Page 110 of Risk It All
“Hey, can we—” I started to say, but it was Ray who was prepping the ingredients for the weekend. My lips parted as I looked around. “Is Leo in today?”
Ray shook his head. “He’s not. Taking a few personal days this week.”
My heart rate kicked up a notch. I had a whole plan. I was ready. I was finally going to tell him how I felt. Was it too late?
“Is he still in town? Is he…” Was hegone?
Ray set his knife down, turning to face me and leaning against the kitchen counter. “I don’t…”
I could tell Ray knew more but was wrestling with whether he should tell me or not. It spoke to the bonds that Leo had built during his time here.
“Ray, please. I need to see him.”
Ray exhaled. “You didn’t hear it from me, but he has a couple of interviews in Chicago tomorrow afternoon. He was debating leaving tonight or first thing tomorrow morning to wait out the storm. I don’t know what he decided to do.”
“Fuck,” I said under my breath. “But there’s a chance he’s still here?”
“There’s a chance.”
I needed to move.
“Okay, thanks, Ray.” I gave him an appreciative smile.
“Glad you two got your heads out of your asses,” he said with a crooked smile before turning back to his prep.
“It was more me than him, but yeah, me too!” I called over my shoulder.
My first stop was Leo’s apartment, but when I didn’t get an answer after pounding on his door—and getting dirty looks from our neighbors—I’d concluded he wasn’t home. His phone went straight to voice mail, but his car was still in the garage when I checked, which gave me hope he was somewhere in town.
“Please be up here,” I whispered as I climbed the stairs up to the roof.
I vividly remembered our first conversation up here when he’d just gotten to town. It was hard to believe how much had changed in such a short amount of time. How many memories we’d made. How much I missed being up here with him and the routine we’d built together.
I didn’t have high hopes that he’d be up here, especially when I pushed open the door and was met with puffy white clouds and a gray sky. The air was thick, heavy, and muggy.
Even though June was the start of summer with clear blue skies and warm days, it was the rainiest month in northern Wisconsin.
Thunder rumbled in the distance while I scanned the area, not seeing Leo in the spot that overlooked the lake or sitting in any of the chairs.
I swore under my breath, ready to turn around. I’d call him again, sit in front of his door, check to see if he was somewhere downtown. Whatever it took to see him.
Ineededto see him.
I was about to turn around when I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. I took a few steps forward, unsure how I missed him the first time.
He stood on the other side of the roof that faced downtown. His shirt stretched across his broad back and the muscles in his arms flexed as he gripped the edge of the brick.
He was here.
Relief coursed through my body, a sensation unlike anything I’d ever experienced.
I swallowed the emotion clawing up my throat and let out a deep exhale. He was still here.
I licked my lips, ready to say his name, to tell him everything, as the first drops of rain fell from the sky. My stomach flipped, and while I knew I wanted to do this, I also wanted to turn around and run away. But I kept my feet firmly planted, ready to risk it all for the man I loved.
The few extra seconds were enough to get Leo to turn around, running a hand through his wavy hair and pulling his headphones out of his ears, placing them in the case and sliding it back in his pocket.
When his eyes met mine, he jolted in surprise, likely because I’d been standing here silently watching him like a creep. Not quite the vibe I wanted to set.
