"Okay then." I slide into the booth with Leo right behind me.
The rest of the evening is spent laughing. I am quiet at first, but the atmosphere at the table is infectious. Caleb and Slate get along like old friends, and Erica is great too. It’s clear why she and Leo are such good friends. She’s really funny. A brief argument ensues at the table as all the guys fight over the check. Finally, it’s Erica who wins. She sneaks out to go to the bathroom and pays for it behind everyone’s backs.
Wednesday at five p.m.
Leo: I can’t make it tonight.
Me: Well, you suck. ;) Want to do lunch tomorrow?
Leo: I’ll let you know.
Thursday at ten a.m.
Me: Lunch?
Nine p.m.
Me: Hey, where you been today? I’ve missed you!
Eleven p.m.
Me: Okay, I’m starting to worry. Did you fall off the face of the Earth? This isn’t like you to not respond.
Friday at eight a.m.
Me: So, are you speaking to me today?
Friday at noon.
Me: I’m not really sure what to do here. I can’t decide if something is wrong or if you’re trying to brush me off. Care to enlighten me?
Friday at six p.m.
Me: Are you kidding me with this? Together, huh? Now, you’re just going to disappear? What a load of shit.
Friday at eight p.m.
IT’S BEEN three days since I last heard from Leo, and for seventy-two hours, I’ve been a bungee cord of emotions. Finally, tonight, I decide to just get pissed and confront him.
"Where’s Leo?" I snap at Aiden as if he has any control over Leo’s being a dick.
"Shit," he cusses under his breath, stepping out from the guard’s desk. "He’s upstairs. But you shouldn’t go up there," he answers and my heart sinks.
"Is he with someone?" I whisper, my hands beginning to tremble at my sides.
"Oh God no!"
"Then why the hell can’t I go up there?"
"He’s…" he starts but doesn’t finish.
"He’s what?"
"He’s just busy. That’s all," he lies unconvincingly.
"Bullshit," I bite out, pulling my security card from my purse.
"Sarah, don’t. He’s not in good shape right now." He grabs my arm to stop me.
I pointedly look down at his hand, which he promptly releases. "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"
"Just… Go home and I’ll get him to call you."
"Aiden, don’t screw around with me here. What the hell is going on?"
He shakes his head and toys with one of the gauges in his ear. "Sarah, I don’t talk about his shit any more than I would talk about yours. Just know that this happens occasionally. Just give him a day or two. He’ll snap out of it. He always does."
"While I appreciate your discretion, I’m going up there regardless of whether you tell me or not. So I’m going to highly encourage you to do both Leo and me favor and give me a heads-up about what the hell I’m going to find up there."
He stares at me for a minute before finally answering. "Damn it, Sarah. He’s dark right now. It happens. I’ve tried to get him to see someone about it, but he won’t listen. He doesn’t do anything but mope around for a few days, so I just try to keep the business going and let him do his thing."
"Dark? Like depressed?" I ask in shock. "Leo?" I question, because we are clearly talking about two different people.
"It’s not as bad as you’re thinking," he answers, and I can’t do anything but tilt my head in confusion.
What weird alternate universe am I in? I suffer from depression and take a little pill every single day to keep it at bay, but Leo? He might be the happiest person I have ever met. He’s always smiling, and even when his jokes are bad, he never stops making them. I am fully aware that depression can affect even the loudest laugh in the room, but I never would have suspected that it was hiding behind those chocolate-brown eyes.
Without another word, I scan my card and head up the stairs. I’m not even willing to wait for the elevator. No one should be completely alone during a dark spell. Using my key, I let myself in. Quietly, I head down the hall, searching for any sign of Leo. When I reach his bedroom, I slowly swing open the door. His blackout curtains are more than doing their job. Not even the moon breaks into the room. But the hall light behind me reveals him sleeping facedown on his bed with a pillow covering his head. I take a deep breath at the sight. I’ve really missed him.
I toe off my shoes and crawl fully dressed into the bed next to him. He doesn’t budge at first, but as I drag the pillow off his head, he lets out a low growl.
"I was worried about you," I whisper, kissing his naked shoulder.
"Sarah?" His voice is jagged and filled with sleep.
"Yeah, it’s me." I lean in and kiss the lips I have been starved for. It may not bring him any comfort, but just that brief second of contact is like a drug to me. It tingles on my mouth and glides through my body, soothing me in its wake.