Tenacious Sky novel Chapter 28

When I woke up the next morning, Leo was gone. It was the first time I'd woken up by myself. I looked around confused before I went to shower and change into my uniform. When I finished in the bathroom, Leo was back.

"Hey, where did you go this morning?" I asked.

"I couldn't sleep so I went for a run. I'm going to shower," he said quickly. After Leo was dressed and ready to go, we headed to the cafeteria for breakfast. Walking along the pathway, I debated whether or not to tell him that I heard what he said last night. Halfway to the cafeteria, I couldn't hold it in anymore. The air around us had become awkward.

"I didn't actually think it was a mistake. I just... I didn't know how you would react," I said timidly. He stopped in his tracks as he stared at me. I stopped with him as I watched his face go to one of embarrassment and surprise.

"You weren't asleep last night?" He asked. I shook my head.

"I didn't mean to offend you, honestly. I just panicked. You were the only person who knew my secret, and you were willing to help me. I didn't want to scare you off," I tried to explain.

"Do you like me?" He asked bluntly. My cheeks heated as I looked away from him.

"Did you have to say it like that so suddenly?" I muttered to myself before I started walking again. Leo's hand held my wrist as he stopped me.

"Wait, Sky," he said quickly. I looked at him, still feeling embarrassed from being caught.

"It's not one sided," he said softly. I stopped as I stared at him. If I heard him correctly, he was saying that he liked me too. He let go before he began walking again. I hesitated before walking with him again.

"You-"

"We'll be late. Let's go eat," he said. I didn't say anything else about it. If I did, it would be a long conversation. We grabbed our food and took a seat. Shortly after, Easton joined us.

"Hey buttercup," he smiled as he sat next to me. Leo glanced at him before he sighed.

"I really wish you didn't know," he said out loud.

"It's fine. We should head on or we'll be late to class," I said. We walked to class and took our seats. Cody came over almost immediately.

"What happened earlier? Out of everyone other than Sky, I thought Easton was the next person closest to you. You always hang around each other," Cody said. Leo sighed and leaned back in his chair.

"You misunderstand. Easton's interest is in my kid, not me. That situation puts us in the same room together often, but it doesn't make us close. In fact, the opposite is true. Because of our situation, I hate him even more," Leo scowled. I nudged him with my elbow. Leo cleared his throat before pulling his notebook out of his backpack.

"Cody, not now," I said softly. He sighed and glanced at Leo again before going back to his seat. Jason came in and went to the front of the classroom as class started. Not even ten minutes into the lesson, Leo said a piece of paper towards me.

About our earlier conversation, I don't see you as just a friend either, he wrote. I stared at the piece of paper for a while. I wasn't quite sure how to respond to that. Knowing that he liked me back changed everything and nothing at the same time. Dating wasn't really an option here and for us. It wasn't like I could confidently hold his hand as we walked around campus.

Like everything else about me, it would be another secret. Are you okay with that? I eventually wrote before sliding the paper back in front of him. He read it quickly before writing and sliding it back.

It's not like I have a ton of friends I'm dying to tell, I read. He had a point there. After class ended, we ate a quick lunch before heading to our individual sports practices. I ended up having to stay late again. After I finished sparring with Sawyer, Leo was there. He guarded the locker room as I took a shower before we headed back to the dorm.