I finally reach the main doors and push them open, stepping out into the downpour. The rain drenches me instantly, my shirt sticking to me like a second skin and my hair plastered to my face and neck. I glance up and down the street, looking for a cab but come up empty. Just as I turn to head back to work to go get my car, I hear someone call my name behind me.
“Lowe, wait,” Levi calls out as he comes running over to me, his white shirt now completely soaked, and even in my panicked state, I still notice the way his dress shirt clings to his abs. “What’s wrong?”
“I just—I need to go, I’m sorry,” I spit out as I walk backwards, wanting so desperately to get to my car and go get my daughter.
Levi follows me, a concerned expression covering his face. “Talk to me. What’s going on? Did something happen?”
“Levi,” I start to say, stopping my escape to fully look at him. “Something came up and I just need to go, okay? I’ll call you later.”
“Marlowe,” he says a little more firmly, closing the space between us. As he reaches for me though, I back away slightly and I don’t miss the hurt expression that briefly crosses his expression. “You don’t need to tell me, but at least let me drive you. You don’t seem in the right state of mind to be driving right now.”
All that’s running through my head is Claire. How my daughter called her nanny instead of her mother to get her from a sleepover because she didn’t want to ruin my night. As if shedidn’t come first and foremost. And with that thought in my head, I snap.
“My god, will you stop being so nice all the damn time? I really appreciate what you’re doing, I do, but can you please just let me go?”
“Lowe—”
“Just stop,” I practically yell, and I see him flinch. “I don’t need your help. What I need is to go get my daughter.”
The second the words leave my mouth, my eyes fall shut and my hand stops in midair from my wild gesturing. I take a deep breath, letting my hands fall to my hips before I risk a glance at Levi’s face.
His expression doesn’t hold any anger or frustration or disdain, but I wouldn’t say he looks excited or happy, either. Although, if I’m being honest, I can’t read his expression at all. And that? That sends me rambling.
“I’m sorry,” I say as I pace in front of him. “This is not how I wanted you to find out. I hate myself for not telling you sooner. I’ve been making myself so sick over this, and while this isn’t how I wanted this to happen, I can’t pretend I’m not relieved you finally know.”
I run a hand down my face. “God, I knew I should’ve said something. It was unfair of me to keep this from you, to lie to you this way. Although, it was more omitting the truth, but that’s still just as bad and I wouldn’t blame you if you hated me and didn’t want to see me anymore.”
“Lowe—”
“I was so caught up in how I felt that I neglected to tell you one of the most important things about me. Because she really is. My daughter is the most important thing in my life. I’m sorry that I never told you about her or gave you the chance to decide for yourself before you got so wrapped up with me.”
“Marlowe—”
“But if you want to walk away, I totally understand and I swear I won’t hold it against you?—”
Before I continue word vomiting, Levi quickly closes the gap between us. I startle at his approach, the words fading off my lips when he grips my face between his hands, and the next thing I know, his lips are on mine.
It’s brief, just a quick, firm peck, one I think was meant to shut me up. He pulls back just enough to look me in the eye, and I freeze for a moment, caught up in the realization that Levi just kissed me.
For the first time.
In the rain.
After I told him about the existence of my daughter in probably the worst way possible.
My hands wind around his neck, and before I can think better of it, I pull him down to me. I crash my mouth back to his, our lips moving in sync as he slips his hands into my wet, knotted hair.
I push myself up onto my toes, deepening the kiss as he angles my head, sinking into it. My hands slip down to grip his neck before sliding to his shoulders, not wanting to be the one to break the kiss first.
Because let’s be honest, every girl dreams of being kissed in the rain like this.
Levi presses one last kiss to my lips before pulling back slightly, resting his forehead against mine as we both catch our breath. When I open my eyes, I see him already staring at me; the rain dripping down his nose and eyelashes with a soft pink tint to his cheeks.
“Let me know when you get home safely, okay?”
I startle, pulling back a little more so I can get a good look at him as I search his expression. “That’s it? That’s all you have tosay?” Levi just nods. “I mean, you’re not scared or mad at me or anything?”
“I’m the furthest thing from upset,” he reassures me as he slides one of his hands to cup my cheek, his thumb gently caressing my wet skin. “I completely understand why you didn’t tell me, and I will not fault you for any of it. And no, I’m not scared. I’m not going anywhere, Lowe.”
