No, I want to wallow in my own misery. I take some of the chocolate he sent with the gift basket that I hid in the bedside table and gobble it down before turning on The Notebook just like Raeann suggested, then I really give myself a cry.
After Raeann makes dinner,and I eat with them at the table, I retreat to my room. Raeann tries to get me to watch TV with them, but I already feel enough like the third wheel, I don’t need to plop myself in the middle of their downtime.
Athena follows me into my room, and Raeann looks at me warily. I leave the bedroom door open because Athena doesn’t handle it well when she loses access to her mama. Crawling up into the bed, I call for Athena to follow. She jumps up, finding a nice spot right next to me and resting her head on my thigh. “You’re a good girl, aren’t you, sweet thing?”
My pillow vibrates and Athena lifts her head. I pull out the phone, and I swear, Athena side eyes me like she knows I’m not supposed to have it.
“This is our little secret,” I whisper to her, petting her again so she calms down, then I check Levi’s text.
Levi: I had a shit day. I got turned down for a coffee date.
I chuckle, fingers flying over the keyboard.
Me: The girl sounds like a bitch. You should leave her alone.
Levi: Can’t do that. I have a thing for her, but I don’t think she gets it. She doesn’t see how serious I am.
Me: The Big Dick Levi is serious?
It takes a bit for his response to come in, and I worry I’ve gone too far. I don’t want to make him mad, but I can’t say I trust that he’s that serious either.
Levi: As serious as I am about football and that should tell you something.
Aww. That’s sort of sweet in like a jock kind of way. I type out a response and then decide to delete it. I hit the backspace button when it accidentally sends.
Shit!
Me: What would you tell her if you could?
Levi: I’m glad you asked. I have something prepared.
No, no, no. I try to type up a text that tells him that was an accident, but he’s already sent something.
Levi: Tab, I get that my past scares you. Judging by that, I totally accept your hesitation, but I was hoping you would give me a chance to prove myself. Since they pulled you out of the fire right in front of me, I’ve gained a new perspective. Life is short. The girls I dated were fun filler, but I realized why other guys on the team like Micah, Reid, and Cade seemed not only happier than me, but better men? It’s hard to explain. I think what truly happened is that I realized that the love of the right woman is worth infinitely more than the short infatuation of a bunch of women.
My mouth goes dry. This block of text leaps off the screen at me. This might be the first time Levi has been raw and real with me, and I feel it. At least, I can believe that he thinks what happened changed his life, but there has to be some sort of weird coincidence that he’s fixated on me.
Me: Just how many women are we talking about?
Levi: That’s what you got out of that?
Me: I mean, you brought it up.
Levi: Enough to know when the right woman comes along that I won’t stop until she sees it too.
Me: I think you’re tired. You probably lifted too many weights today.
Levi: You’re deflecting, and I’m going to show you how serious I am.
8
Levi
Fuck Freeman and this penthouse and this damn fire escape.
All of those early morning gym sessions were for nothing because these stairs suck. I peer over the side. Daylight is dimming, but I can still see the ground, even if it is in shadows. Above me, there’s a canvas of stars, waiting to shine against the backdrop of the darkening sky.
At the top, I crouch by the window. Tab is lying on a bed in a sea of plush sheets. I’m surprised she didn’t hear my steps, but at the same time, not surprised at all. This place cost a pretty penny, so it’s probably well insulated and soundproofed.
