"Mind if I steal her for a moment?" Jeremy asked, his voice polite, but his posture indicated he wouldn't take no for an answer.
Leo's lips curved in a small, almost amused smile. "She's all yours," he replied smoothly, though there was a certain edge to his tone. He stepped aside, his gaze still lingering on Susan as she offered him a quick, reassuring look before she followed Jeremy to the balcony.
Leo's eyes followed them as they left, and he was taken aback by the jealousy he felt stir within him as he watched Susan walk away with another man. He was a possessive man, and he did whatever it took to protect what belonged to him. He'd just never felt that way towards any woman before, and the feeling made him uncomfortable. He looked away, and tried to engage in conversation with a cute brunette lady who approached him, but his eyes kept drifting to the balcony and he gripped his glass tighter when he saw how close they were standing to each other.
Outside, the cool night air filled Susan's lungs, calming her nerves. Jeremy stood next to her, leaning on the balcony railing, his shoulders tense as he gathered his thoughts. She could sense how much this conversation meant to him, and her heart clenched, already dreading the outcome as she knew what he was about to say.
"Susan," Jeremy began, glancing over at her with an earnest look, "I've had a really great time getting to know you. I think there's something real here between us, you know? I'd like us to be more than friends."
His words hung in the air, and she felt a pang of guilt. She'd hoped her feelings for him would deepen, that maybe, with time, she could see him as more than a friend. But now, standing beside him, she knew she couldn't pretend any longer. He deserved honesty, and so did she.
"Jeremy," she said softly, choosing her words with care. "You're an amazing person, and you've been nothing but kind and understanding with me. But I don't think it's fair for me to say yes to something my heart's not fully in."
A flicker of hurt crossed Jeremy's face, and he looked down, running a hand through his hair. There was a brief silence before he spoke. "Is it him?" he asked, his voice barely more than a whisper. "That guy in there—Leo?"
Susan's pulse quickened at the mention of Leo, but she shook her head, even as her voice betrayed a hint of uncertainty. "It's not… about him. I mean… It's just… complicated." She met Jeremy's eyes, hoping he could see her sincerity. "There are things I can't explain, but please know this isn't about you."
Jeremy let out a slow breath, and though she could see the disappointment in his face, he nodded. "I understand," he said quietly. He stepped closer, reaching out to gently press a kiss to her forehead. It was a small gesture, but filled with such tenderness that she felt a wave of gratitude for him. "Take care of yourself, okay? And happy birthday once again"
She gave him a soft smile. "Thanks. You too, Jeremy."
They shared a quiet moment before stepping back inside. As she crossed the threshold, she was immediately aware of Leo's gaze on her. He was standing near the door, his posture relaxed but his eyes dark and intent, following her every movement. She felt an electric awareness settle over her, the weight of his stare sending a shiver up her spine. He seemed to take in every detail of her return, his focus never wavering as she rejoined the party.
She looked away, and was immediately approached by Samuel, who didn't look very happy. This time, Susan didn't even bother to stop the groan from escaping. She was tired of the awkwardness and she wanted nothing more than for it to end.
"What is he doing here?" Samuel questioned, "I can't believe you would invite him to your party after everything he's done. After everything he's made you do. What? Are you two buddies now? He's dangerous, you know"
"I know," Susan replied, "But I'm handling things quite well, am I not? Of what good is it going to be if you get into an argument with him right here in front of everyone? He's not going to hurt me, so please just let it go… for me,"
Samuel glanced from Susan to Leo and then back to Susan, "You better be right," he said. "The earlier you are done with him the better. It's just funny how you kept warning me about him and now you two seem to inseparable,"
Samuel went back to be with Katherine and the evening carried on, though Susan felt Leo's gaze following her, always present, no matter who she spoke to or where she moved in the room. She caught him glancing at her often, his expression unreadable but piercing in its intensity, and she could feel the silent tension building between them, drawing her back to him despite herself.
As the party wound down, one by one, the guests began to say their goodbyes. Caroline gave her a long hug, whispering with a mischievous smile, "We'll talk about Mr tall, dark and mysterious stranger later." She winked at Leo as she passed him on her way out, leaving Susan to stare after her in embarrassment.
Finally, the last guest departed, and silence settled over the apartment. Susan closed the door, her back resting against it for a moment before turning to face Leo. He was leaning against the wall, watching her with a quiet intensity that made her heartbeat quicken. The dim lighting cast shadows along his face, sharpening his features and making his gaze appear even more piercing.
"I apologize for my friend, Caroline," she told him, "She can be a little… extra sometimes but she's really sweet,"
"Oh please don't be," Leo replied, "I actually like her. She seemed to be the only person here who didn't want to take my head off,"
Susan could help but smile. "That's not true," she said.
"Isn't it? Your brother kept staring daggers at me, and your other friend, Jeremy kept acting like I stole his favorite toy,"
Susan remained silent because she had no idea how to deny what he said.
"He's the guy you were out on a date with that night, isn't he?" he asked, going straight to the point.
Susan nodded, "Yes, he is,"
"Are you two an item?"
She shook her head, "No we're not,"
"But he wants to be," Leo pressed. It was a statement and not a question.
Susan decided not to answer that. She already felt bad enough about Jeremy, and she refused to discuss him with Leo. "Did you have fun?" she asked instead, trying to lighten the mood by changing the topic as she stepped further into the room.