Chapter 75
Chapter 75
Leanne was usually prickly as a hedgehog, one touch and she’d stick you full of quills. But if you got a little alcohol in her, she’d turn into a lamb.
Her tolerance was pretty decent. She’d sit quietly, not causing any trouble, nothing like that whirlwind Joy.
But she was indeed a crybaby. Every few minutes, a new flood would start, soaking Curtis’ suit until dark stains marked where her sobs had fallen.
“Made of water, are you? Such a crybaby.”
No matter how irked Curtis was, her crying always disarmed him. I’d find myself handing over my handkerchief to wipe her face dry.
“Drinking alone like that, you could get snatched up and sold before you know it.”
Leanne would cry, then doze off. After a while, her tears would finally stop. She’d lean against Curtis, out like a light.
By the time Curtis pulled up to the Crystal Cove Villas, she was dead to the world, her cheeks flushed with sleep, though a little frown creased her brow, as if even in dreams she was troubled.
Her lips were parted just so, revealing the pearly white of her teeth.
Curtis found himself staring for a moment before reaching over to gently squeeze her lips together.
naware, she let Curtis continue his game without any protests. Curtis closed her mouth
opened it again. What a child’s play!
ake, seeing Curtis lost in antics, knew better than to interrupt. He quietly stepped out of the car, giving some privacy for Curtis and Leanne.
At Curtis’ touch, Leanne deepened her frown in her sleep. Her eyes fluttered. open to the sight of Curtis, pinching her cheeks, teasing, “Sleeping like a piglet.”
Back in those honeyed days, Curtis loved to toy with her as she slept, waking her up just to call her little piglet.
For a moment, it felt like those times were back, days Curtis hadn’t seen in far too long.
Half-asleep, Leanne couldn’t tell if she was caught in a dream or reality. She wrapped her arms around his neck, seeking comfort. Her voice was a tiny and choked whisper, “I’ve missed you so much…”
But Curtis’ smile faded slowly.
“Who are you missing?” he murmured.
He didn’t hug her back but just sat there in silence, letting her cling to him, her sobs the only sound.
Curtis said nothing. After letting her cry it out for a bit, Curtis carried her inside, up bedroom, and laid her down on the bed.
Leanne was out again, her brow lightly furrowed, tears tracing down her face.
Curtis’ shirt was damp over his chest, soaked through with her tears.
to the
Standing by the bed, Curtis thought about lighting up a cigarette, but he put it back. The bedroom light was on. Leanne had been scared of the dark ever since she was a kid, so they always left a light on for her.
Curtis leaned against the dresser, watching her in the dim light, silent for a while.
When her crying finally quieted down, Curtis stood up straight, closed the door behind and left.
Leanne slept a deep and exhaustive sleep.
It was a long dream with people and places shifting around her, as if she were reliving her twenty-some years of lonely life all over again.
Looking back, she saw a sea of lights. Ahead, it was a misty haze.
All these years, she’d been alone.
No. Not entirely.
There were few in this world who loved her, but she had friends, so that number wasn’t
zero.
The next day, Leanne woke up late, nearly noon.
She’d new
so late, and because it was so late
she felt no rush.
y lost.
Indulging in laziness, and called Ruben to ask for the day off. Ruben surprised, “Your husband called in for you. Didn’t he tell you?”
ne was confused for a moment.
iben scolded her a bit more, told her to follow protocol next time, and reminded her that ot showing up without notice was bad form. Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.
Leanne, knowing she was at fault, took the scolding quietly. She got out of bed, headed to the bathroom, and washed away the scents of the night before.