With a date and its consequences
I felt unwell, and my mind kept flashing back to a bunch of people instead of focusing on my soaking wet clothes. Leo walked me to my apartment, where Damiano was already waiting by the door. I had texted him when I got into the car, and he agreed to help me with dinner because I had no strength left.
— What’s he doing here? — Leo whispered in my ear as we approached the door.
The elevator was out of order again, and the guy practically carried me up five floors.
— I have the same question, but Della's personal life is her personal life, so thanks for bringing her, — Gennari said tensely but gently took me from De Vile and guided me into the apartment, pressing me to himself. — Damn, Della, you're soaking wet, didn’t the blonde have an umbrella?
— Maybe I should take you to the hospital: you look really pale, — Leo ignored Dama's remark, and his voice had familiar tones. Was he jealous of me with Damiano?
I quickly forgot about it as he fussed around, his hand constantly checking my forehead for fever.
— I'm fine, it’s just stress that does this, no need for a hospital, — I carefully moved his hand away.
— Okay, but if you need anything, call me.
— Alright, thanks for saving me from the journalist attack and driving me... almost home, — I didn’t mention the conversation under the umbrella or the crazy act.
— Don’t worry.
It was sweet. Even very much so. I settled into a chair. It seemed that the door had closed — Leo must have left. After sitting there for a few more minutes, I realized that I was incredibly thirsty. Of course, because I had only drunk a cup of tea all day and that was it, and I didn’t want to die of dehydration as my body was soon about to become its own desert. It was so lazy to get up, but I stood up and walked to the kitchen. As I poured some water, I heard strange sounds behind me, as if someone was there, but wasn’t Dama in the hallway? I turned around, and the glass flew out of my hand. I hit Leo.
— You’re still here? — the sound of shattering glass and my surprised look provoked a headache again; I held onto the table.
— Yes, I was talking to Damiano and decided to check why you got up, is everything okay?
— I’m so sorry, — he stood there wet, all the water spilled onto his jacket — Sorry.
— Dell! Are you alright? — a frightened Damiano ran into the room.
— Calm down, you hear? It's nothing serious, it’s just water, it will dry, — Leo’s eyes darted around anxiously as his hands gently stroked my back.
— I know, but I feel a bit embarrassed about all this, — my head spun, and the guy scooped me up.
— I’ll tuck her in, you clean up the glass, — and he carried me in his arms like that time at the theater. I had no strength even to argue verbally, let alone act, so I let him carefully lay me down on the couch and cover me with a blanket.
— If you want, I can stay.
— No, you have plenty of things to do without me; I already owe you.
They can wait, and I don't care.
— And what worries you? — I asked without enthusiasm.
He was quiet for a moment, looking at me with sincere eyes:
— You need to sleep.
I looked at him and felt myself blush. I terribly wanted to roll my eyes. Maybe he noticed that, so he smiled and then stepped back to Dama. Next to Gennari, my Louis was curling up. He hissed at Leo, who tried to stroke him and swung a paw at the guy to scratch him.
— What an aggressive one, just as combative as his owner, — De Vile remarked. Louis seemed to hear him and demonstratively allowed Damiano to cuddle him, then majestically approached the couch, jumped on it, and curled up next to me. “What a scene,” I mentally applauded the cat, and with gratitude scratched behind his ear, which made him purr.
— I’ll stay with her until the evening, and then Ella will come; I’m going on a date, — Dama was obviously responding to Leo’s question.
— Who are you going on a date with? — I asked through a yawn.
— With Ted, remember he often came to work with me, — as soon as Leo heard a male name, his eyes widened. Of course, now he understands how ridiculous his jealousy was.
— Yeah, bro. That’s what you thought; I’m gay, but don’t worry, you’re not my type.
— Are you making fun of him? He’s speechless.
— No, I’m fine; I’m not new to this world, — I mumbled. — Adele, if you don’t text me how you’re feeling, I’ll come by personally, — he said goodbye to Damiano and left.
For a moment, we looked at each other, and then we started laughing.
— You seriously didn’t tell him I’m gay?
— I thought he figured it out when we played — I replied without a hint of shame or regret.
— It was that obvious when I was checking out his brother? — Dam smirked slyly.
— Well, if every glance of yours wasn’t like this, — I pouted my lips and squinted my eyes, looking from top to bottom, — I wouldn’t have suspected anything.
— Oh, and I have nothing wrong with this look, — the guy dismissed.
I slipped into a smiley sleep.
Later that evening, I woke up already in the company of Ella, who was knitting something from sky-blue yarn.
— Has Dam already left?
— Yes, — she moved closer to me. — And you need to tell me everything. You can’t imagine how many newspapers and magazines wrote about the show, and you can’t even imagine how many headlines about you and Leo were in the news.
— Then get the wine, — I smiled.
— No, you can’t have it.
— At least tea... With lemon.
— Tea is fine, — she jumped up from her seat and dashed to the kettle.
While Ella was busy in the kitchen, I arranged the couch with pillows and blankets.
— And here’s your wine for today, — she brought two mugs, a kettle, and sweets on a tray.
We sat chatting for about two or three hours. Ella was a perfect and attentive listener; she gasped, widened her eyes, and clicked her tongue at the right moments. — So what can I say, he’s a true gentleman. He clearly likes you, but he hasn’t crossed your personal boundaries, and he took such lovely care of you.
— I thought the same thing, — I truly thought, and I didn’t like it. Eventually, Ella gave in to my pressure, and we watched a few movies. It was almost one in the morning when my friend sent me to bed and went to take a shower.
In the morning, I felt much better. I got up, trying not to wake Ella up, and made granola for breakfast for both of us. Well-fed Louis was sleeping by the window in the sunshine, occasionally swatting at the curtain swaying through the open balcony door, and I could only smile at this cute scene. After breakfast, we decided to write to Dama. He was supposed to tell us how his evening went. Instead of writing to him, I remembered that I should have informed Leo about how I was feeling. Just entering our chat, I found four messages waiting for me:
"Hi, how are you? You’re probably already asleep, but text me in the morning that you’re okay."
"And one more thing, remember you owe me?"
"Are you free tonight, and would you like to have dinner with me?"
"I could stop by around seven."
I felt better, but I had nowhere to go with the invitation. He had already done so much for me, so why not just spend one evening together, right? He sent a smiley in response to my agreement, well, of course, he was pleased.