Page 121 of Light My Fire Three Times
I freeze for a second, my chest tightening. The last time we saw each other, things were tense.
I open it, trying to act casual.
Hey, once you’re done with the walk, will you come over?
My thumb hovers over the screen for a moment. A thousand thoughts explode in my brain all at once. I want to respond, I want to ask what he wants, but I don’t even know where to begin.
I glance up at Jesse and Karl.
They’re both looking at their phones.
“Did you guys get that text too?” Jesse asks. “Is Leo not here? I guess I haven’t seen him.”
“Same,” Karl agrees. “I guess he wants to talk to us all?”
I swallow hard. “So, should we go?”
Jesse offers me a one-shouldered shrug. “I think so. I mean… right?”
I nod, though a knot tightens in my stomach. “Yeah, I think you’re right.”
Karl finishes his drink, setting the cup down with a slight clink. “Alright, let’s go then. See what he wants.” He glances toward me. “Don’t worry, there isn’t going to be any more fighting tonight.”
“I hope you’re right.”
We fall into step, the three of us walking in the direction of Karl and Leo’s place. The crowd of lantern bearers thins as we walk away from the market, and the winter chill starts to settle into my bones again.
By the time Karl pulls out his keys, my heart is absolutely hammering against my rib cage. I can barely contain the nerves. Tonight has been so much fun, I don’t want it to end badly. I really don’t.
Karl opens the door, and I step inside. The warmth hits me first. I love this warmth; it was always very welcoming whenI lived here. But before I can get lost in the memories, Leo appears.
“Guys… hey.” He smiles awkwardly. “I think it’s time we all talk, don’t you?”
“Yeah, okay,” Karl answers first. “Let’s do it.”
We all sit in the living room, and I can’t stop my eyes from darting around the room, trying to find a safe place in all this uncomfortable energy.
“So, where do we start?” I ask, a little shaky.
Leo exhales sharply, rubbing a hand over his face. He's already exhausted by this conversation.
“We start with me admitting I was an ass,” he says, his gaze flicking to Karl and Jesse briefly before settling on me. “I overreacted. I let my anger get in the way of everything. I letmyneed for revenge against your old boss cloud my judgment. Of course, we should handle this however you want. Ofcourse.”
I blink at him, trying to process that. “Wow… thank you, yeah…”
“I shouldn’t have snapped at you,” Leo continues. “You’ve been through hell, and I didn’t take that into account. I just… I didn’t know how to watch you fall apart and not do something about it.”
I press my lips together. I want to tell him it’s okay, that I get why he did it. But instead, I nod, because he doesn’t need me to say it. He already knows.
“I know you were just looking out for me,” I finally say. “But I’m not helpless, Leo. I’m just… trying to deal with everything in the best way I can. The law is involved. I can’t deal with revenge.”
Leo’s jaw tightens at that, and I see the guilt wash over his face. He wasn’t expecting that response. I guess I wasn’t either. But it’s true.
“I get it,” Leo says after a long pause. His voice cracks, just a little, but enough for me to hear it. “I’m sorry, Liv. I hate seeing you go through this. I hate that I couldn’t help.”
I smile thinly and nod. “I understand, but please, just trust me.”
“That… isn’t everything,” Leo admits. “I do think we all need to talk. About us.”
