Chapter Eight
Andy
Then
I stared at the vision before me.The raven-colored hair. The big blue eyes that were lined with a deeper blue. The red sweaterthat clung to his torso to show off his lean frame. I felt like I was dreaming. This boy had starred in all my fantasies when I first noticedhim last week, and he was here. At the Christmas party I didn't want to attend tonight. Leo McCormick was an absolute vision.
"Dad, I'll be right back," I murmured without even waiting to see if he heard me.
Pops raised his brows at me as I made my way across the room. Leo was standing with another man, smaller, with auburn curls and a wearing mid-drift top. Was that...Leo wasn't with that man, was he? I gritted my teeth. Maybe my dream guy was already taken. The thought hadn't even occurred to me, and now my heart felt a little heavy. I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up.
"Hi." I squared my shoulders as I towered over him. "You're Leo, right? I'm Andy. We go to school together."
His ears burned pink as he stared up at me before he dropped his gaze back to his feet. He was so adorable.
"It's cool to see someone from school here. Your brother is a driver, right?"
Leo glanced back up at me for a second. "Uh, yeah, he is. I know who you are." He dragged his toe across the floor. "This is my friend Ezra."
Ezra nodded at me, and I hoped my disappointment didn't show on my face. "I think CC is looking for me." He started to turn away.
"No." Leo grabbed his wrist.
I ducked my head, trying to catch his eyes. "You look nice. Did you get a haircut?"
"What?" Leo's pale skin burned crimson.
He was so beautiful. Those eyes, the handful of freckles that were splashed across his nose. Those lush, plump lips. I had an inkling I wasn't straight, but Leo confirmed that thought.
I smiled. "I said you look nice. I like your top."
"You look nice, too. I like your eyes," Leo whispered as he tangled his fingers together.
My heart thumped against my chest as I wondered if he realized what he said.
I wanted to talk to him alone. Withoutthis Ezra guy.
"You want to get something to eat? My dads were saying the food is supposed to be really good. I don't know about you, but I'm starving."
"Uh..." Leo glanced at Ezra for a second as he chewed on his bottom lip. He looked back up at me. "Yeah, that sounds nice."
I started toward the buffet table, and when Leo followed, I puffed up my chest. I slowed down so he was next to me, and like it had a mind of its own, my hand moved to his lower back. Like it was meant to be there. I could feel the warmth of Leo's skin beneath my palm, the softness of his sweater. I wanted him to be mine.
I leaned down so my lips were closer to Leo, so he could hear me. "What do you want?"
"Wh-what?" He had the longest lashes I had ever seen on a boy. The tips brushed his skin as he blinked nervously, that flush appearing on his skin again.
I chuckled. "Food. What do you like?"
"Everything." Leo grinned and his entire face lit up. "Noel tells me I eat him out of house and home." He blushed again. "I, uh, live with him. He's my brother. Noel, I mean."
I watched as he loaded up his plate and then I started doing the same. "I live with my two dads."
"I know."
Leo smiled at me, and I had a sudden thought about what it would be like if we were together. Boyfriends. We could hold hands, go on dates, kiss, and well, other things. I had never been on a single date in my life. Dad didn't want me to worry about girls or boys now at fifteen. He said I had all the time in the world to date. I had to concentrate on school, hockey, playing the drums. Ironic, considering I knew how much of a player Maverick Frost was before he married Pop. Not that Pop was innocent, either. They acted like I didn't know, but I did. The internet was a marvelous place when you looked hard enough. And also eerily disturbing.
Once we had covered our plates, I led him over to an unoccupied couch, scooting as close to him as possible.
"Where are your parents?" I regretted the question the moment it slipped from my lips. Leo's entire expression changed, hurt flashing in his eyes. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked that. It's none of my business."
"It's fine." Leo pushed a piece of pasta around his plate. "They left."
I placed my plate down next to me, then did the same with his and took his hands in mine. "I shouldn't have asked you that. You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to. You know, my mother dropped me at the police station one night when she was high and decided she didn't want me anymore."
"That's terrible. I'm so sorry." Leo squeezed my fingers. "Parents suck. I mean, your dads seem cool, though."
