I blinked.
Leo had waited seven hours?
I looked around.
<
Sure enough, I saw the kid under a tree.
I beckoned Justin closer. “Let me tell you a
secret.”
“You and Maisie are meant to be together. You’re both trash. I appreciate the ride, but don’t wait for me outside my apartment. It’s creepy. Thanks.”
I didn’t wait for Justin’s reaction.
I jumped out and ran to Leo.
I smiled and poked his shoulder. “Waiting
long?”
Leo gave me a look. “Wasn’t waiting for you.”
“Oh… Okay, bye.”
<
Leo pursed his lips.
He looked sad.
He really was hurt.
I started explaining. “I didn’t leave you on
purpose. My relationship with Maisie is
complicated.”
“My mom has a bad heart. She had surgery last year, and the doctors said she can’t get stressed. I heard Maisie was at my house,
hooking up with my dad. I was worried about what would happen if my mom found out.
That’s why I rushed back.”
He still didn’t say anything.
I poked him again.
<
ne avuyeu me.
I had no experience with boyfriends. Leo’s
coldness made me uneasy.
I waited, but he didn’t say anything. I was done.
“Fine, don’t believe me.”
I turned to leave, but he grabbed my arm.
“Is that how you say sorry?”
I raised my eyebrows and smirked, which made him laugh.
He reached for a cigarette, then pulled his hand back and took out a piece of gum instead.
“You need to treat me like a man, not a kid.”
<
“21 days left.”
“Don’t let it happen again.”
7
Winning Leo over wasn’t easy.
Most of the guys his age were still in school.
They liked reading and playing video games.
But Leo was different.
He wasn’t in school. He didn’t play video
games.
He just liked picking up trash.
After the drama at my parents‘ house, Leo
worked even harder.
He went out early and came home late.
One night, I asked, “Do you want anything? Is
there anywhere you want to go?”
Leo glanced at me. “If I tell you everything, why
don’t I just say yes?”
“That’s fine, too.”
Leo gave me a look that said, “Hell no.”
He was a trash picker!
Why was he so cool?
I thought about it.
<
The best gift I could give Leo was an education.
I knew that Leo had grown up in an orphanage.
He dropped out of school after eighth grade.
He was too young to get a real job, so he worked construction.
The scars on his back were from that time.
If he had a high school diploma, maybe he
could find a good job, even if he didn’t become a billionaire.
