It was a struggle to go back. Knowing that I might not be able to just go for a walk again so quickly saddened me, but after a long time, I got hungry and was forced to return. 

Now, I'm standing in front of the gates, waiting for a moment to think carefully about what I'm going to say to Leroy because I'm sure he won't be pleased that I've been away for so long, but I just forgot about the time!

I was supposed to hurry, only then I entered this wonderful park where the sun was shining so strongly and warming me, so I sat down on a bench and just enjoyed the peace and the chirping of the birds for a while. 

"Oh, you're back," the security guard snaps me out of my thoughts, making me wince hard. "Hold on, I'm opening the gate!" 

I clear my throat quietly and force a smile before thanking him. 

"Could you please tell me what time it is?", I ask him, stopping in front of him. The young man looks at his watch and informs me that I have been gone for about three hours, which makes me stare.

Oh God, that long? Leroy must be furious!

I hastily thank him and run into the house, where I first meet William and Olga, who have made themselves comfortable on the terrace and are drinking coffee.

They invite me in, but I explain to them that I will join them in a moment before I go up the stairs and enter the bedroom. 

Just at that moment, Leroy comes out of the bathroom half-naked, making me pause in surprise. 

"Found your way back?" he asks ironically, walking towards his bag without looking at me once. 

How did he know I came into the room? 

I can't detect any emotion in his voice. It sounds solely rough and makes me swallow slightly. I hate it when I can't size him up. I'm just closing the door when he suddenly turns back to me, still bare in the towel wrapped around his waist, and walks towards me. 

"You're mad, aren't you?", I ask, and can't help that my voice trembles a little, though unfortunately he doesn't stop, but keeps coming closer until he's standing in front of me, propping his arms up right next to my head. Lovely. 

"I'm sure I would have been if I hadn't told Pablo to follow you quietly." 

"You what?!", I exclaim, stunned, my eyes widening. Forgotten is the fear of being screwed. I can't believe how little he trusts me, despite that stupid chain and my vow not to try anything! 

"What are you thinking? You got shot two days ago, people tried to kill you and you still think you're safe just walking around?" He stares at me with narrowed eyes and pulls his brows together, creating deep wrinkles on his forehead. 

"But we're in Ohio!" 

"Which doesn't have to mean anything. Besides, you should be glad, because who knows what thoughts I would have had if Pablo couldn't confirm that you were just out for a walk," he interjects, giving me a particularly long and meaningful look that takes my breath away for a moment.

What does he mean by that? Was Kelly talking to him? Is he trying to tell me that she did just that and that he believes her? 

No, then he would surely have reacted very differently... 

I exhale softly but decide against saying anything back. 

"I have to sit down," I say instead and avert my gaze. Leroy remains in this motion for a few seconds before he releases me, pulling away. Sighing inwardly, I slowly walk towards the bed and sit down. 

"You better turn around or you'll see me the way God made me," he says suddenly, whereupon I tear my eyes open and jerk my head away.

"As prude as you are...", I hear him say softly, but that's all I understand because at that moment I hear the fall of his towel.

I bite my lower lip too. Oh man, this is uncomfortable! 

"Pants are on, you can turn around."

"I heard that," I announce and pull my eyebrows together in annoyance. A small smirk forms over Leroy's lips, which he hides by running his tongue over his lips. He reaches for his T-shirt as more strands fall down his face. 

"Oh, yeah? And what did you hear?" he asks, brushing his hair out of his face again. 

"I'm not prude." 

"And why do you blush when someone gets a little close to you? I thought I had a tomato standing in front of me yesterday while you were making your wishes to me- oh, and look! You're blushing again," he replies, raising a brow as he pulls out a comb and wax from his backpack. I roll my eyes slightly and rub my cheeks. 

"Because it's just not easy for me. Married or not, I don't know you, but of course, you immediately apostrophize me as prude." 

Leroy frowns and gives me a look. "Please, as if you would act differently if you knew me better. Besides, you certainly know me, after all, you've been with me for two months," he counters, turning back to the mirror.

Two months?! I didn't even know that two months had already passed since then... 

"Have you ever had a boyfriend?" he suddenly asks and I wonder about the turn our conversation has taken. And about the fact that we are talking about relatively normal things for the first time. I hesitate. This will surely give him satisfaction now. 

"No," I mutter and look away, but still spot the nasty smirk on his lips. What a dumbass. 

"That explains a lot." He laughs softly. Annoyed, I cross my arms in front of my chest and lean back.  

"Well, I had better things to do than throw myself at men! Besides, you don't have to have a boyfriend to...", I want to say, but I can't bring myself to say it. I immediately curse myself for it as Leroy turns to me with a winning smile. 

"Do you mean to have sex?" he asks, deliberately emphasizing the word I didn't want to say. "You can't even say it, and then you're going to tell me you're into numb sex? No way." 

"Love is overrated," I lie because I can't think of anything to say in response. But I would say anything just to avoid admitting that I have no experience with men. I haven't even really had any friends, apart from Tara, so how could I have done anything serious with men?   

Leroy now takes his hands out of his hair and turns to me, sighing. His eyes almost scream at me that he doesn't believe me. 

"Okay. How many times a week did you have something with a man?" he asks, looking me seriously in the eyes. 

"You don't talk about that," I shout indignantly. Now a rough laugh does escape Leroy as he throws his head back. 

"How old are you? Ten?" 

I snort angrily. Asshole. At first, I thought this was a reasonable conversation, the first if you take it that way and the longest too, but he just wants to embarrass me! Why didn't I think of that in the first place? 

"Twenty-two! At least I didn't have a child at a young age. How old were you when you had Danny anyway?", I say.

Leroy smirks and turns back to the mirror. "Danny is not my biological son, chica. Even though he looks exactly like me. Danny calls it fate." 

I freeze. My mouth opens and closes again. Wait, what? He's not his biological son? 

"How," I whisper. I pray inwardly that he will answer me and apparently today is my lucky day. 

Because Leroy answers me.

☼ ❅