What happens in Slater Wellness & Spa, stays in Slater Wellness & Spa

***

Three months later

Three months have passed since my return from my vacation at Slater Wellness & Spa. Three months after my sinful vacation. And my life went on as if nothing had happened there. But in fact, everything was different. I was a different person. But even though my whole life had changed, no one really knew about it. Even Kelly.

Leo and I continued our friendship, even though he tried in every way to make me forgive him for breaking up with me. And to be together again. But what he didn't know was that the reason I didn't want us to get together was not that he broke my heart...

But my friends, including Leo, were my life. And I had to keep living it.

***

"Hello, darling," Mrs. Moyer greeted me. "Welcome."

"Hello, Mrs. Moyer."

I walked into the house and sat on the couch.

"Leo will come back any minute," she added.

At the same moment, Leo entered the house.

"My two favorites girls!" he exclaimed.

He kissed his mother on the cheek and approached me, handing me a large and beautiful bouquet of flowers.

"Liz, this is for you!"

"Omg, Leo. I don't have enough space in my home for more flowers..."

"I will not stop until you forgive me."

"Leo," I started defensively. "We agreed..."

"To take it slowly. I know," he hurried to add. "That's what I am doing."

"Thank you," I replied.

"So, kids," Mrs. Moyer intervened. "I just remembered that I wanted to watch the new movie... this one ... the action movie... The food is in the oven. I'll be late. Have fun!"

She picked up her bag as she spoke and hurried out of the house. Leo and I looked at each other and laughed.

"Don't mind her. I don't know who wants us to be together again more- I or she," Leo tried to explain her action and then continued. "So, a movie?"

"Will Kelly and Martin come?"

"Nope. Tonight is just the two of us."

"Oh," I exclaimed anxiously.

"Don't worry. I will not force you for anything."

"Alright. So, a movie it is. You choose."

"Spider-Man."

"When will you grow up, Leo?"

"Okay, you choose."

"Nah, it would be a bad idea," I thought.

And I agreed to watch Spider-Man. It was all so weird... Even though I had only spent a few days with Bradford, our relationship was on such a different level. He was a grown-up, settled man, an experienced man. A man with other interests, other desires, and longings. And Leo was still interested in Spider-Man and video games. And if I was enjoying these things before, now after I had tasted a whole new world, it was hard for me to keep enjoying them.

But at least, I had to try.

***

The next day

The next morning, the curious Kelly woke me up with a text message.

"So, what I missed last night?"

"We watched Spider-Man. Again 🤦‍♀️ I think it was Leo's attempt for a romantic evening."

"A romantic evening with Martin and his mother? And Spider-Man... 😂"

"Well, actually Martin also didn't come. And Mrs. Moyer went out."

"Oh. And of all the movies, Leo chose this one? 😱"

"Yep. It's not like if the movie was different the situation would be different..."

"Won't you forgive him already?"

"It is not about forgiveness, Kelly," I sighed as I answered her. "I am not sure if I want to be with him again."

"But you loved him so much..."

"Maybe I still love him ... but not in the same way. You will not understand me..."

And how could she? I never had the courage to tell her what happened between me and Leo's father.

"I'll try," she answered. "If you tell me what is going on with you lately!"

And I still didn't have the courage to do it.

"Nothing is going on, Kelly. Let's change the subject."

"You keep repeating that. But I know there is something."

"You are looking for an elephant under the fly. Everything is fine."

"Okay, change of the subject. Sort of... Have you bought a birthday gift for Leo already?"

Leo's birthday was very soon. But I hadn't actually bought him a gift yet.

"No," I answered. "Do you want us to combine and buy him something together?"

"Liz, this is going to be cruel ... You can at least buy him a present separately... It will be more personal..."

"Whose side are you on anyway?" I wrote to her, slightly irritably.

"Always on your side! But I am starting to pity Leo."

"Alright. I am going to buy him something! Don't make me feel bad."

I knew Kelly was right. Maybe I was acting too cold with Leo. But I didn't want to give him vain hopes.

I got out of bed, and since I had a day off from work, I went directly shopping in the mall. I walked into the luxury menswear store where our friend Martin worked.

"Hey, Martin."

"Hey, Lizzy."

Well, Martin wasn't just a friend, he was Leo's best friend.

After we greeted each other, I headed for the ties section and started looking at them. Martin followed me.

"What are you looking for?" he asked me.

"I am looking for a gift for Leo," I replied, still looking intently at the ties.

"You want to buy him a tie? Liz, Leo doesn't wear shirts. Unless you've come up with another application for this tie, I don't think it's a suitable gift for him."

"Maybe if I buy him a shirt, too?" I shrugged with an innocent smile.

"Liz!"

"Okay. I have no idea what to buy for him..."

"I can tell you what he will be most happy about. And it is not a material gift."

