“When?”
I shrugged, unable to answer that too.
“Soon?”
I couldn’t answer that either, so I responded with the only thing I could…
“On your last day here, Lala. You’re mine.”
Chapter 16
—Mila—
I had no idea what he had planned for the day, but it didn’t stop my excitement for what was to come. For the last two days, Leo helped me pack up my bedroom and my apartment. Not once did he make me feel bad for my choice to move away.
He smiled.
He joked.
We laughed. A lot.
It was as if nothing was changing between us when we both knew that was the furthest thing from the truth. I think a part of him was excited for me or maybe that was my wishful thinking.
I got up extra early that morning since Leo said he’d be picking me up at nine. After I showered and washed my hair, I blow-dried it straight and went about my regular routine. Applying my usual make-up, I dressed in a pair of black leggings, a white tank, and a cream and pink checked flannel to finish off my outfit. Throwing on a pair of combat boots, I grabbed my backpack purse and was on my way downstairs when I heard Leo at the front door talking to my mom.
“There you are, honey,” she announced, opening the door a little wider to see Leo standing there with a bright smile on his face.
“Don’t you look dapper this morning,” I stated, referring to his pearly white teeth on full display.
“Oh, Mila,” Mom whimpered. “This will be the last time you’re going to be walking down those stairs.”
“Mom… please don’t start crying again.”
Leo chuckled, “Like mother, like daughter. You’ve been crying for the last three days.”
“And this will be the last time Leo will be picking you up,” she added, wiping away more tears.
“Mom, it’s not the last time. I will come home to visit.”
“Yes, but it won’t be the same.”
“Jeanie,” Dad spoke, walking into the foyer from his office. “Are you crying again?”
“Oh, you! Our baby is leaving, and you haven’t cried once.”
“Honey, she will be back before you know it. Do you remember when she was a kid and she couldn’t stay away from us or Leo for more than a day?” He pulled her into his arms. “She’ll be back sooner than you think. I know my girl.”
“Daddy, you don’t know that.”
He smiled at me. “You’ll see. I know everything.”
“Not that I want to break up this family moment, but we need to get going if we’re going to make our reservations.”
“Reservations? Where are you taking me?”
Leo ignored my question, kissing my mother on the cheek before we left. I couldn’t control my excitement in his truck, my knee was bouncing up and down until Leo placed his hand on my thigh. Grinning like a fool, he knew I hated surprises but secretly loved them at the same time.
It didn’t take long for us to pull into the parking lot I instantly recognized.
“I thought you said we had reservations?”
“I lied.” He jumped out of his Chevy and I followed suit. Opening the bed of his truck, I came to a complete stop when I realized what he’d done.
“Please don’t cry again.”
“Leo…”
He set up a whole spread for us, blankets, pillows, a cooler, and a picnic basket all stationed perfectly on the bed of his truck.
“I can’t believe you did this.”
I couldn’t, but it shouldn’t have shocked me. This was Leo to a T. Anytime he did anything for anyone there was a lot of thought behind his actions. This was one of the reason’s I never understood why he didn’t want a girlfriend or someone in his life, he’d make the best boyfriend. He was already the best, best friend a girl could ask for.
I was constantly swooning over his sweet gestures.
And this was no different.
—Leo—
I shrugged. I didn’t want to make a big deal about it. I wanted to do something nice for her, so I did. Gripping onto her waist, I lifted her up onto the bed of my Chevy. Ever since I could remember, she could never get up on her own.
“This is where I taught you to drive, Mila. It was your first taste of independence and I thought it’d be a great place to start your last day here.”
“This is really sweet, Leo. You’re such a good friend.”
“You make it easy.”
I laid out the food I made for us while she got comfortable on the pillows. Handing her orange juice with no pulp, she smirked at me.
“You even used the right jelly on my sandwich. Your mom doesn’t even buy this kind.”
I grinned.
We ate our food in silence but every so often I heard her take a deep breath. I knew she was content. In the grand scheme of things, this was a very simple gesture, but to Mila this meant everything. It was one of the traits I loved the most about her, she wasn’t like other girls. It was the simple stuff that truly made her happy and smile.