Chapter 31
Leon watched Zara with a sharp gaze as she walked away, still wearing his shirt, heading into her building and over to the elevator. He grinned as she turned back to see him still there, and he stayed there as she stepped inside the elevator, even for a few seconds after she had disappeared from view behind the doors. His heart was still thudding in his chest fervently as he got back in the car and drove back towards his place, but he couldn't stop smiling. When he opened the door and kicked his shoes off, the faint aura of emptiness wasn't so prevalent in his apartment now. Walking in here after being discharged from the hospital and understanding that the love he dreamt of wasn't real had very nearly broken him. He could ignore the void if he focused on work or writing music, but it was always the elephant in the room. Just because you didn't acknowledge it didn't mean it wasn't there. The revelation that it felt more whole now made his breath hitch for a second. Swallowing thickly, he steadied himself with a hand on the wall.
From where he stood, he noticed Zara's dress was still in a pile, abandoned on the floor next to his couch. Chuckling softly, he picked it up and inspected it, partly concerned that he might have damaged it in his haste to have her naked last night. It looked fine, and he had the forethought to get a coathanger out and hang it up with his suit. He would get his suit dry-cleaned, so he figured he might as well take her dress, too. As his fingers grazed over the fabric, his mind raced with the memories of last night. Whatever he had expected or hoped for when he'd finally gotten the courage to sweep her off her feet did not compare to what they'd shared. The scent of her perfume lingering on the dress made him sigh, and he knew it would be on his couch and in his bed. Even though he was surprisingly well rested, he returned to his bedroom, stripped down to his underwear, and got back into bed. As expected, it still smelled like her, but there was a hint of sweat and sex underneath. A few bright red hairs were on the pillow she'd slept on, and he grinned madly at the sight of them, hoping that they would be a permanent fixture in the future.
After this point, they would have to figure out what they wanted to do regarding the change in their relationship. Leon knew his tendency to be intense, and that it had been overwhelming in the past to previous partners, so he wanted to ensure that Zara still had some space. If it was up to him, he would have married her in a temple he'd built with his own hands to worship her in with stone that he'd quarried himself, but he knew that might be unrealistically impassioned. Whatever she was willing to offer, he would take. Even if she gave him everything, it likely wouldn't be enough. His phone dinged, sounding from the floor, and he rolled over to reach down and pull it out from his pants pocket.
Zara sent him a text under the nickname in his phone, 'Zee'. Acknowledging that he was grinning like he was insane when opening it, he felt like his stomach was doing flips inside him as his heart raced wildly. The photo of her that popped up was one from the shoot at the studio. She was doing finger guns with a silly grin on her face and it made Leon crack up laughing when he saw it. It just encapsulated her personality and bubbly nature perfectly.
Zee: Did you get back into bed, or is it just me?
He imagined the cheeky tone she would say that in and laughed.
Leon: Nope. I also got back into bed.
The three dots appeared, signalling that she was typing, and he toyed with sending her something else. The dots disappeared, and he decided to do it. Realising after hitting send, it might have been a bit 'intense', but it was too late now.
Leon: It smells like you. I'm going to stay here all day.
Zee: I wanted to say that I'm happy too, but I was too chicken shit to say it in the car. I'm glad you had the courage to throw caution to the wind. Again, I am chicken shit.
Zee: I didn't realise that you felt so strongly. You hid it so well. I would like to request the evidence, though. For...science...
Leon: Evidence?
Zee: The photo.
Zee: Yes. That photo.
Leon scrunched his nose and laughed out loud at his phone, then found the file link and sent it to her. This would likely bite him in the ass later, but so long as it made her happy, he didn't care. Her reply was a GIF from The Simpsons of Mr Burns saying 'Excellent', and he cackled into the empty bedroom. Her sense of humour was one of the things he adored about her most. She made him laugh constantly at the studio, and there was never a dull moment with her around.
Leon: Am I going to regret this later?
Zee: Not at all. It's for scientific purposes, so it's all completely innocent. Nothing to see here...
Guessing that she was chuckling to herself in bed, Leon smiled.
Leon: So long as you're happy, I lay myself at your feet. I'm yours.
Frowning at himself for being too intense again, he resolved to think more about what he was typing before hitting send. They had literally just barely gotten together within the last 12 hours. It would freak her out, so he needed to be less incensed. Wait, he couldn't even say that they were together since they hadn't discussed that. That made it even worse. He sighed out loud.
His phone began ringing, and Zara's picture was smiling broadly at him. He braced himself for the worst, even though she'd gone along with him so far.
Before he could say anything, he heard her on the other end.
"Excuse me, sir. You can't just say things like that. Aaron or Bri will find me dead of a heart attack. I don't want them dealing with all that paperwork. Aaron's already hungover and Bri shouldn't have to deal with that at home and at work." Her tone was playful, and she was struggling not to laugh.
"Uhh...sorry." He said with an upward inflection, uncertain if that was what she wanted to hear.
