Page 54 of In His Skates

“All right. I’ll talk to you when you get back.” He ends the call but keeps staring at his phone.

“Hey, man, are you okay?” I ask.

He gets up suddenly and goes to the door.

“Where are you going?”

He stops with his hand on the doorknob and replies without turning around. “I can’t look at you now knowing that… Fuck.”

He walks out of the room, and I debate what to do next. Bobbi no longer thinks Leigh is crazy, but how come I don’t feel an ounce of relief? My chest is still super tight. I run to the bathroom to wash my face, then go find Bobbi.

He’s in the kitchen, bracing his hand on the kitchen island with his head down. There’s a bottle of whiskey in front of him and an empty glass.

“How did it happen?” he asks without looking up.

“We have no idea. Like I said, we woke up this morning like this. I thought I was dreaming at first.”

Bobbi finally meets my eyes. His gaze is hard, resolved. “Tell me everything.”

21 LEIGH

It’s a miracle I don’t get into a car accident on the drive back home. I can’t believe Keanu opened his big mouth and told Bobbi everything. I can only imagine how freaked out Bobbi must be. I was so distraught that I don’t even know what suit I brought with me. I hope it’s not something old that doesn’t quite fit Keanu anymore.

My heart is tight when I finally arrive and burst through the front door. Keanu and Bobbi are sitting on the couch in the living room, as far away as possible from each other. Both turn in my direction, and it kills me when Bobbi winces.

“Hey,” I say. Bobbi remains quiet as he watches me approach. “How are you feeling?”

“Overwhelmed. Are you really in there, Leigh?”

I nod, fighting the tears that are forming.

“I told him everything,” Keanu chimes in.

“Okay.” I wipe the moisture from the corners of my eyes. “You need to get ready.”

“Yeah, I know.” He stands up, still wearing my bathrobe. “You too.”

“I only have to put the suit on. It won’t take that much time. You still have to do your makeup.”

“I’m going to need your help.”

I glance at Bobbi again. I so want to talk to him without Keanu around.

As if reading my mind, he says, “Go help Keanu. We can talk later.”

The barbed wire around my heart squeezes tighter. “Bobbi…”

“It’s okay, Leigh. I know you’re pressed for time, and I need a moment to process everything.” He stands from the couch.

“Where are you going?”

“Home. We’ll talk later, okay?”

There’s nothing I can do right now besides let him go. “Okay.”

Bobbi can barely maintain eye contact as he walks past me and leaves. I stay rooted to the spot, staring at the closed door. I’m so wrapped in my misery that I don’t notice Keanu’s approach until he touches my lower back.

“He’ll be okay, Leigh.”