Joe Goldberg is beginning to wonder if there's any more decent people in the world. With both Candace and Beck out of the picture, he's feeling lonely and starting to give up on love. That is, until Leila comes sobbing into Mooney's. Fragile and vul...
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2 6 | R E L E A S E
joe
You're beautiful, Leila.
And I have so many questions for you.
What you did was...cruel. I'd just began the healing process and accepted I was never going to see you again and yet, here you are.
So, so different from when I first met you. Face full of makeup, hair curled and layered. These clothes you wear- the style, it's not quite you.
You're a different person now.
"Thank you for doing this," your voice is the same velvety whisper I remember as we head for the door to exit Mooney's, "I-I know this must be so crazy. I-I feel crazy for doing this, Joe, but-"
"You don't have to explain yourself to me," it's a lie, Leila, I want to know everything. But seeing you fidget nervously has me scared I'll lose you again.
You can barely meet my gaze. Even with those bulky sunglasses hiding your eyes, you still look down. At your feet. Smiling that Leila 'I-don't-know-what-I'm-doing' smile that I've missed so much.
I wait for you to catch your breath, wondering again why you decided to show yourself now. And finally, you roll your shoulders forward and flick your head up. "Can we go somewhere? Quiet? Please? I-I want to talk to you."
"The tea shop-"
"No." You state firmly, your bag of books smacks your hip with your sudden movement. I raise my brows. You purse your lips. "Sorry, uh, I meant- I meant somewhere secluded. Just the two of us."
"Leila, are you sure?" This doesn't sound like you. You were so on guard before. Reluctant to venture outside of your comfort zone. But now-
"Yes. Please." Your grin shapeshifts into a warmer expression, exposing the dimples on either side of your cheek. You lift a hand slowly to me, and gently touch my wrist. With your skin on mine, my heart begins to race. I lose my breath. You step closer, honey lavender overwhelms me, reminding me that it really is you. "I've been keeping secrets from you, and I want you to know why. I owe you an explaination, Joe. I owe you honesty. But I can't risk anyone else hearing what I want to say. So please, if you're still up for it, I'd like to go someone quiet and away from people. Maybe a walk around the park, or-"
"My apartment isn't far." I cut in, my words just pour out of my mouth without my brain filtering them. I watch your lips closely, again feeling anxiety creep into my bloodstream. But lips curve and you nod.
"Yeah, okay. Your apartment." You say carefully. "That sounds lovely."
Lovely. My apartment sounds lovely.
God, I'm a fool for letting you back into my life again. But as we walk side by side like this, past the swarms of people, I can't help but fall back into the rhythm again. You laugh so effortlessly, touching my arm as we talk about the weather, our day, and newly released books.
