Chapter Seven

Leonardo

It's been a week since Kevin stormed out of the house with Amanda running after him; it's the closest I've been to hell. Amy never returned home. She simply sent me a text instead. I stare at the text again now, for the millionth time, as I sit in my office.

Leonardo, I love you so much but I'm not sure I can continue to do this after everything that’s happened. It’s not that I’m running away or leaving you, but I just need some time away from you right now. It’s all such a huge mess and I need time to think. I can't lose my dad, Leo, and the thought that your friendship with him could be destroyed because of me is unbearable.

I rake my hands through my hair and sit down heavily on the sectional. I run my hands through the soft fabric remembering the many nights Amanda and I had spent on it. I have tried calling her but she never picks up and has refused to return my calls. Kevin hasn't returned any of my calls either and refused to see me when I went to his hotel. I know he's still in Boston, but all efforts to meet him at his hotel room have been futile. I haven't slept at home since Amanda left. It just doesn't feel the same without her. She hasn't come to the office either; instead she’s been calling in sick. I feel like my entire world has crashed. Everything I care about is threatening to slip out of my grasp, my long-standing friendship with Kevin and my relationship with Amanda. If only I could tell him how much I love Amanda … Amanda … she must be so heartbroken and torn between her father and me.

I have to do something or I'll go crazy. I can't spend another day without seeing Amanda. But I have to fix things with Kevin first. I pick up my phone and dial Kevin's number again, hoping with all my heart that he'll finally agree to a meeting.

"What do you want, Leonardo?"

I sigh in relief as I hear his voice. "Kevin, I know how you must hate me and you have every right to but I swear on my life that I'm not playing games with Amanda. I'm in love with her and I want to be with her. But I don't want to lose you either."

"You should have thought of that before sleeping with my daughter, Leo."

"Please can we meet and talk? I need to make you understand. Please ..."

So much time passed that I thought he had hung up on me.

"Kevin?"

"I'll be in my hotel room. 610."

"Thank you."

I hurriedly put on my jacket and race downstairs to the garage. I turn on my ignition and race to The Lenox Hotel, trying to stay within the speed limit so I don't get pulled over.

I stop at the hotel and briskly walk inside heading straight to the elevator. I hit the button going to the sixth floor and try to still my breath, carefully considering my words, so as not to enrage Kevin further.

I step off the elevator and walk to Kevin's room. I knock twice and wait. He opens the door and stares at me for a few moments before moving away to sit on an armchair. I take that as a sign to come into the room and I close the door behind me.

I sit down on the ottoman at the foot of the king-size bed facing him. He hasn’t even looked at me.

"Thank you for seeing me."

There’s an awkward pause.

"Why did it have to be my daughter? You could have any woman you want. Any at all. Why Amanda?"

"Because I'm in love with her, Kevin.”

"You really expect me to believe that?," Kevin says sarcastically, shooting me an angry look. "I’ve known you for years, don’t forget, Leo. This isn’t love. This is lust, and I find you repulsive." He stands up and looks out of the window.

"Do you honestly think that low of me?"

"You're the one who's been screwing my daughter and treating her like one of your whores!" he shouts venomously, spit forming on his lips. Time hasn’t eased his rage, it seems. Yet, I know I can get him to listen. He wouldn’t have invited me here otherwise if he wasn’t going to at least hear what I have to say.

"Alright, that's enough, Kevin McKnight!"

"You have the nerve to raise your voice at me after I just caught you with my …" he shouts, his face red. He balls his fists tightly.

"Think about what you're saying carefully, man … I don't care about what you think of me right now but watch what you say about Amanda."

He suddenly stops and lowers his head. He sits down slowly and turns away but I catch a sheen of tears in his eyes.

"Kevin, I never dreamed I would fall in love. Relationships have never worked out for me in the past. I might have pretended and acted like I was fine and satisfied with just my work, but I wasn’t. When you told me about Rochelle, I was so happy for you, albeit a little jealous, if I’m honest. Seeing you so in love was beautiful. I wanted what you had. And why shouldn’t I be happy? I never ever thought I would find what I was looking for all this time in Amanda. But I did. I love her, Kevin ... and I want to spend the rest of my life with her."

Kevin's head shoots up and he gives me a death stare but I don't flinch. I don't mind taking another beating if it will soothe him and eventually mend things between us. But I am not going to back down from this. We stare at each other for a while and Kevin's face softens.

"I didn't know you felt that way, Leo. I would have appreciated you telling me you had feelings for my daughter before sleeping with her."

"I'm sorry. I was going to tell you. I just wanted to do it at the right time."

"And when did you think was the right time?"

"After I had proposed to her."

Kevin gazes at me in disbelief. "You're really that serious?"

"I am. Dead serious. But I need your approval. Not just as her father, but as my best friend."

Kevin looks at me for a long moment and begins to pace the room.

“And Amy feels the same way too?”

“Yes.”

"Ok, look. There's something I need to tell you.” Kevin takes a deep breath and sits down again.

"Rochelle was ... I mean ... is … Amy's childhood friend."

"What?!"

"Yeah. We both met again when I took the teaching job at Stanford and we fell in love. She was actually my student. When Amy found out, she was so mad. Now I know how she felt."

I can barely contain my shock. Why did this feel like Deja vu? I guess this must be one of the things running through Kevin's mind.

"Look Leo, part of the reason why I was so mad was because I felt as though this was some sort of payback. I thought Amy was still carrying a grudge about Rochelle and so she decided to pay me back."

He turns to face me and looks me square in the eye. "We've known each other for years, Leonardo. Now I'm asking you sincerely ... man to man ... do you really love Amanda?"

"I really love Amanda, Kevin. I want to spend the rest of my life with her."

Kevin leans back and exhales deeply. He sits thoughtfully for a while then nods. Eventually, he says, "It's going to be weird though. Me being your father-in-law and all."

I laugh in relief as he half smiles back. "Yeah I guess it will. But I have to get married first and that's where I'll need your help."

"What do you mean?"

"She left ... she left and she won't see or speak to me. I have been to her condo five times. I can't lose her Kevin."

"I haven't seen or spoken to her either," he lowers his head.

"Yeah. You need to talk to her, Kev. She's really hurt and I'm deeply sorry for the way you found out and how it's affected your relationship."

"I understand. I'll go talk to her."

"Thanks man."

"So uh ... how or when are you planning to propose?"

"I have something special in mind," I say as I stand up to leave, grateful that Kevin and I have worked things out.