That night, despite the storm raging outside, Haddie never so much as flinched as she slept in Levi’s arms, dreaming about promises she hoped neither of them could keep.
***
The next morning, Haddie did her best to slide out from Levi’s embrace and sneak into the bathroom. All she had to do was make it in and out of the shower without waking him so she could make it to the square in time to pick up the blackmail coffee that was even more important after what happened the night before.
She started the water before realizing she hadn’t shut Levi’s bedroom door. After popping back out to quietly snick it shut, she made it halfway back to the bathroom when she heard a deep, groggy, sexy voice behind her.
“Shower,” he murmured. “Me too.”
Haddie huffed out a laugh and turned to face a still-naked Levi, hair askew as he rubbed his eyes, his morning wood on proud display.She, at least, was wearing a T-shirt she’d stolen from his drawer before sneaking out.
“You want to shower first?” she asked, brows raised. “Because I’m kind of in a rush to—”
“Together,” he interrupted, and Haddie couldn’t hold back her amusement at this morning-after, caveman version of herroommate-turned-something-more.
“I have a meeting,” she lied.
“Go early too,” he responded, and then he held out an open palm to reveal a small, square package that looked an awful lot like the others she’d seen in his nightstand drawer.
Her insides turned molten and a deep, needy ache pulsed between her legs.
“Fine,” she relented. “But this can’t happen every morning.” She grabbed his wrist and tugged him toward her.
“Why not?” he asked, his first intelligible sentence of the morning.
And Haddie realized she had no good answer to his question.
“Actually…” she drawled. “You have a point. Consider solo showers a thing of the past.”
And then she led him into the bathroom where she let him lift the T-shirt over her head and lead her beneath the steaming spray of hot water.
Levi kissed her neck and nipped at her ear. “Good morning, Birthday Girl.”
And for the first time since she was a kid—and despite it being a month since the date had passed—Haddie thought she might let herself celebrate today.
“Can we have cake for dinner?” she asked him as he peppered her skin with feather-soft kisses that made her knees turn to Jell-O.
Levi dropped to his knees and kissed her pelvis. “We can have anything you want, Birthday Girl.” And then he buried his face between her legs and gave her a very generous gift.
Chapter 23
Levi didn’t ask any questions about Haddie’s early-morning meetingthe day before. After their shower had left him in need of a power nap before heading in for the start of his Monday, he’d happily sent her ahead to tend to her own responsibilities.
But early-morning meetings two days in a row? Didn’t she work hard enough for the administration to not call her in before the official day began? He told her he was happy to leave early and drive with her. Haddie and her entire team were coming to support the varsity boys in their home match against rival Middleton that evening. Wouldn’t it make sense to drive together?
“It’s perfect weather outside. I’ll walk, and we can ride home together tonight,” she’d told him before distracting him with a kiss and then slipping out the door before he even had his shoes on.
She rushed out without even a sip of coffee, which he knew would catch up with her later. He’d just have to bring her some.
So imagine his surprise when he showed up outside her classroom with an insulated tumbler only to find Sarah Ramirez and Teddy Kostas snagging two steaming to-go cups from a chair parked in front of Haddie’s closed door. Through the small window ontop of the doorframe, Levi could see Haddie had circle time well underway with her gaggle of tiny humans.
“Wait…” Levi demanded when the two students looked at him with wide, terrified eyes. He motioned for the culprits—because he was sure they’d done something—to follow him a few steps away so they wouldn’t disturb Haddie’s class.
“Hey, Coach,” Teddy replied with a nervous laugh once they were out of earshot from Haddie’s door. “How’s it going?”
“We were just leaving,” Sarah added, then pivoted to walk in the direction opposite Levi, even though that route led to the elementary cafeteria and not to the high school.
“Wrong way, Ramirez,” Levi told her, and she halted mid-step, her shoulders slumping.