"Also, it's very unfair for you to talk like that when we aren't even in the same room. Or building." She added dramatically, and Leon snorted.
"I will literally run to your apartment. I won't even put shoes on. Or clothes." Leon tried to match her energy but struggled to hold in his chuckles.
"Bruh, why wouldn't you drive?"
"It sounded cooler, didn't it?" He knew she couldn't see the smirk on his face but could probably hear it in his voice.
"Hnnng, it totally did. You got me there." She relented and cracked up laughing, unable to hold it in any longer.
Their conversation continued for another hour or two. Leon wasn't sure how long it was, but he was happy to talk to her comfortably. He heard someone talking in the background but couldn't quite make out what they were saying. It sounded higher pitched, so he guessed it wasn't Aaron.
"Does it matter that I'm talking to Leon now?" She asked the voice, and he stayed quiet, wondering what was happening on the other end. "Uhh, Bri is ordering me to give her all the details. I have to go."
"I have kept your attention for a while. I imagine that she's been waiting impatiently." Leon smiled, knowing that Bri would probably be very excited. "Hi, Bri!" He called out and heard a bubbly hello in the background.
"I'll talk to you later?" Zara asked with a hint of uncertainty, and Leon smiled to himself.
"I would like that." He answered warmly and wondered if Zara was smiling, too.
"Kay, bye." Her tone was shy but sweet.
"Bye, darlin'."
When he pulled the phone away from his ear, he pressed the lock button and tucked it into his chest, over his heart. Would it be weird if he set a picture of her as his phone's background? Maybe it was a bit too soon, so he shook his head and beamed as he stared at the ceiling in his bedroom. Hopefully, since things had gone well so far, she could come around again and stay the night soon. He just wanted to fall asleep and wake up with her next to him. As for when that would be, he wasn't sure, but he would message her later to ask so he had time to organise things. Depending on what she wanted, they could make dinner and stay in or go out.
Either way, he just wanted her within arms' reach so he could touch her whenever he felt the urge…
Zara emerged from her bedroom to find Bri and Aaron waiting quite literally on the edge of their seats on the couch. Aaron looked like he was still a corpse. She chuckled as she strolled over and sat on the single-seater.
"Firstly, can I just say…" Aaron turned to Bri. "I told you so. You owe me dinner."
Bri rolled her eyes. "Focus, my dear. Zara, please tell me literally everything." Her eyes narrowed to show she was serious.
"Uh, where should I start?" She asked, accepting her fate that she would be the centre of attention for a while.
"I didn't get to see you all done up! Do you have a photo?" Bri enquired, and Zara shook her head.
"There were photographers there last night, but I think I only took a selfie with them and probably some more with the guys when we were drunk."
Aaron answered but turned his nose up at his phone as if he didn't want to see the evidence.
"Uhh, I actually left the dress at Leon's." Zara shrugged with forced nonchalance, and Bri clapped excitedly. She would have to ask him for it on Monday.
"I love that for you." Bri waggled her eyebrows, making Zara laugh.
"I saw Leon talking to you, standing very close, and then you both disappeared. I got a text saying that you left together, but that's all I knew. What happened?" Aaron said melodically despite still looking hungover.
"Uhh, Leon came up to me and said that Dane had told him he wanted to invite me up to his room and said not to go with him. I asked why I shouldn't and if it was because Dane was actually an asshole. He shook his head but said it was because he wanted me to go home with him." She smiled at Bri, who was giving her undivided attention, and Aaron nodded as if impressed.
"Details! More details." Bri's hand smacked Aaron's leg in excitement rhythmically, and he flinched in time.
"Do you want me to act it out or something?" Zara rolled her eyes and sighed when Bri nodded emphatically and started to rise from her seat.
"Anyway, what happened next?" Aaron put his arm out over Bri's lap to keep her seated. She pouted in disappointment.
"I freaked out, downed some liquid courage and said yes. We left straight away and went back to his place. Clearly, I didn't leave until we went to meet with Vaughn." Zara gave them an awkward thumbs-up and smiled.
"Is he good?" Bri asked with dark intrigue.
Aaron got up from the couch. "That's my queue to leave. I am opting out of the rest of this discussion. I am far too hungover." He left the living area and returned to his and Bri's bedroom.
"Uhh." Zara let out a sigh, and Bri wiggled excitedly in her seat after waving Aaron away dismissively.
"So, are you officially together now?" This question was far more complex to answer than the others, and Zara pursed her lips in thought.
"Uhh, we didn't talk about that." Zara frowned, unsure what they were to each other now. "I will let you know when I do."
"What was he wearing? I do love Aaron in a suit. Less so when he's vomiting on it." Bri glared in the direction of their shared bedroom but smirked fondly.
"He looked amazing. Black suit with a silver thread, and it was well tailored, too." Zara said dreamily and stuck her tongue out.
"Ohh, that would have suited him. I don't think I've ever seen him looking dishevelled or anything other than sharp." Bri answered with a thoughtful expression.
