Although Leah woke when it was still dark, she felt as though the sun was shining as brightly as it would in the middle of the day. She was still feeling the warmth from Boomhauer's embrace, and reveling in the excitement that he agreed to spend time with her this weekend.
Her morning run was a brisk and satisfying start to the day as always. Later, when she was leaving for work, she felt a slight pang of disappointment that Boomhauer wasn't outside getting ready to leave as well, like he usually was. Leah didn't think much of it, though. Sometimes he left earlier or later than she did. But on the days when she saw him and they waved to each other were days that seemed to be that much more cheerful.
Going back to work after a week in a hospital was a mild readjustment, but she was glad to be getting back into her usual routine and tackling her workload. The other legal assistants had handled her absence as best as they could, but looked very relieved to see her step through the door that morning.
When she took her lunch break, she sent a text to her father, who said things were going well for him. Then she sent a text to her brother, who reassured her that her father was telling the truth.
Her paperwork inbox whittled down as the day went on. Eventually it was time to go home, and she was looking forward to relaxing again.
Leah went about changing out of her office clothes and making a quick dinner of a spicy quinoa and tofu bowl. She was feeling rather inspired ever since she opened the brand new sketchbook, and even more so after seeing the light in Boomhauer's eyes as he looked at her last night. Maybe she would start drawing tonight, outside in nature, with the influence of her garden flowers surrounding her.
She dug through a box in the closet and found her graphite pencils, colored pencils, and ink pens. It felt good holding them again after so long. She could feel the energy flowing through their cores and into her fingertips. Lines and shapes drew themselves across her mind, and swirls of color filled them, creating beautiful still images and landscapes, forming all of the things she used to create, years ago…
Before she could sit down to start again, however, her phone rang. She drew in a sharp breath and peeked cautiously at the screen, and breathed out in relief when she saw it was Peggy.
"Leah! Luanne is stopping by to visit, would you like to come over? Lucky is taking the baby to see his sister, and Luanne is dying for some adult time."
"I'd love to!" Leah chirped, "I'll be right over!"
She set her sketchbook and pencils aside for later, and stepped outside into the warm evening air.
Hank, Dale, Bill, and Boomhauer were out in they alley now, drinking their after dinner beers.
She felt a thrill lurching in her stomach when she saw Boomhauer. She was so excited to be alone with him this weekend.
"Hi, guys," she greeted brightly as she crossed the alley. "I'm on my way to see Peggy and Luanne."
She wasn't sure how she expected Boomhauer to react to seeing her again, after their brief moment in her backyard the night before, but she surely didn't imagine him to look stiffly off into the distance.
They all said hello to her, even Boomhauer, though his was mumbled.
"We're all coming with you and Boomhauer this weekend!" Dale told her excitedly.
"You are?"
She looked at Boomhauer for his response, but he just looked annoyed, still not making eye contact.
"We're going bowling," Dale nodded.
"Oh…?"
"Boomhauer said we could all join you. Didn't you, Boomhauer?" Bill gave him a smug grin.
Leah looked for Boomhauer's response again, a bemused expression on her face. He simply shrugged in return.
"Is that okay, Leah?" asked Hank.
"Um...yeah, that sounds fun."
She was puzzled by this, thinking the moment she and Boomhauer shared was something special, but she must have gotten it all wrong. Maybe he really did only like her as a friend, as she had initially believed.
She tried to save face and act like this sudden change of plan hadn't thrown her for a loop. "So...bowling, huh? I haven't gone bowling since I was a kid."
"It's going to be great!" Dale whooped, "And Nancy and Peggy are coming too."
"Sounds like fun," she smiled, trying to cover her disappointment. "Well, Peggy and Luanne are expecting me. I'll see you guys later!"
Leah's mind went back to last night. It was he who hugged her, like he wanted to. She thought that meant something. The way his eyes softened when he looked into hers; the way he smiled at her; the charged energy between them.
Was she missing something? Was she looking too deeply into it?
She walked past them all and into Hank and Peggy's back yard, where she found Peggy and Luanne sitting together on the outdoor couch.
"Hi," Leah smiled, and sat on the adjacent loveseat.
Peggy handed her a glass of wine she had poured on the side table beside them.
"We're so glad you could come! Nancy is working late and Minh is at Connie's violin recital. Poor Luanne hasn't socialized with adults in days."
"There's only so much of Elmo I can take," Luanne sighed.
Leah laughed. "I'm always glad to see you, Luanne. I know Gracie keeps you very busy."
Peggy talked about new articles she'd been writing, Leah mentioned upcoming home improvement projects she had planned, Luanne told them about a new storyline she was working on for the Manger Babies.
"I've been really thinking about the Manger Babies using breathing and relaxing techniques, like in your yoga, to teach kids ways to calm themselves down when they're feeling frustrated or upset."
"That's a very good idea," Leah said.
"I need to have more hands on experience though, to get myself in the right mindset when I write those episodes."
"I will guide you through a yoga session any time," Leah offered. "If you ever have a weekend morning free, come on over!"
"Speaking of the weekend," Peggy started, "I hear we're all going bowling together Friday night?"
"I suppose so, yeah."
Peggy looked inquisitively at Leah, knowing there was more underneath her flippant answer.
"Did you ask Boomhauer out?"
Sheepishly, Leah nodded. "But I guess he told everyone else to come too..."
"Well, it sounded to me like they all invited themselves. "
"Hmmm…"
Couldn't he have told them no?...
Peggy spoke again. "I was a little surprised to hear you asked him out. I didn't realize you felt that way about him."
"I'm starting to see more of what's under that passive exterior," Leah smiled, "I wouldn't mind getting to know him more."
