Me: What time are you picking me up tomorrow?
Brad: Is seven good?
Me: See you then.
Chapter Twenty-Four
LEVI
“Stupid, stupid, stupid!” Em hits me with a pillow, emphasizing every word.
Kami grabs one from her end of the couch and does the same thing. I look at Jake, who’s on the floor laughing.
“Are you not going to help me at all, dude?”
Jake shakes his head. “Why would I? What you didwasstupid.”
They aren’t wrong. To a certain extent, anyway, but this is only going to result in a headache. Mustering all the patience I have in the fucking world, I manage to grab each pillow and stop them from hitting me.
“Point made.” I look at Em’s narrowed gaze and Kami’s disapproving one. I feel like a child. This is the way my mom and grandma would look at me. It’s fucking weird. “Please stop looking at me as though you’re about to send me to my room in my apartment.”
Em lifts her chin. “How could you tell her you were fine with her going on that date?”
“We gave you all the advice you asked for,” Kami follows.
“And she was obviously hoping for you to tell her that you did mind,” Jake finishes.
I might’ve been a little bit of an asshole, but I did mean it when I said to give Brad a chance.
Do I like the situation? No.
Do I like the little fucker? Hell no.
Do I feel an overwhelming sense of jealousy thinking about his hands being all over her? Yes, the fuck I do.
“She didn’t say no when he asked her, you guys. And…” I take a deep breath. “I could see that he likes her.” I clench my jaw for a second. “Not just wants to fuck her, butlikesher. We haven’t done anything except some stuff in the bedroom, she deserves more. Especially after what happened last week with Andrew.” The words hurt like a bitch to say. I wanted to give her more, but maybe the whole Brad situation was a sign to remain friends and nothing else.
Kami flicks my head.
“Hey!”
“Bullshit.” She sits up straight. “You might be the nicest one in the group, Levi, but you aren’t stupid. I have never seen you feel sorry for yourself, so do not start now.”
Scary Kamila has made an appearance.
“He can’t take back his word,” Jake says from the floor. “You told us she’s coming home soon to get ready for the date and that she seemed happy this morning.” He raises his hands and motions to the couch. “So, Kami, Em, I’m sorry but he needs to let it go for tonight.” My friends look at Jake with wide eyes. “You know I’m not much for giving unsolicited advice, but this is a special case since you are being reckless and we all love Stevie.” The asshole looks at me with a stern face. He’s not wrong, and I’m glad they’re being protective of her, too. “Stevie should know how you feel. You can’t decide on who would make her happiest. It’sherlife,herchoice.” Jake leans forward. “Tell her how youfeel, but don’t be an asshole about it, and do it at the right time, not while she’s getting all dolled up for the first date she’s had in years. Play the game right, be smart, and like Kamila said, stop feeling sorry for yourself.” He smacks my knee. “We don’t feel sorry for ourselves in this friend group. If that were the case, I’d be severely self-centered and depressed.” He smiles.
Well, fuck me.
“Self-centered sounds about right,” Em mumbles.
Kamila sighs and interrupts Jake, who was about to comment on what Em said. “I agree.” She glances at Jake. “It’s so annoying that you’re almost always right.”
He winks at her. “Hey, it helped you last year.”
She laughs and rolls her eyes.
Jake is right. In the end, I’ll probably end up being the dick either way because I was too late, I lied, and I was more reckless than I’ve ever been. She has something that takes away her control every day, and I do not want to be part of something else that takes her choice away.
