“I… um.”
“Come on.” Leah put her arm around my neck, and as she turned to stand beside me, I caught sight of Matt and Leandro. They were at the end of the sidewalk watching with curious gazes. It almost seemed like they were upset I got intercepted.
“We’re thinking of grilled cheeses at the cafeteria,” Marina said. “I know school food can be harsh, but we have the best cheese.”
“Well, actually,” I said as I stopped walking. Both girls turned to face me there in the middle of the sidewalk. “I have plans.” My eyes drifted up past the girls to Matt and Leandro. Leah turned first to see the guys, then Marina followed along.
“Oh, your dad’s here,” Leah smirked. “Are you going home for the weekend?”
“Oh, but we had movie plans again,” Marina said with a frown.
“So, they aren’t my dad and uncle.” Okay, it was now or never. I was going to be spending a lot of time with Leah and Marina over the next few years, and if Matt and Leandro meant anything to me, I had to be real with the girls. I couldn’t keep letting them think the guys were my family. At least not in that way. Besides, I owed it to Matt, and especially Leandro, after spending the whole summer telling them how they should just be themselves, no matter who’s around.
“No?” Marina looked back at the guys once more.
I shook my head with a smile. “Nope. They were my boyfriends.”
Leah shrieked in shock. “Both of them?”
“Yes. Both.”
Leah had a sour look on her face. “Like, at the same time?”
“Wow, Jourdanne!” Marina was impressed, but also a bit red in the face. It was kind of sweet.
“I’ll see you later, okay?” I said to them.
“Yeah,” Leah said with a smile. She seemed reluctant, but not as put off as she was at first. “See you then.”
I walked up to Matt and Leandro slowly as I thought about why they would come to see me. Matt had made it obvious we were through, but there he stood. His eyes looked sorrowful, almost like he was about to apologize. I didn’t hold my breath. I was prepared to argue with them, but as soon as I reached them, all the anger in me faded away. Leandro had a sweet smile on his face, and Matt was looking over me like he was trying to read my mind.
“What are you guys doing here?”
Matt took a deep breath, then he said, “I want to apologize for the last time we saw each other.”
I crossed my arms. “Really?” I totally called it.
“Yes, really,” Leandro added.
I just stood there and stared back at them. Maybe Leandro was just going along with Matt back on admissions day, but they hurt me. Matt hurt me terribly.
“Jourdanne, I didn’t want to push you away,” Matt said.
I rolled my eyes. “We had a deal, that’s all.”
“No, that’s not all.” Matt leaned forward, and his hands twitched at his hips as he drew in a sharp breath. “I…” He looked at Leandro for a pause before his eyes fell over mine. “We miss you.”
My first thought was that they wanted another contract, maybe something to last over the upcoming holidays. I missed the sex, but I wanted more. I deserved better.
I watched Matt glance over at Leandro again, who then nodded. When Matt’s eyes found mine, they were red and heavy with tears.
“Oh, Matt,” I whispered.
“I was wrong, Jourdanne. I was wrong to let you go.”
I shook my head in disbelief. Matt was so upset about it all, and I just wanted to grab him up and hold him close.
“I’m in love with you, Jourdanne. I have been all along.”
Leandro cleared his throat to Matt’s confession, and Matt immediately glanced sideways to catch his lover’s reaction.
Leandro, softly gazing at Matt and then me, said, “We both have.”
I couldn’t wait to pull them into my arms and hug them both. I just knew Leah and Marina were somewhere watching, but I no longer cared. I got on my toes and grabbed Matt’s face in my hands, then I kissed him until I ran out of air. After leaning back to see his smiling face, I turned and brought Leandro’s lips to mine.
Leandro drove us about thirty minutes into the countryside. Connecticut was gorgeous then with fall colors everywhere I looked. Rounding a big rolling meadow, he slowed down and pulled into a narrow drive lined with maple trees. Matt rolled down his window and the fresh country air filled the car with a sweetness that was almost too much to take.
“It’s so beautiful out here,” I said. “Tell me again why you guys insisted we take a drive?”
Matt turned and looked at me with a smile on his face. Leandro then looked at Matt and did the same, but neither of them said a word.