Better Off Friends

Chapter 3: Tea

Finally a full length chapter! And I know I suck at chapter titles--don't judge me lol :) Thank you to everyone who has read, voted, and commented so far! <3

Leo rung the doorbell of Kate's house at eight o'clock two weeks later, his rental car parked in the driveway and his suitcase beside him. He tugged up the zipper of his black three-quarter zip sweatshirt and rubbed his arms, trying to keep himself warm.

Kate opened the door and immediately flung herself into his arms before he could even say hello.

"Leo," she whispered. "It's so good to see you."

He chuckled, hugging her back tightly and stroking her hair. She smelled like lavender, just like always.

"It's good to see you too, Katie."

When they separated, she stared at the ground for a moment before taking a deep breath and finally looking at him. He noticed that her eyes were slightly bloodshot.

"Are you okay?"

She bit her lip and shook her head quickly, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Kate ..."

"You should come in, darling. What am I doing, keeping you out here in the cold?"

She opened the door all the way and ushered him inside. He opened his mouth to ask her what was wrong, but just then, the kids' voices echoed down the hall.

"Is Uncle Leo here?"

"Uncle Leo!"

There was a thundering of footsteps down the stairs. Kate pulled the handle up on his suitcase.

"I'm just going to take this to your room, okay? We can talk later if you're not too tired."

She squeezed his arm and disappeared down the hallway as the footsteps got louder, and then he was being bombarded.

"Hello, hello!" he said as Bear all but jumped into his arms. He picked him up and spun him around, and the toddler giggled.

"It's so good to see you, little man! How are you?"

"I'm good, but mommy was crying all day."

"She ... she was?" he stammered, slowly setting him down and looking at Mia and Joe.

"Yeah," Mia said quietly as she stepped closer to hug him.

"We knew something was wrong as soon as she picked us up from school, but she won't say what. She was in her office with the door shut, but we could still hear her crying."

She glanced at Joe. "We know it has something to do with Ned, but we're not sure if it's just another fight or if they're really getting divorced."

Joe nodded, biting his lip. "We're just really glad you're here, Uncle Leo."

"Me, too," Leo said as he hugged him. "Me, too."

"If she'll talk to anyone, it's you," Mia said. "She--"

"Did you need something to eat, Leo?" Kate's voice drifted down the hall, and seconds later, she reappeared in the entryway.

"No, no, I'm fine, thanks," he said. "I got a sandwich at the airport."

"Alright. Something to drink? I was going to make tea."

"Sounds perfect."

They followed her into the kitchen, and the kids sat down at the counter. Everytime Leo saw her, he hoped against hope that maybe this would be the time he would stop feeling for her--when he would look at her and realize he didn't love her anymore. But now he wondered how he had ever thought that was possible.