version.
Turning to Leo, I force myself to remind him, “I can’t afford a new attorney. I wish I?—”
“You don’t have to afford a new attorney, Maddie.” His voice is soft when he says, “I want to pay for it.”
“I can’t let you do that.” He’s already doing so much for me, and we’re not even…
Actually, I don’t know what we are. So much has been happening, and so quickly, that we haven’t really discussed it. Thanks to all the crap going on in my life, we aren’t following the standard dating timeline. I’m living in his house and we’re sleeping in the same bed, but I’ve never even seen his dick.
Which is unfortunate.
And the more time I spend with Leo, the more I think about getting to know him better.
Much better. Intimately better.
After seeing how kind and caring and attentive he is about everything else, my imagination is concocting up all sorts of ways he might put those same characteristics to use in the bedroom.
The bedroom we currently share.
“If you genuinely don’t want me to do this, I won’t.” Leo’s hands come to rest against the sides of my neck, his thumbs strokingthe underside of my jaw. “But I would really love it if you would let me help you. I think it will make a huge difference in so many ways.”
I rub my lips together, because his offer is beyond tempting. The opportunity to have an attorney of my own choosing—one who might even have experience with this sort of situation I’m in—who won’t immediately run and tell my parents about every new development? I’d be an idiot to say no.
I’ve spent a lot of my life being an idiot. And I think I’m ready to stop.
As I nod my head, I swallow hard against the wiggle of guilt I’m already carrying in relation to Leo as it grows just a bit more. “Okay. We can find a new attorney.”
Leo’s smile is wide and bright. It shines down on me, chasing away a few of the clouds that seem to follow me everywhere I go. “Excellent.”
When his lips come to mine, I’m ready. I love how natural it is for him to kiss me good morning and good night. How easily he shows affection. It’s yet another thing I’m not used to, and I eat it up like the greedy girl I am. Leaning into his body, I loop an arm around his neck as his mouth brushes mine. Leo barely pulls away, his eyes moving over my face before he leans in again, finally offering up the kind of kiss I’ve been craving.
Since Drake showed up at my office, I’ve only gotten sweet kisses and G-rated cuddles. I was starting to worry Leo thought I was traumatized. So fragile after such a terrible experience, I wouldn’t want to be touched or held.
