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Chapter 40

I was in the middle of folding laundry when I heard the knock at the door. It was a soft, hesitant sound that immediately made me pause. Eden, who had been playing quietly with her stuffed bunny on the floor, turned her head toward the door, her tiny eyebrows furrowing in curiosity.

I glanced at the clock. It was still early afternoon-Noah, Kennedy, and Austin were at the café, working their usual shifts, so it wasn't one of them. I set the clothes down and walked toward the door, my curiosity piqued.

When I opened it, I was surprised to find Leo standing there, looking a little out of place, his hands in his pockets. He seemed almost nervous, which was unusual for him. Leo always had this calm, collected demeanor about him. But now, there was something different in his eyes, something hesitant.

"Hey" I said, leaning against the doorframe, trying to keep my voice casual. "What's up?"

He shifted on his feet, looking down for a moment before meeting my gaze. "Hey. I... I wanted to talk to you."

"About what?" I asked, though a small knot of anticipation began to form in my stomach. The tone in his voice told me this wasn't going to be a typical visit.

"I know it's kind of random, but... I've been thinking a lot lately. About Austin" he said, his voice a little more unsure than usual.

I felt my heart skip a beat. Was he really going to say what I thought he was? "Austin?" I echoed, trying to keep my expression neutral as I motioned for him to come inside. "Come in. Eden's just on the floor playing, and we can talk."

Leo stepped inside, and I closed the door softly behind him, watching as he hesitated for a moment, looking at Eden who was still playing contentedly with her toy. His gaze softened when he saw her, but there was something else behind his eyes something I couldn't quite place.

We sat down on the couch, a small distance between us. I watched him, sensing that he was trying to find the right words. I couldn't help but feel this little spark of excitement inside. If Leo was talking to me about Austin, then this was serious.

"I don't really know how to start this" Leo admitted after a long silence, running a hand through his hair. "But I feel like I can't ignore it anymore. And I need to talk to someone."

I waited, giving him space to continue. I knew Leo wasn't one for oversharing, so whatever he was about to say had to be important.

"I've been... thinking about Austin. And I guess, I've been feeling things that I didn't expect to feel," Leo said, his voice almost hesitant. "I'm not sure how to deal with it. I know he's your best friend, and I don't want to make things weird. But it's getting harder to ignore."

"You... have feelings for Austin?" I asked, unable to keep the surprise from my voice.

Leo nodded slowly, his eyes meeting mine with a vulnerability I hadn't seen in him before. "Yeah. I didn't expect it. And I know it might seem strange. I mean, he's younger than me, and he's your best friend. But it feels real. And it's getting harder to ignore."

I could barely suppress the grin forming on my face. "Leo, that's amazing! You and Austin? You two would be so good together."

Leo's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You really think so?"

"Are you kidding?" I couldn't hide my excitement any longer. "You guys are perfect for each other! You've got this whole chemistry thing going on, and honestly, I've been rooting for you both from the beginning." I paused, realizing how obvious I had been. "I mean, it's just... you two make sense, you know?"

Leo looked a little taken aback by my enthusiastic response, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes-hope, maybe? He scratched the back of his head, clearly unsure. "But... it's weird, right? He's your best friend, and I'm your brother."

I shook my head, leaning forward with excitement. "No, Leo. It's not weird at all. "

There was a long pause as Leo looked down at Eden, who was still happily playing on the floor. His face softened even more, like some of the tension from his shoulders had lifted.

"So... what should I do?" he asked quietly, looking at me for guidance.

I smiled, leaning back against the couch, trying to keep my tone casual. "You should talk to him, Leo. Seriously. If you care about him, don't hold back just because of how it might seem. Austin deserves to know how you feel. And honestly, if you don't tell him, I'll probably do it for you" I added with a teasing grin.

Leo let out a startled laugh, and I could see a hint of relief in his eyes. "You'd really do that?"

"Of course! But, you know, you'd be saving me from the embarrassment if you just told him yourself" I joked. "But seriously, don't be afraid of what might happen. You're not doing anything wrong. If anything, you're just being honest with yourself."

Leo gave me a look-half serious, half playful. "I guess I'll have to think about it. But... you really think it could work?"

"Definitely" I said without hesitation. "You and Austin are great together. You complement each other so well. You've got this subtle thing going on, but I can see it. And, yeah, maybe it's a little complicated, but so what? If you don't try, you'll never know."

Leo's gaze softened as he looked at me, clearly considering my words. "Thanks, Estella. You've been really... cool about this. I didn't know what I expected, but I'm glad I came to talk to you."

I smiled, my heart lighter than it had been in a long time. "Anytime, Leo. And hey, if you need someone to help you figure this out, I'm always here. But no pressure, just... take it slow, okay?"

Leo nodded, the corners of his lips curling into a small but genuine smile. "I'll think about it. Thanks."

Eden, noticing the shift in the mood, reached her arms up toward Leo. He smiled and picked her up, cradling her in his arms as she giggled, grabbing his shirt with tiny hands.

"I think she approves" I said with a wink.

Leo chuckled softly, pressing a kiss to Eden's head. "Yeah, I think she does."