That's How it Happens

30. Not a Proposal, but Close

The family – Ainsley's family, which now apparently included the schmuck's family – sat around the brunch table, enjoying themselves - well, everyone else was. Leo was the oddball out, sitting amongst a table full of laughing hyenas, or, should he say, the laughing hyena.

He'd woken up, tangled with Ainsley on the couch, a little terrified of what that meant and how natural it felt. Gently untangling himself, he considered leaving her gift somewhere quiet. Then reconsidered. Then decided to plant it under the tree, front and center, so her family could witness it. She'd hate that. Which was exactly why he did it. Some memories deserved an audience.

So, he did what he always did in the mornings: did a few small workouts before turning on the coffee, since they couldn't hit a café, and heading to the shower. It wasn't late in the morning, but he hadn't slept in like this since he was a young teenager. He had slept like a rock last night, and the headache he was sporting was a telltale sign that maybe he was a little hungover. It had preceded the coffee, Ainsley didn't touch, followed by the strange, thoughtful, silent treatment she was giving him. She had gotten up like nothing had happened between them – like they hadn't kissed and then later slept together. Well, they did actually sleep – it wasn't that exciting. Honestly, he shouldn't have been surprised by it; Classic Ainsley – dodging emotional baggage like it was her Olympic sport. But when he saw her and Peter whispering closely by the Christmas tree earlier as if they were planning to sneak off again, it irritated him and maybe terrified him a little.... Not to mention the stupid indigestion that seemed to rise at the very sight of him. His head throbbed. His stomach churned, and spotting those two triggered a fresh wave of indigestion that he knew TUMS wouldn't cure.

He and Ainsley needed to talk about whatever was going on with them.

He glanced at Peter across the table and placed his chin in his hand. He was sure Victoria and Dorothea would snip at him, but he didn't care. Aunt Kate seemed just as annoyed as he was, and he had to hold back a laugh at the face she made every time Peter made that noise. Or maybe she was hungover like him. Regardless, her facial expressions were entertaining, and he was waiting for her to lose it. Victoria was interested in Liv as usual, while Ethan, Peter, and Jackson seemed to be forming a trio. He didn't mind so much – he was growing tired of golf and the schmuckery. Aunt Kate apparently had had enough, slid her chair back loudly, threw her napkin on her plate, and left without a word. Nobody seemed to notice – or it was such normal behavior they didn't dare ruin the moment. He smiled, proud of her for going as quietly as she did. He saw a waggle of fingers in his peripheral vision and saw the grandmother. He blanched, told his brunch to go back down, and then snapped his attention back at the laugh – it sounded like a donkey with a sinus infection –coming from the man that had been haunting Leo since the moment he popped into their lives.

Seriously, what could she possibly see in the schmuck? Leo tried to mimic the sound in his head and nearly gagged.

"Are you okay?" Ainsley whispered, concern etched in her brow.

He turned to her, startled. He'd wanted to say nice of you to notice I'm here, but decided it probably wasn't a good idea.

"Yeah, why?"

"You were doing that fake laugh of yours."

Leo blinked. "I was?"

She leaned in. "You weren't talking to anyone."

Oh God. Had he done it out loud?

Well, that wasn't good. How the hell was he going to explain that? Schmuk graced them with his explosive guffaw, and Leo looked at him before slowly turning his gaze to Ainsley.

Her lips tightened as if holding in a smile, and he felt his resolve crack. Okay. He could admit that it was a little funny, even if it was annoying.

Peter happened to see them laughing together, closely, and felt his jaw tighten. He had thought that he and Ainsley were becoming closer, especially after Ethan mentioned the pair weren't doing well.