“About fate?” He nods. “What’s your verdict?”
“Considering we’ve been working in the same building for six years and never ran into one another since that night, and then I find you on the rooftop two weeks ago? I thought then and there that fate was real. But that wasn’t fate. Fate was walking into your boss’s office to fill out an application and seeing you sitting at your desk. Fate was getting a call that she had found me a ninety-four percent match and then discovering it was you. I never really believed that the universe fought for people to be together, but I do now.”
I smile softly, unable to break my gaze away from his. He smiles back and leans his head against the wall, running a hand through his hair. “Do you?”
Mulling over that question, I can’t stop myself as my mind drifts to Travis. Was it really fate leading him down his path? Was it his destiny to become an addict who can’t beat hisaddiction? Do I really believe that it was in my cards to be with him for as long as I was? It’s a hard concept to wrap my head around.
But as I stare at Levi, I can’t help but feel like things are finally looking up for me, no matter how bleak my days have gotten. Because isn’t this, everything leading me to this moment, what made me who I am? If I hadn’t gotten with Travis, I never would’ve had Claire. And if I hadn’t gone through everything that I had, I wouldn’t have ever let Kirstin talk me into giving my heart a chance.
“The jury is still out,” I answer finally, not missing the way his smile falls slightly before I continue. “But I think I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.”
“In a closet with a man you barely know?” His eyes crinkle.
“Among other things.”
Levi leans forward and starts sifting through his box again, causing me to do the same. I can feel his gaze on me though, his task quickly forgotten as I restart counting the name plates.
“I’m normally not like this,” Levi states, his eyebrows furrowing.
“Easily distracted?”
His laughter fills the space, causing me to smile. “Can blame yourself for that, but no. I normally don’t get that deep right out the gate. I think my best friend might be wearing off on me.”
“Then let’s get past the deep stuff.” I close the box and officially give up on what I had come in here to do. “Tell me something no one knows about you. Or very few people know, at least.”
Levi hums as he brings his knuckles up to his chin and brushes his bottom lip with his thumb. “I paint.”
“You paint?” I’m unable to contain my surprise. “What things do you paint?”
“Landscapes, mostly.” He shrugs. “Sometimes portraits if I’m struck by inspiration.”
He winks at me, and before I can stop the words from tumbling out of my mouth, I say, “Maybe one day you can paint me like one of your French girls.”
Levi bursts out laughing, his loud, booming laughter filling the space where I can’t help but laugh along. He wipes under his eyes, his face scrunched up as he tries to stop himself.
“I’m sorry if I’m interrupting,” Leanne says from the doorway, startling me as I turn to look at her while Levi’s laughter finally dies down. “But can you two be a little quieter? I’m trying to get some work done.”
“Sorry, Leanne,” I apologize as I hold up a hand. “We’ll keep it down.”
Levi’s laughter finally subsides as he looks between the two of us. “It’s my fault, I’m sorry.”
Leanne’s eyes flit over to Levi before settling back on me, her brows furrowing. Without another word, she spins on her heel and walks back to her desk.
Levi crawls over to the door and takes out the doorstop, setting it in the doorframe so we aren’t completely locked in, the door only open a crack to keep our conversation more private.
He settles back against the wall, his head tilted toward his shoulder as he looks at me again. I self consciously tuck my hair behind my ear before I fidget with my ring.
“Your turn,” he says, picking up our conversation as if we hadn’t been interrupted.
“I learned how to rebind books so I could create and design my own covers for my favorite novels.”
His eyes widen. “Wow. How long does that normally take?”
“Depends on if I mess up along the way.” I chuckle as I slip out of my heels, gripping the bottom of my skirt andslowly sliding to the floor. Once I’m seated, I mimic his posture, crossing my ankles together.
“So, you enjoy reading,” he states. “What kind of books?”
“I haven’t had much time to read lately,” I answer with a shrug, keeping my genre preferences to myself. “How often do you find yourself painting?”