"Leah, I'm not sure if you know this, being new to town and all," Luanne spoke gently, like she was explaining something to a child, "But Mr. Boomhauer is only interested in one thing."
"That's what I've been hearing, but-"
"Just be careful, Leah," Peggy cautioned. "But I have to say...I've known him for over twenty years, and it seems to me like he's turning around lately. Especially after Katherine."
"Who's Katherine?" Leah was being nosy, she knew, but she was very curious about Boomhauer. She really didn't know much about him.
"His ex girlfriend. Out of high school and into college they dated. We all really thought he would have put a ring on that one. But he decided he didn't want to settle down and broke up with her. Then a year or two ago, she shows back up again, this time engaged to his brother, and Boomhauer's old feelings for her rekindled. Katherine and Patch broke up, and Boomhauer wanted to try again with her. She said she needed time to think, but I don't think she ever got back in touch with him after that."
Leah blinked. "Wow."
"Tell me about it...you should have been here for the drama."
"Patch tried to pay me for a lap dance when he and Katherine were still engaged!" Luanne cringed.
"He tried to hire prostitutes during his bachelor party, too. Boomhauer stopped him, though," Peggy said to Leah's confused look, "Boomhauer might like his revolving door of women, but I can definitely say that he is not a pig."
Well...that was good, at least.
It was getting late, so late that Luanne bid them goodbye to get home to get Gracie ready for bed. Hank came home not long after when the alley began dispersing.
"You girls still out here?" Hank chuckled as he approached the patio.
"I was actually about to head home myself," Leah said, standing up from the loveseat, "I'm starting to feel pretty tired."
"Well, if you hurry, you might uh, catch Boomhauer out there. I uh, don't think he headed home yet."
"Oh." Leah wondered if Hank was telling her that for a reason. He did seem to say it with an airy tone, like he was trying to sound casual. "Thanks, Hank. I suppose I'll say goodnight to him on my way home."
"Thank you for coming over, Leah!" Peggy stood and hugged her goodbye.
"Thank you for inviting me. I always have a fun time with you and Luanne!"
"Of course! Well, I'll see you tomorrow. As well as this Friday when we all go bowling." She gave Hank a sharp look, as if it were his fault everybody was going to be intruding on Leah and Boomhauer.
Leah said goodnight to them both and walked out to the alley. Sure enough, Hank was right. Boomhauer was there, alone under the street light, leaning against the fence. His profile was always so striking to her, with his long, straight nose, sharp jawline, strong chin. Not to mention his angular yet wiry physique which she dearly wanted on top of her.
Christ, what a long dry spell this has been.
"Hey," she said softly. He turned his head slightly to the side to glance at her out of the corner of his eye.
"Hey."
"Lonely?"
Boomhauer smiled. "Not anymore."
She stood beside him in the quiet of the night, under the warm yellow glow of the street light. She wondered what she should say, wanting to fill the silence with something, but after a moment it was he who spoke first.
"Sorry about earlier."
"What do you mean?"
"I know it was going to be just us this weekend. But Bill, uh, and Dale, found out and invited themselves."
"It's alright. It will be fun." She smiled at him, which he returned with relief. "And there's always another day."
"Yep…"
He seemed hesitant, but said nothing else, and instead looked out into the clear, open starry sky above them.
Leah felt him holding back, but why? She always felt such a connection between them, a kindred plane of energy, and the more she got to know him, the more she felt it… surely he could feel it, too?
"I didn't know you were a bowler," Leah teased him after another beat of silence.
He groaned. "That was Dale's idea."
She giggled at his irritation, to which he grinned reluctantly and looked at her out of the corner of his eye again. They were standing closely together, hardly a foot between them...she liked how his neck looked, statuesque, a strong Adam's apple...she wanted to graze her lips against it…
"What would your idea have been?" she asked, voice low with a hint of suggestiveness.
He was startled by how suddenly brazen she was, as it wasn't something he had ever seen from her before. A warmth coursed through his veins, flaring him with desire.
'Come over to my place and I'll show you.' How easy would it be to say that right now?
Especially with her leaning so closely, and with those eyes gazing up at him.
But...he couldn't. He had to let Bill have his chance.
And he didn't want it to be like this. Not at first, that is. He didn't want to sleep with her right away, not like he did with everybody else. She was worth more to him than that.
"Speechless for once, huh?" she teased again, but seemed uncertain now.
He attempted to change the subject, hoping to somehow convey that he did like her and wanted to talk to her. He just had to wait until he could do anything else.
"Hope you've been buffing up your bowling arm," he joked.
To his relief, seemingly not offended by his evasion, Leah playfully flexed her right arm. "What do you think?"
"Looks like a winner to me."
Leah smiled.
"Well, it's getting late. I need to head home."
"Yeah… me too."
Leah waited for a moment, not quite turning away. Boomhauer knew she was hoping he'd offer to walk her home again, despite it being only a few feet away.
He knew Bill would be pissed if he found out. But Bill wasn't here, and Leah was his friend, and he wanted to see her get home safely, so…
"Can I walk you home?"
She lit up with a bright grin. "That would be nice."
In a dozen or so strides they were across the pavement and in her backyard again, and once more she motioned for him to step behind her fence, next to the pink roses and the orange tiger lilies, under the universe of stars.
He felt guilty. He knew he was a horrible friend. But when Leah's brilliant green eyes fixed on his, and she bit her bottom lip so alluringly. He was so drawn to her, again, as he always was, ever since he first saw her all those months ago.
He hugged her, fitting together so perfectly, holding on for a moment longer…
And then she kissed him softly on the cheek.
