That's How it Happens

31. Everything Else

Ainsley and Leo sat on opposite ends of the couch—technically. Her legs were draped over his lap, the popcorn bowl balanced between them, and Leo was slouched back like he'd been born to lounge. They'd brought a bottle of wine but hadn't made a dent in it. Neither was in the mood to drink.

"Shoot," Leo said, mouth open.

Ainsley tossed a piece of popcorn at him. It bounced off his lip and fell. He picked it up and popped it in his mouth, then held out his hand. She filled it with more.

She didn't know how to sit next to him tonight. Not after the envelope under the tree. Not after the way the whole room had gone quiet, like someone had dropped a proposal.

She appreciated it. She did. The offer was generous, thoughtful, and so very Leo—loud in gesture, quiet in meaning. But it had caught her off guard. And now she was sitting like this, legs over his lap, trying to act normal while her brain short-circuited.

Meanwhile, Leo's thoughts were racing as fast as his heart. His hands felt sweaty, too. He hadn't felt like this since he was a kid, and it was terrifying and exhilarating. He was waiting for the moment – the right moment to open up the conversation that he knew would make them or break them. And maybe that's why he was procrastinating. Because this – just the two of them like this – was hard to give up just for feelings.

On screen, Ben Affleck handed his fake mom a screenplay. Ainsley perked up.

"Oh, this part," she whispered.

Leo leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "Wait – is this the one where she-"

The mom began reading aloud, voice syrupy and dramatic.

MOVIE MOM:

"You can sleep with me like you used to."

Leo choked on his popcorn.

Ainsley burst out laughing, clutching her stomach.

Leo wiped his mouth. "What the hell is this movie?"

"You picked it," she said between giggles.

"I thought it was about surviving Christmas, not... whatever that is." He snorted, "I could totally see your Aunt Kate saying something like that."

They laughed together, the kind of laugh that cracked open the tension and let something real slip through.

Leo glanced at her smiling at the tv. Sighing and quieter now. "So... about earlier."

Ainsley's smile faded, but not in a bad way. She shifted slightly, her legs still resting on him as if that was the thing holding their friendship together.

"I didn't mean to act like it didn't matter," she said softly. "The offer. It does. I'm just... surprised."

Leo nodded. "I figured you would be."

"I didn't expect it. And I didn't expect you to do it like that."

He smirked. "You mean publicly? With dramatic flair?"

"Exactly."

"I wanted them to see it. To see you."

She looked down at the popcorn bowl. "It's a lot."

"You deserve a lot."

Her throat tightened. She didn't know what to say to that, so she didn't. Not yet. She was too afraid she'd unleash the truth of what she'd been doing behind his back.

Leo shifted, brushing her knee lightly. "And last night..."

Ainsley looked up. "What about last night?" she whispered. She had woke up and he was gone and knew that it had meant nothing to him. She was mad at herself all day for thinking it might and shocked by the revelation that she was thinking about it.