Page 84 of Christmas Crisis
My molars clenched. “I’m going to do exactly what I think is right. I’m clear on your position, but I can take it from here.”
“Shutting me down won’t make this any better.”
“Oh, and fighting with you will?”
“I prefer that to your accepting being treated like shit.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I feel like I have to keep trying here. Even if you hate me for it.”
“Well, I don’t want to get to that point.”
I’d said something awful, and Leo’s reaction was to love me through it. He thought he was making me see the light about Stone, but all he’d really done was show me how much he cared.
I couldn’t shut off wanting him.
And that was probably the only thing I could ever hate him for.
He blew out a careful breath. “You know I’m not judging you, Miranda. Or your choices. I’m just worried about you.”
“Well, you don’t have to be.” He needed to stop being so understanding. “I don’t know why I called. And I’m not really mad about the picture—”
“Are you trying to convince me or yourself?”
“You know what, Leo? I can’t deal with this right now. And that’s on me. Because I’m the one who called. I shouldn’t have.”
“I never said that.”
“Just stop, okay? Let’s just hang up and cool down and talk later.”
He paused before finally nodding. “Alright. I’ll call you tomorrow. Happy Halloween.”
“Night, Leo.”
We hung up, and I went to bed. Feeling like utter shit. Surprisingly, I fell asleep quickly. Then again, I’d never wanted to put a cap on a day more.
Stone came in during the night, bearing flowers and apologetic words. I huffed and rolled over.
In the morning, I slept late. He was eating breakfast when I came out of the bedroom. His duffel sat by the door.
“You’re leaving?”
“In about an hour,” he replied, munching a spoonful of cereal. “I wish we had more time, but I have to jump on a Zoom in five minutes.” He padded over and gave me a kiss on the forehead.
I studied his big smile and his sweet, uncomplicated face. After my fight with Leo, I wasn’t in the mental headspace to break up with him. It would need to wait until the next time he was in town. I supposed that was okay. It had kept this long.
“Sorry I got in so late last night, babes,” he offered sheepishly. “There were a lot more VIPs at the party than I was expecting, and Naomi offered to make a few introductions.”
I snorted. “It’s fine. Since you’re jumping on a call, I’m gonna grab a shower.”
Stone was sitting at the kitchen island, sipping coffee, when I came out of the bedroom twenty minutes later.
“Meeting over?” I asked.
“Rescheduled.” He shrugged. “Oh—Leo called while you were in the shower.”
Memories of last night rolled over me. Acid churned in my throat, reminding me of words I desperately wished I could take back. Willing myself to act nonchalant, I asked, “You picked up?”
“Yeah. I know he’s basically your family, and since he knows about me, I figured it was okay. In case it was an emergency, you know, since he was calling and not texting.”
“I understand. But…what did he say?”
