Page 83 of All That We Are Together

“Now why the hell…?” He closed his lips when he understood what I meant, and a thin grin spread across his lips. “Just say when.”

“Tonight?”

“Sure. You had dinner?”

“No. Anything you’ve got will be fine, though.”

He went into the kitchen. “I’ve got a little leftover lasagna from yesterday and…”

“That’ll do,” I said, interrupting him, then sitting on one of the stools.

He heated up two plates, and we ate in silence, looking up at each other now and then, otherwise lost in our thoughts. For a moment, I felt I’d traveled into the past. I finished my glass of water in one sip.

“How will we do it?”

“There’s not too many neighbors. We can go around the back and climb the wall. I’ll take something to jimmy the door. You’re sure about this, right?”

“Couldn’t be surer,” I responded.

70

Axel

I wanted to ask why she hadn’t gotten Oliver to help her instead. Or Landon. Or anyone. She could have saved herself three hours on a bus, and the bother of having to see me, or so I thought, because despite our so-calledfriendship, I wasn’t always sure she could even stand to be around me. At least, that was the conclusion I’d come to after realizing one of the problems with Paris was that I would be there.

But I was so happy to see her that a part of me knew I’d do anything she asked. Because my heart raced every time she was near. Because I got hard when I saw her. Because she had the prettiest face in the world and I wanted to kiss her all over.

“You ready, Leah? Come on.”

We’d walked around the property and had our flashlights off, so we could only see by the light of the moon. She stepped into some bushes, I grabbed her by the waist, lifted her up, and got her close to the edge of the wall. She climbed up and jumped off, and I did the same. I stretched my arm out to her.

“Give me your hand,” I said.

Her fingers met mine in the darkness, and I ignored the shiver that ran up my spine as I pulled her toward the house through the overgrown grass and weeds. We walked up the back porch, and I let her go when we were at the door. I crossed my fingers, hoping it would open easily.

“Let me light it up for you,” she said and turned on her flashlight.

I bumped the door with my shoulder, and the wood cracked loudly. I closed my eyes and did it again, I heard a snap, and it tore open.

“Ready?” I asked.

She nodded.

This time her hand sought mine on its own, and when we set foot inside what had been her home for so many years, she squeezed mine, and in that gesture I felt trust. There were memories in each corner and on each of the furnishings now covered with sheets.

“Babe, if you want to go, just tell me.”

“I’m fine.” She sniffled. “I swear, I’m fine.” She seemed to want to convince herself that it was true. “There’s so much stuff here, so many…”

Her flashlight moved through the living room and across the stairs, which creaked beneath the weight of our steps as we mounted them. I waited patiently on the threshold as Leah peeked into her bedroom.

Then we went to Douglas’s studio.

I wasn’t ready for everything I felt when I walked in. Seeing his pictures leaning on the wall, his paints, his easels. I tried to keep my cool as I heard Leah sobbing.

“Everything’s okay,” she whispered. “I’m just…feeling a little weak. I can do it, though, Axel. I want to.”

She looked through the paintings. I helped her set a few of them aside. Then I saw one that made me freeze.