“I’m starting to think my brother doesn’t tell me anything anymore,” he grumbled, giving Leila a knowing look.

“So, Drew’s playing hockey,” Leila asked for clarification, her hand intertwining with his because she understood the magnitude of what Chet was telling them.

“Yes. He’s amazing,” Chet said with a laugh. “I’m surprised Henrik hasn’t been sending scouts to the pickup games on Thursday nights. The kid has got some impressive skills.”

“He’s playing pickup games?” He shot Leila another look. “I guess now we know where he’s been creeping off to at night in his sneakers.”

“I wonder why he didn’t tell us.”

“I don’t know,” he sighed. “I’m glad to hear it, though. Chet’s right. Drew was amazing at hockey. It’s a shame he gave it up.”

“Well, you’re welcome to join anytime,” Chet encouraged. Someone called for him from the bar, and he gave them a wave. “I’ll see you next month for sure, though.”

“Yes, of course.”

Chet left them alone, and Leila must have realized he suddenly had a lot of his mind, because she pulled him over to the side. “Want to skip out of here early?”

“Are you asking if I want to track down my brother and finally shake some truth out of him?”

She grinned, running her finger up the front seam of his tux jacket. “I meant more like us, continuing our date someplace with a few less distractions.”

He eyed her. “You’re not going to let me ask Drew about the hockey thing, are you?”

“He will tell us when he’s ready.”

“But he’s playing hockey again! Do you know how long I’ve waited for this? You saw him at the Halloween party. He wouldn’t even put skates on. He stayed in the suite with Sam and Callen, playing video games.”

“I understand it’s a big deal, but obviously, this is something Drew needs to do on his own. Whatever is changing in his life right now is working, so just trust in that, and in Drew.”

He screwed up his face. He wasn’t accustomed to letting his baby brother cope on his own. He’d always been there, every step of the way, prepared to catch him if he happened to fall. Now, Leila suggested he do nothing.

“I know it’s a difficult concept for you.”

“More like impossible,” he groaned. “However, I think maybe I could be swayed this one time, depending on your proposal for our after dinner activities.”

She shot him a quick, brilliant smile. “You know that ice cream place in East Park? 16 Handles?”

“That’s my favorite place.”

“I know.”

He threw his arm around her, hugging her close to his side before glancing over at the bar where Austin stood with Sam and a group of other guys. “Tell your brother nothing.”

Leila zipped her lips and threw away the key as they snuck through the crowd and out the back door.

Chapter 23

 

 

LEILA’S CHOICE

“You realize we look crazy, right?”

Henrik shoved another giant spoonful of ice cream in his mouth, shrugging. “It’s New York. We fit in.”

Leila looked around, grinning to herself as she watched the unruly city patrons rush by them. He was probably right. They sat on a park bench, dressed to the nines, eating ice cream in the middle of December. It didn’t make any sense, but that was what she liked about it the most. He’d given her his jacket, but she still shivered as she twirled her spoon around in her cup.

“What are you thinking about?” he inquired around a mouthful of peanut butter blast.

Apparently, his tux didn’t come with table manners. She took a small bite off her spoon in response and swallowed. “Nothing in particular. Just everything.”

“Well, that qualifies for elaboration,” he instructed, scooting closer to her on the bench.

She sighed and nodded before leaning into him. She was comfortable there with their shoulders connected. Safe, and dared she say, loved. All things she didn’t realize were missing in her life. “I was thinking about Drew,” she admitted, “and how he seems to be moving forward in his life. I guess it’s made me think about myself a little.”

Nerves twirled in her stomach. It was time she told somebody. She couldn’t go on pretending forever. They all needed to know about the medicine, and the clinical study. Drew would be too emotional, and Austin too protective. Her best option was Henrik.

“Would this be referring to that conversation you keep avoiding with me? Because Drew’s been asking questions, and pushing me to talk to you about it.”

She stared at the ice cream. “I know. Trust me, he’s been asking me questions too.”

Drew practically kept a running tally of her every move. Noting her every absence. Clocking her every nap. It was cruel not to tell him.

“He’s worried about you, and I think you know why.”

“Drew is afraid of losing me,” she said, setting her cup of ice cream down next to her. “He’s always had that fear. He was a complete mess the year I graduated. It wasn’t until you told me about your mom that I really understood it.”

“Should he be concerned about that now?” Henrik sat his ice cream down between them. “Should I be?”

She reached over and took his hand. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“He’s seen you take medicine. He’s been—”

“I’m not dying, Henrik.”

He let out a gush of air. “Then what is it? What happened between Derek cheating on you, and you showing up here?”

A small smile formed on her lips before she nervously bit her bottom lip. She reached forward and kissed him, soft and gentle. “You,” she whispered, “you happened.”

His breath staggered out in a half laugh. “I thought you said you didn’t come back for me.”

A car pulled up behind them and honked. Leila knew it was their driver, but she turned anyway.

“Come on, let’s go home,” she said, standing.

He didn’t move. “Answer me first.”

She looked at him, her body preparing herself for the confession. “I’d rather show you.”

“How?”

“You remember that black bag I showed up with at your door?”

“Yes.”

She smiled, laughing nervously. “Then come on, let’s go home so I can show you.”

***

Leila stepped out of the car in front of their apartment building, her breath already caught in her throat. It was time. She was finally going to tell Henrik. She wanted it to be different, to be already out on her own, have herself put back together, but she was running out of time.

“Go on up,” he whispered, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. “It’s cold. I’m going to pay Ken, and I’ll be right behind you.”

She nodded and headed for the door, which Carl held open. She was relieved for the moment of privacy. She needed time to put her thoughts in order. She’d imagined a thousand different scenarios in her head, none of them like this, and it was causing her to panic. At that moment, she had everything, even if physically she had barely anything to her name. The comfort her family provided the last two months had been unbelievable, and for the first time she included Henrik in that assessment.

She needed Henrik. She never thought she’d say that, but it was true.

Her thoughts raced as she stepped into the elevator. Her palms turned clammy and her mouth dried out. How could Henrik continue to have such a drastic effect on her after all these years? Eventually, you would think she’d become immune to him, but even the thought of seeing his face again in a few short minutes spiked her heartrate.

She continued to prepare her speech in her head, each pass through becoming more rambled than the first. She was so caught up in her thoughts that it took a moment for her to register the harsh voices booming through the opening elevator doors.

Drew’s volatile warning came first. “I wouldn’t tempt me, asshole. It’s taking all the restraint I can muster not to clock you. I might suggest toning down your attitude a notch.”