“I do not moonlight. I just happen to volunteer my time,” she corrected him. “Do the words volunteer firefighter mean nothing to you after all this time?”
Leo sighed.
“No, it’s not that…it’s just that I feel like maybe you should have some kind of training to put your life in danger every single day.”
“I have had a number of training workshops, Leo,” Macy pointed out. “I’m fine.”
Leo shook his head and reached for her hand.
“I worry about you, you know that?” he asked and she nodded. “Seriously, I really do.”
“I know you do, but there is something you are not telling me right now,” she said. “I mean, even though New York may be crowded and stinky, you love it when you do your showcase there. But you haven’t talked about it once since you walked in.”
He looked into her eyes and for a long second, he didn’t say anything. Macy could almost hear his thoughts or what she thought they were. He squeezed her hand gently and smiled.
“I’m fine. Let’s just say, the showcase was everything I expected it to be.”
Macy shrugged.
“And?” she pressed. She couldn’t help but feel like there was something more.
“And Andre was supposed to be there but for some reason, he didn’t make it.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“Andre didn’t make it for the showcase?” she asked, obviously surprised. Andre Jacobs may have been a busy artist, but he always made time when it came to Leo’s career. He would have sacrificed anything just to make sure he was happy which was why she was so surprised to hear that Leo had not heard from him for almost an entire week. She looked at him and shook her head. “What’s going on between the two of you?”
“Trouble in paradise, I guess,” Leo said, forcing out a laugh. “I am not very sure I am a part of the bigger picture…his bigger picture.”
She shook her head.
“I don’t understand,” she said in a soft voice.
“We have been talking about moving in together for months but…it is like we have been growing apart with each waking moment.”
She shrugged.
“Don’t get all poetic on me, now.”
Leo forced a smile as she looked at her.
“I know…but the truth is that things have been a little strained between us and I don’t know why.”
She shook her head.
“I have always thought that you have been putting the whole moving thing off because you are concerned about me.”
He shrugged and sighed loudly.
“I have never really stopped being worried about you…actually, I will always be worried about you even though I am just moving a few blocks away.”
She was silent for a long second as she looked into his eyes.
“Why haven’t you ever mentioned it to me?” she asked. “I thought that you and I have no secrets.”
“I didn’t want to make a big deal of it especially if it was nothing.”
“What does talking to me about it have to do with what you just said?” she asked and he took a long deep breath.
“Talking about it…talking about it makes it real and so final…and I love that idiot, Macy. I’m scared that it might be over between us.”
This time, it was Macy’s turn to give his hand a squeeze. She looked at him, and as much as she tried to think of the right words to say, she could not really come up with the lingo. She was dumbfounded.
“You know, I’m over this junk. Why don’t we go to the kitchen and you can make me your perfectly healthy flame grilled burgers?” she asked.
Cooking always made him feel better.
“I was thinking of maybe a roast chicken, mashed potatoes…”
“So, soul food,” she said and he nodded.
“Soul food,” he echoed.
“This might be a terrible time to say point this out but haven’t I always said that love is for the weak?” she asked as she got up and began heading to the kitchen.
“What are you, CIA?” Leo asked as he shook his head.
“What would make you think that?” she asked.
“You are always avoiding having someone to care about.”
“Well, I have you. Don’t I?” she asked and he smiled.
“You know what I mean, Macy. Hell, you don’t even let me you hook you up with my friends.”
“That’s because they are all…”
“Never good enough?” he asked, cutting her short and she sighed loudly.
“Well, I guess you could say that.”
“No one is ever good enough. They are always too short….too chatty…” He shook his head. “I don’t even know if I will ever bring a man you approve of.”
She rolled her eyes.
“Seriously, I could bring in Chris Hemsworth and David Beckham and you would still have a problem with them.”
“Do not talk ill of Hemsworth and Beckham. If anything, they are the hottest men next to Idris Elba and Denzel. Those men…I would not mind having them.”
“You realize you would have to be a Hollywood star to even come near such people?” he asked and she shrugged.
“Well, a girl can dream. Can’t she?” she said and he laughed.
“Yeah, I guess.”
“And I know you still have a wild crush on Jussie Smollett since the first season of Empire.”
“Everyone has a crush on Jussie Smollett. You included.”
“Too bad he doesn’t root for my team,” she pointed out matter of factly.
“Well, at some point you will need to get yourself a little…just don’t be too harsh on every man who approaches you.”
“I don’t want just any man, Leo. You know that.”
“Yes, but you always push them away.”
She shook her head and sighed loudly.
“I guess I always thought that I could wait for the right guy…maybe someone like you.”
Leo smiled.
“Well, I’m sorry I’m not one of the choices on the table,” he said.
“Sadly,” she said, feigning sadness. And he laughed. “Too bad you’re taken.”
“Yeah, the good ones are always taken,” he said smiling and she nodded.
“Yup. Taken or gay and that is why I am not in any hurry to get myself tied up to someone.”