A Convenient Arrangement(51)

“Are you bringing the boyfriend tomorrow?” Aubrey asked, a warm lilt in her voice.

The boyfriend. Wow, was Leo even that? She’d thought that they’d arrive together for Sunday dinner tomorrow, but now…now…why even have that moment? Why subject everyone to an uncomfortable scene, as it would be when the family found out who she’d been dating, when she already knew the relationship’s inevitable outcome? She was certain the affair with Leo would end. She wanted kids. A marriage. A home life that included PTA, and loud Saturday mornings and soccer and ballet class and messy sticky fingers and well…it would seem Leo didn’t. So why? Why go through the motions of being involved when really, she would just fall deeper and deeper and harder and harder and the pieces of her shattered heart would be that much more impossible to put back together when they finally faced the truth that the two of them wanted completely and utterly different lives.

“Not sure,” Gwen said, avoiding Aubrey’s gaze. “Something may have…he might not be able to come to dinner tomorrow.”

“Oh no.” Aubrey sipped her tea. “Is everything…is everything okay?”

“Just a hiccup, really. A bump. You know how new relationships are. We’ll see. You either work through those things or you don’t.”

“I do know.” Aubrey focused past Gwen, on the picture above the fireplace of her, Max, and Justin. “Well, if the hiccup works out, do bring him. I’m excited to meet him. Justin said that Leo’s bringing the woman he’s been dating. Can’t believe he’s actually bringing a woman to Sunday dinner. He must really care for her. So against type.” She rubbed her foot up and down her shin. “Next thing you know, he’ll be telling us he’s getting married and having kids.” Aubrey said the words as though that was nearly as far-fetched as the sun changing orbit and circling the moon. Gwen had to admit to herself that Aubrey had a point. Really, Leo wanting children, it would seem, would be just as impossible.



*



“You left early.” Gwen held her keys in her hand. She had arrived back at her walk-up apartment to find Leo standing outside the door, leaning against the wall, all male perfection and casual masculinity. She pasted a smile to her face. He could come and go as he wished. They weren’t tied at the hip; to be fair, no one even knew they were dating. A sliver of sadness sliced through her heart. No one might ever know, not after today, if Gwen was right about her guess as to what had made Leo flee Aubrey’s baby shower.

“I did. But I’ve arrived here bearing gifts.” From behind his back he flourished a bottle of Veuve Clicquot and a bag of Chinese takeout.

“What are we celebrating?” Gwen inserted the key into the lock and opened her front door. Leo followed her into the apartment.

“So many things.” He set the bag and bottle on the entryway table and removed Gwen’s coat. “First your success today. If all the oohs and aahs and all the estrogen oozing through the room were an indicator, the baby shower was a smashing success.”

“Aubrey was pleased.” Gwen hung her purse next to the door.

“Ah yes, well, as long as the mother-to-be was happy, then you did a good job.”

Yes, she’d done a good job, a better than good job. Melancholy drained the joy out of her triumph. “What else?”

“Looks like the numbers for the soft launch of the app are off the charts.”

“That is good news.” She’d had no doubt that Leo’s app would be a success. Anything he touched seemed to turn to gold.

“The best. I thought champagne, Chinese food, and a movie were in order.” He walked by her in the narrow hallway toward the kitchen, where he pulled down plates and took out silverware.

She wanted to be happy. She should be happy. The man she was falling for had been waiting at her front door with two things she loved. But heaviness still surrounded her heart. “Leo, I wanted to—”

He turned his head toward her and smiled. That smile, the devilish smile that carved dimples in his cheeks and put a flashing gleam in his eyes. His gaze focused on her with an intensity, a happiness, a…was that, maybe, a flicker of love? Her heart melted. Her resolve to have a real and honest conversation flitted away like a butterfly in a bright summer breeze. She couldn’t say the words, not now. All she wanted was to sit next to Leo, drink champagne, eat amazing food, and snuggle into his arms. He raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to continue.

“Let’s eat before our dinner gets cold.”





Chapter 15




“Are you ready for this?” Leo wrapped his arm around Gwen’s waist and pulled her close. Anxiety raced through her body. No, she really wasn’t ready to go to the Travati family Sunday dinner as Leo’s date. She’d gone nearly every Sunday since Aubrey and Justin got married, and she’d embraced the atmosphere of support and love that flowed from the family each week. It was like swimming in a warm sea, a feeling so different from her childhood, but today felt different. Instead of enjoying the welcoming feeling of coming home to be embraced by people she loved, truthfully, she felt a bit sick.