"Martin, please. Don't you start too. Leo was the one who broke up with me. I am trying to be friendly and not give him vain hopes. So as not to spoil our friendship. But if you all continue like this, I'll stop hanging out with all of you!"

The whole dramatizing from everyone about my relationship with Leo was starting to annoy me.

"Okay. I got it. Calm down, Lizzy! I didn't want to upset you."

I sighed.

"It's okay. I am sorry, too. Well, I guess I will go to the game store and will buy him a video game. Bye, Martin."

"Bye, Liz."

After leaving Martin's store, I went to the video game store and bought Leo a game and headphones. I didn't know how 'personal' this gift was, as Kelly put it, but I was sure Leo always would like a video game.

I spent a few more hours in the mall shopping. Then I went home, made coffee, and went to bed. I liked to spend my free time alone, listening to music, lying in bed. Except for our evening gatherings several times a week, I had actually distanced myself from my friends.

And just as I was enjoying the loneliness, staring at the tiny raindrops running down the room window, my phone rang.

"Hey, Liz! Tonight. Same time, the same place?" Leo's voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Same movie?" I answered with a question, slightly sarcastically.

"You want us to watch Spider-Man again?"

"That was sarcasm, Leo..."

"Noted. No Spider-Man."

"Good."

This word pierced me like a knife. Bradford loved to use it. When he was feeling really good.

"Good. Because I like to watch you like that," his words sounded in my head. "Good. I feel great, too..."

My eyes filled with tears. But I needed to stop them. I needed to stop thinking about this man.

"Liz."

I had almost forgotten that I was talking to Leo on the phone.

"Um, okay," I answered. "Same time, same place."

I hung up the phone and tossed it to the other end of the bed. I covered my face with the pillow. And I tried. And I fought. With myself. Not to think about him. But I couldn't. The only thing I kept thinking about was him. And the best time of my life I spent with him.

After a few more hours spent thinking about what I was trying not to think about, the evening came. I got dressed and headed for Leo's house. We've been gathering at his house for our movie nights for many years. His house was in the center of town and was like a middle point between my house and those of the others. Plus, Leo's mother was a great cook, and there always had great dishes. While Leo and I were together, I used to stay to sleep in there. Well, I didn't sleep at his anymore, of course, but in the name of our friendships, I still was going there.

"Hi, Leo. Mrs. Moyer," I greeted them as I was walking into the house.

"Come in, Liz," Mrs. Moyer greeted me as lovingly as ever.

On the living room table was a beautiful basket of flowers, with a big gold ribbon and a large inscription 'I love you!'.

"Thank you, Leo. Again."

As I was feeling confused again and didn't know what exactly to say, Mrs. Moyer approached me and hugged me.

"Enjoy the evening, kids. I will be in the kitchen," she said and then went to the kitchen.

"Liz," Leo said as he stood in front of me.

His closeness was making me uncomfortable. I didn't know if I was making a mistake spending so much time with him. He kept showing me that he loved me and did want me back.

"I know I promised to take it slowly," he continued. "And believe me, I don't want to put pressure on you. I will wait for you for as long as necessary. But one question has been bothering me lately... Is there another man in your life?"

And the time came to hear the question I was afraid to hear. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. What was I supposed to tell him? Once, he was honest with me. I couldn't look him in the eye and lie to him but at the same time how could I admit to him that I was in love with his father...

Then again I took a deep breath.

"It's complicated," I said, looking at the floor.

"So there is?"

The days spent with Brad passed before my eyes like on a movie tape. His face. His lips. His kisses and touch...

"Not exactly," I paused for a second. "I am sorry, Leo. I know this is not the answer you wanted to hear."

"Actually, it is. 'Not exactly' means that I can still fight for you."

"Leo..."

"No pressure, Liz. I keep my word. I just want you to know that I will not give up on you. On us. As I told you back then at the hotel - I am ready to do anything to correct the biggest mistake of my life."

My eyes filled with tears again, going back to that moment three months ago at the hotel. To meet Leo minutes after I slept with his father was one of the most difficult moments of my life. And it was even harder for me to hear Bradford's words, "Maybe you really should forgive him, Elizabeth."

I couldn't help myself and a tear came out of my eye.

"I love you, Liz!" Leo took me out of my memories.

He stroked my cheek with his hand, brought his lips close to mine, and kissed me gently.

At the same moment, the doorbell rang. A saving-bell.

Mrs. Moyer ran across the living room to the front door, talking in the meantime, "Don't stop because of me. I'll just open the door."

So she did. She opened the door, and a familiar voice came from behind it.

"Hello, Patty."

That voice.

"Bradford!" she exclaimed. "What are you doing here? Come in!"

At the same moment, she turned to us.

"Leo, you won't guess who's here!"

"Hello, son."

Bradford stood in front of us.

"Dad?" Leo exclaimed in surprise.

Then Brad looked at me.

"Elizabeth."

"Bra... Um... Mr. Slater?"