Chapter 31
Sydney
The next morning, I was still in my running shorts with Emilia in my arms when the doorbell rang. I usually left her sleeping in the crib for half an hour when I went for a run. I never went too far, and circuited round and round in front of the house on the beach. I also had the baby monitor strapped to my arm so I would know if she woke up or started crying.
Emilia was in the sling again now and I was preparing her food, when the bell interrupted us. I walked over to the door with her, unsure of who it could be. My heart was beating out of my chest because I suspected it was Dane and I decided I wouldn’t open the door for him if that was the case. I looked through the peephole and was relieved to see that it was Leo on the other side. Exhaling a sigh of relief, I opened the door and greeted him with a smile.
Leo was back in his usual attire, with a huge smile on his face and his dirty blond hair falling lazily over his forehead and blue eyes.
“Morning, Sydney…morning baby girl,” he said and walked straight into the house. I closed the door behind him, wondering what he could possibly want. Leo seemed to be in a good mood nonetheless.
“Hi Leo,” I said, and followed him into the kitchen where he walked in confidently. My brows were crossed and I held Emilia tightly to myself.
“What are you two up to?” Leo asked and started pouring himself a glass of water from the tap. I watched him in surprise. I couldn’t imagine why he had suddenly started taking these liberties with me, in my house!
“I was just about to feed Em,” I said flatly and Leo sipped his water from the glass.
“Great…” he said and then his voice trailed off. I was glaring at him, and he grew slightly nervous under my stare.
“I just wanted to stop by and tell you what a good time I had last night,” he said, still looking nervous. I couldn’t help but continue to stare at him, because that was a complete lie. We both knew that the date had gone terribly. There was no spark, and no connection, and I had barely said anything all through dinner.
“Yeah? Good…I’m glad to hear it,” I said to him and gently swayed to keep Emilia entertained. Leo was watching me closely, his gaze was focused on the baby. Then he suddenly snapped himself out of his thoughts and looked back up at me.
“I know we got off to a rough start…but I’ve been doing some thinking lately, Sydney, and I’ve decided that I want to give our relationship an actual chance,” he said and I nearly burst into laughter.
“What relationship, Leo? I wasn’t aware that we had any relationship, other than being local acquaintances,” I said and gently stroked the top of Emilia’s head. She had woken up, but was keeping herself entertained by playing with the thin gold chain around my neck.
Leo gulped and shrugged his shoulders.
“Exactly, I want us to have a relationship,” he said and I stared at him in surprise. What was he trying to tell me? That he had suddenly decided that he liked me? After nearly five years of knowing me locally and sleeping with all the women he could possibly have? And what was the point now? I wasn’t even attracted to him any more. Now more than ever, after what happened with Dane the previous night; was proof that I couldn’t be with anyone else.
“I don’t know what to tell you, Leo. It’s not like we can suddenly decide to arrange ourselves a relationship,” I said and I found Leo looking at Emilia again. I took in a deep breath.
“If you feel sorry for me being a single mother, don’t be…please, I can manage on my own perfectly well,” I said and he looked back up at me. His blue eyes were narrowed and sunken. Like he hadn’t had much sleep the previous night. I couldn’t understand what had brought about this sudden change in him. One thing was certain though, that Leo Keegan didn’t look like a man in love.
“It isn’t just that, Sydney…you’re a strong, smart and beautiful woman and I’d be a fool to not be with you,” he said and placed his glass of water on my counter. I was still confused, but now I was beginning to feel a little sorry for him. Leo looked like he was going through something, like he was confused and he needed a friend.
“Leo, why don’t we talk about this later? Maybe we can meet for coffee or something and discuss this when I’m better prepared,” I said, and hoped that this approach might work. It did. Leo nodded his head and walked towards me.
“That would be nice. I think you’ll find that I’m making a lot of sense,” he said and then leaned in to place a tender kiss on Emilia’s head. She giggled and looked up at me and I smiled.
“I’ll see you later, Leo,” I said to him and he took the hint and left my house.
When I heard the door shut, I walked over and locked it. Not that he actually scared me, but I didn’t want to take any chances now that Emilia was here. I was confused and worried about Leo. What had given him the idea that we would be well suited as a romantic couple?
As if Dane being in town wasn’t complicated enough, now Leo too had started to act weirdly.