Everyone was charmed by Leo's bright smile but behind it all, he could barely keep it together inside. From taking care of his sick mother to suffering mental and physical abuse from his father to keeping up his perfect grades in school.
King was th...
I watched as King walked across the stage to get his deplume with Kiki at my side. With everyone I went to class with around, I didn't want to greet him when it was over. I walked over to his truck and waited there. Those people were the last ones I wanted to see after all this time, after everything that happened. They were all fake beside King and Jess, but I didn't see her there either. They didn't call her name either, which had me confused.
King told me she started taking online classes, but I thought she would still be here today. I hoped she was okay. I couldn't help biting my thumbnail thinking about it until I saw King and Kiki heading towards me.
"Leo? Is that you?" I heard someone say between the cars and turned to see James. "I thought that was you in the stands, but I wasn't sure. It's good to see you."
James walked over as his parents waited by their car. "Hey," was all I could think of to say, glancing over to see King and Kiki still far. I really didn't want to talk to any of these people.
"It's a shame about Jess. I can't believe she dropped out like that and out of nowhere, too. She would have been the one making that stupid speak up there today, not me. Have you heard from her? Is she doing okay?"
"Dropped out?" I asked, snapping my attention back to him. "What do you mean she dropped out? King said she was taking online classes."
"Nah, man. The teacher told us she dropped out a week ago. I couldn't believe it either. Sorry. I thought you knew since you guys were friends and all. Anyway, it was good to see you, but I have to go. I hope she's okay and all is good. I guess... I'll see you around then."
I gave him a nod as we shook hands before he hurried back to the car. King and Kiki were walking up just as James closed the car door.
"What did James want?" King asked, looking at the car and then back at me with worry lacing his voice.
I didn't want to ruin his day, and I didn't want to dampen the plans I already had in play. I've worked so hard the last week to keep this a secret. Today, right now, I was going to give it to him, so I shoved what James told me into the back of my mind.
"Just saying hi," I lied. "He wasn't expecting to see me here and wished me luck."
King didn't look like he liked that answer as he watched James' car drive off. "Okay. So um," he said, rubbing the back of his neck, eyes not meeting mine. "Anyway, I'm glad this is over. What are the plans for the day? You both refused to tell me until after, so spill."
He flashed us a smile, seeming to recover from fear his lie was discovered, which it was, but I had already decided to move past it for now.
"Let's get in the truck, and then you'll tell you." Kiki gave King a smug smile, clearly making King nervous about what mischief she had planned.
I got in and looked at the present I had wrapped and put on the driver's seat, glad for Kiki rolling down her window to distract him from getting in the driver's seat before I could get in first.
When King rolled his eyes and chuckled, he opened his door to begin sliding inside until he stopped halfway through the door. "You know I could have sat on that, right?" He laughed, picking up the small box before plopping into the seat. "So is this the big surprise?"
Kiki grabbed his shoulders from the back seat. "You wish! No, this one is all Leo. I got more planned later."
"You didn't have to get me anything, babe," his hand reached over the center council to rub my thigh, sending a wave of heat to my face. "But thank you."
"You deserve it after everything you've done for me." I took his hand in mine and squeezed. "This is my way of thanking you."
Kiki cleared her throat. "Okay, love birds. Save it for later. Let's see what it is." Kiki didn't know what it was either, but I could tell how eager she was for him to open it.
Turning his focus on the present again, he unwrapped it and opened the box, looking at it a little confused before taking out the pamphlet. It took him a few seconds. "Oh, so you found somewhere you wanted to go?" He smiled, not looking surprised, but my smile grew wider, waiting for him to notice.
"Yup. It's the honeymoon suite. Two weeks," my smile grew more, and it was getting harder to speak around the lump forming in my throat. "I booked it for two weeks from now."
Kiki leaned forward, snatching the pamphlet from King's hand. "Holy fuck."
I knew she saw it, and suddenly, I felt nervous. "Yeah. Your uncle gave me a few jobs to do- nothing bad though!" I quickly added when I saw his eyes start to narrow. "Just grocery shopping, shoveling a few driveways, and stuff like that. He threw in the extra week's stay as his gift to you. But I looked up the area, and it seems Casper has a huge zoo, a lot of trails to explore, and-,"
"Casper?" King snatched the pamphlet from Kiki again and looked at the location before turning to me. "That's where-,"
"Two weeks will give you four visitation days with your dad while we are there. I hope that's okay," I said, looking down as my fingers knotted together to keep me from chewing on my nails. "If you want more, I can add another week to our stay, and it's all set up with him too."
King didn't say anything as he stared at me, lips parted, and eyes wide. The silence between us started to make me really question if this was a good idea, but then he looked back down at the pamphlet again, King's eyes grew soft, and I could see he was starting to smile.
"I can't believe you did this, Leo," he nearly whispers. "This is the best gift I've ever gotten."
My heart swells in my chest when he looks at me. "I'm so glad you like it." It was the only words I could think, my face beginning to heat under his loving-looking eyes.
"That's the sweetest thing I've ever seen," Kiki snuffled behind us, making my face feel on fire for forgetting she was in the truck with us. "Okay, you sappy love birds, let's go home. It's my turn, of course, nothing can top this gift. Thanks, puppy. Should have let me go first." She starts laughing in the backseat, but I lean forward and kiss King's cheek, telling him I loved him before we started heading home, our hands linked together.
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