He laughed at me and I smiled. I had always loved his laugh, but so did many girls.
"Wow," I final y managed. "It's been years."
"What are you doing here in Miami?" He asked, leaning into me a little closer.
"Mini vacation," I shrugged. "Just needed to escape the cold weather for a few days."
"Did you come alone?" His eyebrows went up. He was definitely flirting with me.
"I did," I answered careful y. "What are you doing here?"
"I live here. I own this restaurant." He affectionately rubbed the mahogany bar.
“I thought I heard something like that a few years ago, but I thought it was just idle talk from idle people.” I sipped my margarita and quickly let
my eyes slide over him while he turned to speak to the bartender. There were muscles pressing against his shirt that were not there ten years ago.
“Whatever she is drinking, keep them coming,” he told the woman. “She doesn’t pay a dime.”
The bartender nodded and smiled briefly at me. I’m sure she was worried that I wouldn’t tip her, and of course I total y would, if I were going to
receive free drinks, which I wasn’t.
“Thanks, Leo. That’s sweet, but I’m ful y capable of paying for my own drinks.”
He waved a hand and then sipped a drink that was put before him.
“How’s your family?”
“My parents are okay…” I said careful y.
“And your brother?”
I shrugged. My brother Tack’s long relationship with heroin was always a touchy topic.
“How long are you here?” he asked, keeping his eyes locked on mine, making me feel a little nervous.
“As long as I feel like it.” I shrugged. When he looked at me questioningly, I elaborated. “I’m a writer. I have deadlines or whatever, but I’m not
tied down to an office or anything.”
“I heard you were a writer," he said and then leaned in close and whispered "but I didn’t think it was just idle talk from idle people.
I felt my face flush. I turned back to my drink so he wouldn’t see it.
“I always knew you would be a writer,” he said, turning around and leaning back against the bar. “So, can I get your number?” He asked the
question so casual y I thought I misheard him.
“My number?”
“Do you not have a phone? How do people communicate with you? Smoke signals?” The way he said it was reminiscent of the cocky kid I
knew years ago and I had the slight urge to shove him off of his bar stool.
“You can’t have my number,” I said, looking at him incredulously.
“Why not?”
“Because you used to date my best friend.”
“Key words: used to. That was years ago, Tabitha.”
“I don’t care if it was kindergarten. There are rules.”
“What rules?” He spread his arms, staring at me like I had three heads, but I could see the amusement in his eyes.
“A good best friend never ever dates her friend’s former boyfriend. Ever.”
“So, you want to date me? You didn't date me before, you know back in col ege…” He grinned and I smacked his arm. “When was the last time
you even spoke to Leslie?”
I sighed sadly, but forced a smile to cover it. “It’s been awhile.”
The truth was it had been more than a year since I had spoken to my old friend, and even then it was just a quick exchange of text messages.
He leaned in close to me again. “I’m sure that Leslie wouldn’t mind you breaking a rule you two probably came up with when you were thirteen
years old.”
“Fourteen,” I stifled a giggle.
“Whatever,” He flashed that bril iant smile again. “Besides, you and I were friends – good friends. I’ve real y missed you.”
Even though he tried to keep his tone and smile light, I could almost see a pleading in his eyes. I’m such a sucker sometimes.
“Okay. Get your phone out, dummy.” I rol ed my eyes. I gave him my number and gave him permission to request me as a friend on Facebook.
“Fantastic. It’s starting to get busy in here and I’m already short-handed today.” He stood up to leave, but to my surprise he reached over and
pul ed me into a hug. I was startled by how strong his arms felt around me. I hugged him back, meekly. “I wil be done at four a.m. if you feel like
hanging out.”
I looked at my watch. That was twelve hours away. I looked at him like he was nuts. “I hope to be asleep at four a.m.,” I said. “And I said you can
have my number, not hang out with me.”
“Don’t go anywhere yet,” he said, ignoring my last statements. “I wil have the chef make you some awesome food to take with you.”
“Okay, Leo.” I didn't see any point in arguing, because I remembered wel that he could be pretty persuasive.
He disappeared through a set of double doors on the other side of the room. I tried to pay the bartender for the drinks, but she refused my
money.
“At least let me tip you,” I said, shoving money at her again.
“If Leo doesn’t want to accept your money, I won’t either.” She said with a smile and walked away to tend to another customer.
I thought that was sil y, but I didn’t press the issue any further.
A margarita and a half later, Leo came through the double doors carrying a paper bag. As he walked across the dining area, most women,
young and old, checked him out. A couple of them cal ed him by name. He nodded at them, but didn’t stop to talk, even though one of them, a tal ,
leggy blonde with big boobs, stood up to greet him.
“I gave you an appetizer, a main course, and a desert.” He handed me the bag. The smel s coming from it were mouthwatering.
“What is it?” I asked, and started to peak in the bag. He stopped me by plucking me softly in the forehead.
“No looking until you can sit and eat it.” He said firmly.
“But what is it, Leo?”
“I know you hate mushrooms, so there’s no mushroom in it. I know you don’t like eggs either, so there’s nothing eggy in there. I especial y know
that you hate any kind of raw fish, so that’s not in there either. You don’t have to worry, Tabs!”
I stared at him, my mouth gaping open. “Leo, it’s been so many years – how do you remember what I like or don’t like?”
He winked at me. “I have a pretty good memory I guess.”
I let out a smal giggle and shook my head. “Wow. Okay. Thank you very much, Leo.”
“No problem. I wil talk to you very soon, Tabitha.” He said, walking away. Half way across the room, he turned and said “I’l see you around four
a.m.!”
“No, you won’t!” I shook my head, but he just smiled and disappeared behind the doors again.
Look for this novel in your Kindle Store by the end of the year!