I nodded. "They are the coolest. Here." I slid my phone out of my pocket, keeping his hand in mine. "This is Dad when he thinks I'm not looking." I queued up a video I had taken of him in the kitchen last weekend. Smiling and singing along to Taylor Swift while he made breakfast.
"I can't believe Maverick Olson is your father. I don't really follow hockey, but I'm sure Jackson is a big deal, too," Leo murmured, and I wondered just what had happened with his parents. "Noel's great, don't get me wrong, but he doesn't know how to handle me."
I noticed both of my dads were now standing with Ezra, watching us. Dad had his green eyes pinned on me while Pop was smiling at something Ezra was saying.
"Dad isn't too keen on this idea, but can I take you out sometime?" I stumbled slightly as I tried to get the words out.
I suddenly felt warm and wished I hadn't chosen this cheesy Christmas sweater tonight after my dad suggested it. What if Leo found it ridiculous? He was obvious that he cared about fashion with the way he was dressed.
Leo looked up at me with sunshine in his baby blue eyes. "Like on a date?"
"Exactly like a date."
"Yes, I think that I would like that."
Happiness seeped into my brain. "We can exchange numbers, too. So we can plan the date."
"That sounds great." Leo beamed at me.
***
That night, after the Christmas party, I debated texting Leo this early, thinking it was a bad idea. What if it came across as pushy or needy? But I couldn't stop thinking about him. Those blue eyes, the soft giggle he made when he laughed. And that sweet, enticing scent. I was pretty sure I could still smell him on my skin as I sat in my room. I decided to just go for it.
Andy: I just wanted to check and make sure you got home safe.
Leo: I did, thank you. I had fun tonight.
Andy: Me, too. So, uh, you still want to go out? Maybe next weekend? We could go skating.
Leo : I've never been skating. What happens if I fall? I'd hate to embarrass myself.
Andy: I'll catch you. I would never let you fall.
Leo: That is the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.
Andy : I highly doubt that.
Leo: I'm very inexperienced with this whole dating thing. This will be my first.
Andy: Mine, too. We can learn everything together.
Leo: You still want to go out with me even though I can't skate?
Andy: More than ever.
Leo: What time do you want to go out? I can get Noel to bring me.
Andy: Or I could pick you up. Well, my dad will be driving, but you get the idea. He's not going to let me go alone either, so I hope you don't mind if he stays and "supervises."
Leo: I can ask Noel to come, too. Or Ezra. Ezra would be a much better idea. Noel's kind of a grump. Not that that is a bad thing, but I've never seen him date anyone. That's not true. He's dated Carson or whatever that was, but now Ezra is with Carson.
Andy: You're going to have to backup. Ezra is just your friend, right?
Leo: He's my best friend. And so not my type. You have nothing to worry about.
Andy: Really? What is your type?
Leo: You.
Andy : ...
Andy : ...
Leo : I'm sorry, did I say too much? Did I scare you away? Maybe we can just pretend I didn't say that.
Andy : I'm your type, or guys like me are your type?
Leo: You, just you. The first time I saw you...never mind.
Andy: Finish that sentence.
Andy : Please.
Leo: The first time I saw you, I wanted to get to know you. It was the day Maverick came bursting into the school all wild and crazy, demanding to speak with the principal.
Andy: When I punched Teller.
Leo: I had seen you around before, but that day just made me want to be your friend. To be as carefree, wear nail polish, and be myself.
Andy: But you are yourself, Leo. You looked really nice tonight. I've never seen a boy as pretty as you are.
Leo: You think I'm pretty?
Andy: I think you're beautiful.
Andy: Now it's my turn to ask if I said too much.
Leo: Do you mean that, Andy? Because I don't want to get my hopes up. All my life I've fought with myself about how I wanted to be. That I was a racecar driver, not a boy who could dress up in skirts and wear makeup. But maybe I could have both. If I wanted.
Andy: I think you could be anything you want.
Leo: What time did you want to go out next weekend? I want to go check with Noel and Ezra.
Andy: Saturday at seven work for you?
Leo: That's perfect.
Andy: Then it's a date.