"Yeah, he's always super well put together. And then there's me, shorts I've owned for a decade and boots with mud stains on them and hair I haven't brushed in days." She gestured at herself lazily.
"Zara, you know we don't talk like that in this house." Bri scolded her fiercely. She was a proponent of positive self-talk.
"Sorry, Mum." She raised her hands in a defeated gesture.
"So, how did he ask you? I imagine it was all articulate and poetic." Bri's fingers waved majestically.
"Actually, it was pretty direct. He looked at me like he was not looking at you but into your soul. You know that one?" Zara couldn't describe it any other way, and Bri nodded in understanding.
"Now that Aaron's gone. I do want you to act it out." She stood up and moved into the free space beside the couch with bouncing steps. "So, I'll be you."
Zara cackled madly but got up and did as requested. Bri was always animated; her excitement on Zara's behalf was adorable. It was nice that she was giving Zara a chance to talk about it since it was still so new. It would help her get it settled in her mind.
"I'm obviously not tall enough to pull this off properly, but go with it. He stood close to me and told me about Dane and said I shouldn't go with him. I asked why. Then, if I remember correctly, he said, 'Because I want you to come home with me,' and did this." She acted it out, leaning closer. Zara brushed some hair behind Bris's ear, and she immediately made a whooping noise.
"Shit, that's smooth." Bri acted out a swoon, leaning against the back of the couch dramatically, and Zara cackled loudly.
"Then what did you do?" Bri asked, straightening up with wide eyes.
"I mentally shit a brick, polished off the champagne in my glass in one mouthful and said, 'Shall we?'. I didn't think I could get any more words out than that without stuttering." Zara continued acting it out, Bri raising an imaginary glass and then holding her hand.
"We went to the elevator, and he had me against the wall. I thought he was going to kiss me. Instead, he was just a fricking tease." Zara stepped in front of Bri, nudging her until she stood against the lounge's back.
Zara gave Bri some space, and she made a face, vividly remembering her disappointment when he hadn't kissed her.
"Oh my…" Bri fanned herself with her hand.
"Then, when we got to his place, we just laid on his lounge and talked for a bit."
"Seriously? You talked?! I thought you said you left your dress there." Bri looked intensely disappointed.
"Pump the brakes, babes. We talked for a while since I was kind of surprised about everything. I admitted I had a crush on him since I saw him at the coffee shop, and that I'd developed feelings for him. Leon told me about how he didn't just want something physical and that it didn't have anything to do with his accident."
"Aw, that sounds like him. I reckon he's been in love with you for ages." Bri said with a mischievous expression. She'd known Leon since she started dating Aaron over 4 years ago, so it wouldn't surprise Zara if she was in on all the details. Aaron wasn't the type to needlessly gossip, but if he knew, Bri probably knew as well.
"And you didn't inform me of your suspicions?" Zara stared with a deadpan expression.
"You kids have to figure it out on your own. Got there in the end, right?" She shrugged nonchalantly like it was apparent.
"I hate that you're right." Zara glared with mock anger. "What was the bet, by the way?"
"Aaron and I had a running bet about when something would happen between you two. We've been updating it since nothing happened for so long. My guess was that he would have been so in love with you after seeing you look so gorgeous at the party that it would be next week. You know, after he had the rest of the weekend to think about you. Aaron said at the party. He won." Bri gestured animatedly as she spoke, then shrugged defeatedly.
"I'm so happy my love life could entertain you both," Zara said with an amused huff.
"So, I guess he's good with his hands, hmm? All that piano and guitar playing." Bri leaned in and waggled her eyebrows again, making Zara laugh.
"Who said I'd kiss and tell?" Zara raised an eyebrow.
"Don't leave me in suspense. I know that Aaron's dexterity is…"
"Whoa! Absolutely no need to continue that sentence. I evacuate the apartment when you have date night with good reason." Zara was laughing at Bri's far-off expression as she spoke.
"I just realised that we could go on double dates! That would be adorable!" Bri bounced on the balls of her feet cheerily.
"I didn't realise we were still 16 years old." Zara snorted as Bri flipped her off. "We can do that if you want, but it might be worth letting Leon and I go on a proper date first. We kind of skipped a step. Or a few."
"I guess so. Good point. You seem happy, though." Bri phrased it as a statement but waited expectantly for her to respond.
"Yeah, I mean, so far. But this has literally happened within the last 24 hours. Slow down, girly." Zara laughed at Bri, who was more excited about this than she was.
"Leon is not one to date someone without being fully committed. He doesn't mess around. You've hooked a good one there." Bri smiled, genuinely happy for her.
"Thanks." She smiled back. "Shame Aaron's a twat." Zara raised her voice and heard a muffled 'Fuck off' from the direction of the bedroom. He'd likely heard their entire conversation.
They both cracked up laughing and spent the next little while continuing their discussion about the party and other details of the night…