His response is nearly immediate.
Levi: I’d have to be pretty full of myself to give myself that nickname.
Me: Does about a dozen or so selfies in my new camera roll count as being full of yourself?
Levi: I thought you could use the eye candy. You’re like Rapunzel locked in a tower, dying from the lack of a male form.
I bite my lip, peering through the rest of the basket. There is just about everything I would need in here, including extra screen protectors, a car adapter, a pop socket, and…
Me: A watch?
Levi: So you won’t miss a message from me. I’ll literally be strapped to your wrist.
Okay, he’s clearly flirting. My stomach flip-flops. Pre-fire, this is all I wanted. I thought we could have a fling, a fun romp in the sack. I wouldn’t have even cared if I was added to the list of his conquests, but things are so different. Why now?
It has to be because he feels bad for me. I’m like the Sarah McLachlan dog commercial to him. Levi Soucy saw me at my most vulnerable, lying there on the ground like a hurt, forgotten puppy, and he wants to… I don’t know yet, but it’s not something I want.
Me: You didn’t have to do this. I’m sure Raeann has a phone for me somewhere.
Levi: But this way, I get you all to myself.
Me: I’m perfectly capable of buying my own phone.
He doesn’t respond right away, and I stand there, biting on my thumbnail. My emotions are up and down, torn this way and that.
He waits so long to answer that I almost put my phone down and swipe my goodies into the trash.
Levi: Of course you can. But what fun would that be?
My teeth capture my lip, and I gnaw on it for a few seconds. Something isn’t adding up here. Why wait to make his move? I was fine before. Better than fine, actually. Raeann and I built something amazing with Pet Threads. I’m a goddamn catch.
Was…
Iwasa catch. Now I’m sitting in this too-fancy penthouse wearing clothes that everyone else in their penthouses probably wouldn’t dare be caught dead in. But I don’t really have a choice. My wounds are covered in bandages, but they’re still there. When Halloween rolls around again, I might be able to go as the Bride of Frankenstein, but in everyday life? I’m just…broken.
Levi: I’m really glad I ran into you today.
Me: Why?
Levi: Because I’ve been thinking about you.
Levi: Please tell me you’re not one of those women who can’t just take a compliment.
Me: Please tell me you’re not one of those guys with a hero complex.
Levi: Me? I’m like the exact opposite.
Levi: You’re welcome, by the way. For the gift basket.
Me: …
Me: You gave me a gift against my will, and now you want praise and gratitude? What? So you can clap yourself on the back? Well, go ahead, you have my permission.
Levi: You should eat another muffin. I think you’re hangry.
I want to stay mad, but instead, I burst out laughing picturing the muffin that’s waiting for me by my bed. Maybe I do need to relax. Buying me this newest phone is like Levi giving a random person five dollars. He’s young. He’s rich. Single. He has everything he’s ever wanted, and as far as I know, no one else to spend it on. It’s possible he did it because he just wanted to.
I swallow, forcing down the feelings of possible misconception and a little pride.
