Chapter 15
Sydney
Leo had asked me to meet him for lunch at Nancy’s Seafood shack by the beach, and at midday; I walked to it. I was still in two minds about whether to actually go or not, even as I walked in and saw him sitting at a table by the window. When I met Leo at the beach in the morning, he was polite and charming as always and told me that he wanted to discuss his music in more detail. I insisted that I still had no constructive feedback to give him because I had no technical experience in music. Leo pressed my hand and insisted again, and I had no other choice but to give in. Besides, it would give me a good excuse to get out of the house, and away from Dane. I couldn’t look at him without imagining him inside me.
I’d slipped into a breezy yellow sundress before going to the restaurant, and had left my hair open and now it flapped in the sea breeze as I weaved around the tables to where Leo was sitting.
He was as handsome as always, slightly suntanned and muscular in only a thin cotton t-shirt and cargo shorts. His dirty blond hair was ruffled in the breeze too and he had a pair of dark sunglasses hanging from the neck of his t-shirt. Leo stood up when I approached his table, and I was suddenly reminded of the skinny blond girl he had gone home with the previous night.
“Thanks for coming, Sydney,” he said and leaned in to give me a peck on my cheek. I smiled at him self-consciously and sat down. Leo was just as good looking as the previous night, and just as charming, but something had changed in me. I wasn’t as nervous or gushing around him any more. Sleeping with Dane had probably filled me with some confidence I wasn’t expecting earlier.
“Sure, but I don’t know how big of a help I can be to you,” I said to him but he shook his head.
“You’re the only one in town who knows something about music. I should have come to you for advice sooner, in fact,” he said, while looking at the menu. We fell into silence while we read our menus.
Nancy came over herself to take our orders and after she was gone, I sipped quietly from my glass of iced water. Leo was looking at me, like he had something to say. When our eyes met, I smiled. I wasn’t sure what he wanted to ask, so I cleared my throat.
“So, how was your night? Looked like you were a big success with the tourists as usual,” I told him and Leo laughed. Then he ran a hand through his hair and eyed me with some embarrassment.
“Shit. Yeah, I forgot you were there at the door when I left. I’ve forgotten her name now,” he said and I arched an eyebrow.
“Melissa,” I told him and he shot me a look of surprise.
“Yeah, that’s right. She was nice. She’s probably already left by now,” he added and I looked away from him, to the sea. I thought I would be jealous or hurt when I met him. The truth about Leo had come out the previous night. He wasn’t interested in me romantically or sexually. I was stupid to think that he was. But now I was grateful for Dane. He had made me feel attractive, otherwise I would have been in bits by now.
“So, what did you want to discuss with me, Leo?” I changed the topic. Clearly, he had no interest in discussing his sex life with me. And I had no interest in it either. It would only lead to more jealousy.
The food arrived just then, breaking us up. This gave Leo some more time to prepare what he was going to say to me. It was only after I had taken a bite out of the lobster roll on my plate, that he spoke again.
“I was wondering if you had some contacts in San Fransisco or anywhere else. You know, for the album I’ve recorded?” he said, watching me closely with eyes that seemed humble. I clenched my jaw as I stared at him. This was why he was interested in even talking to me! I should have known. I could kick myself with how foolish I felt.
“I don’t anymore, Leo…” I began to say, but he leaned towards me over the table.
“You’ve seen me perform, Sydney. You know I’m good. I just need a break. Someone to give me a chance. My music a chance,” he said and I licked my lips. His blue eyes were sparkling, staring right into mine. I was reminded again of how good looking he was. And he was right, he was talented.
“I wish I could help, Leo. But that chapter of my life is closed,” I told him. How was I supposed to tell him that I was fired from my job for sleeping with my boss? That it was my boss who had fired me. The man I was having an affair with and who I was falling in love with.
Leo reached out and grasped my hand which was on the table.
“I’m sorry, Sydney. I know this sounds like too much to ask. But I’m desperate. I need to get out of this place. My music is desperate to be shared with other people. You’re the only one who can help, Sydney, please…” Leo was pleading with me now and by this time I was in shock.
We were staring at each other, he was melting me with his strong gaze…those luscious lips, the strong jaw, the perfectly bronzed skin…
“I’ll see what I can do, Leo, but I can’t make any promises,” I said to him and he sat back in his chair again, with a grin on his face. I could do nothing else but smile at him. That familiar feeling of being important to Leo was creeping back.