Page 125 of Wildcat
In my car, I start the engine and turn on the heat, rubbing my hands in front of the vent to warm up. It’s the middle of December and winter is officially here. Another text comes through, an image of Leo’s bed. His hand is stretched out on the empty side—mine.
I tap out a quick response,On my way.
I get halfway to Leo’s before I cut the wheel and make a U-turn, heading to my parents’ house instead. I rummage through my room downstairs and pack two bags worth of clothes and all my toiletries. When I go back upstairs, Dad is in the kitchen eating cereal.
“Hey.” I drop my bag and join him. I still haven’t changed out of the black dress I wore to the expo, and he smiles as he sees my outfit.
“You look beautiful.” He motions toward the bags. “Going on a trip?”
“Sort of.” I take a seat beside him. “I’m moving in with Leo.”
My heart hammers in my chest. Dad’s mouth pulls into a somber smile, and he nods. “I’m going to miss you around here.”
We’re barely home at the same time anymore, but I’ll miss him too, and I tell him as much.
“I promise to come by for Sunday dinners.”
“Good. I don’t know if I ever told you how much I missed you when you were in London, but I hope not to ever go that long again without seeing you.”
“Same.” I smile and hug him around the neck.
“Need any help?” he asks, pointing to my stuff.
“No, I think I got it. I’ll come by tomorrow to get the rest and tell Mom.”
I load up, one bag on each shoulder, but before I can get out the door, Dad halts me. He goes to the pantry and pulls out an unopened box of Fruity Pebbles, then walks it to me. “For your midnight snacks.”
“Won’t be the same without you.” My throat tightens and I give him another hug. “Love you, Daddy.”
When I get to Leo’s, he’s clearly worried about the length of time it’s taken me. He stands at the front door in only a pair of sweatpants, brows furrowed. “Everything okay? I was getting nervous.”
“Everything is great.” I get the bags and lug them once more into his house. He takes one from me and quirks a brow. “Is this all photography equipment?”
Suddenly, I’m nervous. He hasn’t asked me to move in with him again since we first got back together. I assumed he was giving me space and letting me get there on my own, but now I’m a little worried he won’t be as excited about my sudden desire to shack up.
I needed to feel more settled, like I had some clue what I was doing with my life. Some days I still feel like I’m about ten steps behind my peers, but I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t need to take a detour or ten to find my way.
And I’m sure that my way includes Leo.
“I decided that I didn’t want to stay at my parents’ house tonight.”
His face scrunches up. “Yeah, no kidding.”
“Or tomorrow night. And not the night after that either.”
I watch realization dawn on him, and his mouth pulls into a wide smile. That dimple on the left side of his face appears. He sweeps me off my feet and clutches me to his chest. “Really?”
“Really.”
He kisses me quickly and then takes both bags and hustles up the stairs with them. He tosses them in his walk-in closet, moves everything from one side, and tosses it in the other direction, making room for me.
“I think we can do that tomorrow.” I’m laughing as I watch him so eager to get me unpacked.
I take off my coat and toss it at his head. The black dress finally gets his attention. It’s modest, but the way Leo looks at me always sets me on fire.
“I’m never letting you leave now.”
“I can live with that.”
