Chapter 72 Hey, Heart!

Chapter 72 Hey, Heart!
Irene’s POV

Often times while Leo wasn’t looking directly at me, I would steal a glance at him. Even now, while we silently ate supper in the dinning room - I was silently watching him from the rims of my cup.

Reilly sat beside me, her mother at the edge of the table, both Inez and Leo sat at the other side of the table.

My eyes darted back on Leo- his swift lips nibbled at the stick of fried chicken in his hand. From this position, it gave me a leverage of the explicit joy of watching his features.

Leo had an angular face that anchored a delicious double chin. I recalled the time he was at my place- my head had laid on his chest while my lips ran on at what had occurred in school…

My hands had inched forward and rubbed my knuckles across that chin of his.

Had he noticed then?

Because he had seem so engrossed in my report than any other thing in the whole.

I watched him pick his glass of water and I so wished I were the water instead.

Would it be so unfair that I was just recovering from my toxic relationship from Dan and I was suddenly smitten by Leo?

But Leo had been right there all along even before Dan had stepped into the picture.

Leo was the first to know when I started my period, he got to know about Dan and even meet up with Dan when Dad was still a good boy.

But why was I feeling giddy merely watching his throat gurgle while he drank water?

Or why were butterflies strumming in my stomach and fluttering violently?

I remembered feeling this way for Dan once upon a time but that died the moment the series of abuse started to flood in.

But why was this happening to me?

Leo was basically my brother’s best-friend!

‘Hello, heart! Can you wake up now? You are looking in the wrong direction!’

My heart was thumping, my mouth dry - my hand reached for my glass of water without looking- my hand smacked the glass.

It tilted forward and spilled towards Reilly.

“Oh my God!” I yelped, shifting my chair backwards as I stared- horrified at what I had just done.
“It’s alright. Let me get a napkin to wipe the table.” Reilly shot a hand at me then started out of the dinning room.

Inez’s eyes sought me. Arching her brows - I knew exactly what that meant. “Is everything okay?”

That was the way we usually communicate when we were both in a position not to speak.

I waggled my eyes in response to her question. “I am fine.”

Leo’s eyes turned to slits as he watched us.

My heart jumped out of me when his gaze settled on me.

“Is there something you are thinking while you eat?” Mrs Miller’s voice strike through the air.

My gaze landed on her, she was wiping her lips with a piece of tissue.

“I_ not really, ma’am.” I stuttered, grateful that no one had caught on the reason for my clumsiness.

“If you have worries. That should be communicated to God in prayers. And while we are here, eating to our satisfaction should be your priority. Do I make myself clear?”

I gave a curt nod. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Mother!” Leo put in. “It was merely an accident.”

Reilly returned, wiped the spot where water had littered, then returned the napkin.

The rest of the supper was quiet until Inez and I started to pack the dishes to the washing zinc.

“Now, can you explain what happened right there?” Inez whispered to me once we stood before the washing zinc.

“What?”

“Don’t play the dumb card on me, Irene. Leo and Reilly are behind us. Why were you looking at Leo like that?”

I stiffened- not out of fear but out of the realization that if Inez had caught on and I didn’t know, Mrs. Miller would have caught on as well.

“I wasn’t really looking at him.” I denied the allegations.

I sprinkled some water soap, picked up a sponge and a dish and began to wash. Inez was watching me intently - the corner of her lips curled up mockingly.

“What?” I laughed. “You are scaring me.”

“First, you cooked and brought it over. Then you are watching Leo like he is some sort of thing that you are beginning to fancy.”

“Leo is my friend. Shhh now, you want him to think that we are gossiping about him?”

“He can’t even hear us.” Inez whispered back.
“If you are wondering if I have feelings for Leo, you are wrong. Leo is the last person my heart would beat for.” The words easily rolled over my tongue. Somehow, I wished I could take it all back-because I knew my heart was definitely playing a trick on me.

After Inez and I were done, Reilly rearranged the washed dishes back into the shelf- afterwards both she and Inez were the first to retire for the night.

“Aren’t you coming along?” Inez asked me.

“I’ll be right behind you.” I waved her off.

By the time they were gone, I stood there like a shadow, a stalker - just watching Leo sit in one of the couches, his eyes glued on his phone while he typed away.

Thoughts swarmed my mind.

I probably wouldn’t see Leo after today, and I just wanted to be alone with him before he also retired for the night.

I tip-toed towards him, craned my neck over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of who he was chatting with.

Leo snapped his phone away from my eyes- and his eyes twirled towards me - like he was mad at me.

“What’s the matter?” I teased, “are you chatting with a girl I shouldn’t know about?”

“Do you want me to?”
Jealousy swam into my veins before I could bring myself to a halt.

My lips pressed into a thin line.

“I hate you, you can go fuck with her anyway.” I said, turning to leave.

Leo’s hand grabbed me before I could walk away.

Then he hurled me towards him.

My body meshed into his and I think I completely lost my breath right there. Leo’s chest heaved heavily same as mine.

We silently stared into each other’s eyes.

We were so lost that we didn’t realize that footsteps were approaching.

“Who is out there?” It was the voice of his mother.

All lights in the sitting room where we stood were switched off- so it was much safer that Mrs Miller wouldn’t see us even in the dark.

“Leo?”

“Fuck!” Leo cussed, “We got to move. Mother mustn’t catch us together - at this time.”

Even I could protest to that, Leo’s hand curled around my hand and our feet started moving.