Crushed Affections (Dominic and Bella) novel Chapter 367

Leonard shrugged, conceding. "Almost 30… Yeah, close enough."

After a few rounds of drinks, they were both a little tipsy. Lia, munching on a rib, asked, "So, now that your career's set, when are you planning to settle down?"

Leonard deflected with his own question, "What about you? When are you planning to settle down?"

Lia waved him off. "I'm just a regular person. I'm already 25 and haven't even been in a relationship. Guess I can thank you for that. You rich folks like to marry late. Who knows, by the time I've got kids running around, you'll probably still be single."

Leonard felt an unexpected pang he couldn't quite place. "No way. If you're getting married, I'm getting married. If you've got kids running around, then I'll have kids running around too."

Lia rolled her eyes. "Copycat. Our lives started in completely different places. Why would you want to sync up with me?"

Leonard didn't reply. He glanced at his watch and saw that it was already 1:00 am, but he wasn't ready to end this last taste of freedom. By the time it was nearing 2:00 am, Lia finally gave in, saying she needed to head home and get some sleep.

Even though her apartment was only a few hundred feet from the food stall, Leonard insisted on walking her to her door.

Even Lia, as oblivious as she could be, sensed something different in him tonight. She seemed more reserved than usual.

When she unlocked her door, she asked, almost as a formality, "Do you want to come in for a bit?"

Leonard shook his head. "No, it's late. You should get some rest."

Lia nodded and stepped inside to take off her shoes, but when she looked back, he was still standing there, watching her.

She felt a little awkward, at a loss for words. They just stood there, facing each other across the doorframe like a pair of clueless kids.

Leonard's gaze was intense, like a dormant volcano on the verge of eruption. However, he seemed to be holding back as if the time wasn't quite right.

After a long pause, he said, "Wait for me."