We both slept in on Sunday, it was almost lunchtime before we were both up and showered. I made some bacon and eggs for us both, along with a fresh cup of coffee. We sat there largely in silence as we began eating, I'm sure we were both wondering if the other was going to bring up last night. I figured I'd be the one to break the ice.
"So, do you have any other secrets you want to share with me this morning?"
"Oh, God. I was so drunk last night."
"Are you saying you didn't mean what you said then?"
"No, Yes. I mean, I did mean what I said. Not sure I should've said it though."
"Maybe it's better it's out in the open. We don't have to pretend we don't feel the way we do."
"Yeah, but what now?"
"What do you mean?" As I kept eating my bacon.
"You said last night that we should take it slow. What does that mean exactly?"
"That we shouldn't rush into being back together again. You just broke up with Dan only two days ago. You need some time to get over that, I don't want to be anyone's rebound guy."
"Believe it or not, I think he was my rebound guy for you. Granted, it was two years later, but that's kind of how it felt."
I nodded at Leah while continuing with my meal.
"I just think we should try being friends first and see how we go." I told her.
"Are you friend-zoning me? Seriously? Do you even really want to get back together at all?"
"Yes I do, and I'm not friend-zoning you. I just want to make sure we do it right, when it's right. I know you're hurting and angry with Dan right now, that's not the time I want us to be getting together. I don't want you thinking about him at all when we do."
Leah went back to eating her meal without responding. It might be easier for her to jump straight into a new relationship to help forget the old one, but that's not what I wanted. I wanted us to start again with a clean slate.
On the Monday after work, Leah took her first load of stuff to her parent's place in Newport before returning for the night.
"Are you hungry, did you have anything to eat at your parent's place?"
"Yeah, Mom fed me, I'm fine."
"Do you want a drink then?"
"Another hot chocolate would be really nice."
"Coming up."
As we sat back down in the lounge room with our drinks, I looked over at Leah, she appeared to be in deep thought.
"A penny for your thoughts."
Leah looked up at me and smiled.
"I was just thinking about the fact that I'm going to be living with my parent's again, like I was back in high school, like I did after we split up. That I've gone to college, I have a successful career, and yet I'm going to be living with my parents back in Newport again."
"It's only temporary, until you find a place here. It's not the end of the world."
"Yeah I know, I just like being independent. I don't like that any bump in the road and I end up running back to them every time."
"Just be thankful that we both have parents we can run back to."
"I do appreciate that, believe me. And they didn't ask too many questions about my breakup either, although that might have to do with the fact that they know I'm staying here tonight."
"Why would that make a difference?"
"Are you kidding me? I think my Mom would've married you if I didn't. She wanted me to go to London with you too, you know. Dad kept out of that discussion, but Mom thought I made the wrong decision. Maybe they think that if I might get back with you, they won't care about what happened with Dan."
"They didn't like Dan?"
"Mom was pretty cold towards him once we got together, she was a lot nicer to him before when he was just our friend. I don't think Dad trusted him at all, and he's a pretty good judge of character."
"It would appear so."
"Anyway, I'm going to have to look for an apartment this Saturday. Care to help me?"
"For sure, after you helped me with my apartment, how could I refuse."
"I was hoping you'd help me to find something close by. Walking distance. By the way, when are you going to get yourself a car?"
"Not sure, I'm used to not having one now. Besides, I get to use the company car sometimes as well, but not really for personal use."
"Well, if you help find me something close by, then I can always drive you around if you need me to."
"Yeah, that'd be nice. You know Bianca lives pretty close to here, did you think about sharing with her?"
"I didn't want to ask, we just made up after two years and she lives with David. I'd feel like I'd be intruding."
"How about if I float the idea with her? Maybe they could do with a roommate. Who knows, maybe it won't be for that long anyway."
"Alright, go ahead and ask her, but don't tell her that I asked you to, okay?"
I nodded back to Leah before we finished our hot chocolates. She then made her way to the bedroom to get some sleep while I watched a bit of TV before getting some sleep on the couch myself.
The next evening Leah came back to my apartment after work to collect the rest of her stuff and I helped load them into her car. We were standing out on the footpath, Leah needed to get going soon as it was looking like a storm was coming.
"Thanks Jack, for being there for me for the last few days. I won't forget it."
"Come on, this isn't a farewell you know. I do love you. I'm going to be seeing you a lot, and I mean a lot, okay?"
"I'm going to hold you to that promise. Do you want to have drinks this Friday? Same bar again?"
"Yeah, it's a date."
"Is it really, a date?"
"Yep, for sure."
"What happened to taking it slow?"
"We are, I didn't say anything about us not dating in taking it slow. I want to make sure you don't meet someone else."
"You don't have to worry about that. Okay, I better get going before the storm hits."
"Bye Leah."
"Goodbye Jack."
On Thursday morning I texted Bianca to see if she had time to catch up for a coffee during the morning, and we agreed to meet at my favorite café that we met at when I first got home.
