Leo sits across from me, tentatively sipping the green tea that Aaron left behind when he left me. Once he takes a sip, his face contorts in disgust and he quickly swipes my safe choice of hot chocolate from across the table and takes huge gulps. He lets out a content sigh, setting down the mug and revealing a whipped cream mustache.
"Asshole." I hiss, eyeing the mug. There's hardly anything left.
"Tattletale." He retorts, rolling his eyes and leaning back in his seat like the cocky douche he is.
"Sorry, was I not supposed to tell my parents that my sister was sleeping with her own family?"
"Love comes from where you least expect it, Gabby." Leo's gaze softens and for a moment, just a moment, I see myself forgiving him. Again. But then he ruins it.
"Like, you'd expect me to love your sister cuz I'm banging her, but I don't. Weird, right?"
"Fuck you."
"No, thanks though."
I open my mouth to retort but keep it shut. I know that if I fire back a snarky response, the back and forths will continue the rest of the day and we'll never get any work done.
"Okay." I force myself to take a deep breath. "Let's start with atoms..."
Halfway in between our project, Leo slams his laptop shut and leans back in his chair. He looks like a king. A regal douchebag. I hate him. I want him. Why the hell do I want him?
"Your tits are out." He remarks, eyeing my chest. I look down and see that the V of the shirt has dipped low, revealing more of my cleavage than I intended for Leo to see. Blushing, I try to cover up, but the shirt won't stay put. It would have been okay with me if it were Aaron across the table, but I don't want to give Leo the satisfaction of knowing I dressed up for his own flesh and blood.
"You could have said something earlier," I grumble, finally giving up and letting the shirt do what it's meant to do.
"I like the bra."
"Asshole."
"Was my cousin meant to see it?"
"Screw you, Leo."
"No thanks, Gabby. You've got to stop offering yourself to me, seriously. It's a little weird."
"Can you fucking stop talking like a fucking pig? Or do you not remember how much of an asshole you've been to me?"
Leo smiles and shrugs his shoulders like a little boy. That's all he is, I realize. He's an immature, little boy in the body of a Greek God.
The doorbell sings and I turn my head just in time to watch the last customer, Jenna Higgins from my English class, walk out. It's just me and Leo now. And the barista, but he's texting and heading to the back room. Probably for a nap.
The cocky smile drops from Leo's face like a light's been shut off. Suddenly, he looks like a different person. He looks tired. He looks mature.
A thought occurs to me. Is he putting on an act for our peers? Trying to be someone he's not? It's no coincidence that when we're alone he acts like someone else, but when we aren't...he's an asshole.
"Alright." He sighs. "I'm sorry. Let's finish this sucker. I have football in..." He checks his watch, "forty-seven minutes."
"Alright."
Leo is surprisingly civil the rest of the time we spend together. We haven't quite finished the project when he leaves, but we've put a dent in it. I'm exhausted, mentally and physically. Leo gathers his things and shoves them into his backpack carelessly, in typical boy mannerism.
"Gabby?" He turns and his face is serious. His brows are furrowed.
"Yes?"
I wait in silence for what feels like forever. Then Leo smiles.
"Your bra is still out."