What does that mean?
I’m in the middle of texting him back when a knock sounds on my door. I put the phone back in its hiding place, shut the doors, and call out, “Come in.”
Raeann walks in with a couple of large bags in her hand. “Delivery.”
“What’s that?”
She knits her brows together. “Clothes. They’re for you. I’m assuming you bought them.”
“Oh, I…” This must be what Levi meant. I check the logo on the bags, and it’s from this cute, chic downtown store I’ve purchased from a few times. “I did,” I tell her. “I bought them and had them delivered so I wouldn’t be late for work.”
“Nice.” She sets them on the bed. I can’t wait to go through them, but Raeann turns toward me. “You know I’m just worried about you, right? I don’t want you to push it because I know how you are.”
“I promise, I won’t.”
She reaches out and gives me a hug. “Everyone will be so excited to see you. They talk about you all the time.”
I squeeze her harder than she squeezes me, and knowing Raeann, it’s because she’s worried she’ll hurt me.
It was nice that Levi didn’t treat me with kid gloves. He respected my boundaries, but he treated me like the old Tab.
But Raeann knows what it’s like to have her life upended due to a disaster. She’s lived through it. This is two people’s differingreactions from their own life experiences, and there’s something special about that..
Raeann steps back. “Okay, I’ll hurry up and walk there with you. No way are you walking in there without me.”
I give her a grateful smile, and she closes the door behind her on the way out. I open the bags, pulling out the outfits. The man has good taste. I check the sizes and all seem to be spot on. I don’t know how he knows my size so well, but I’m sure he’d have a funny quip about it if he were here.
I take out the last outfit, a pair of jeans with a cranberry-red top, and a note falls to the bed.
I pick it up.
For Rapunzel,
In case you want to get out more.
Love,
BDL
This man is insane.
I go to the closet to grab the phone.
Biting my lip, I search for what to say.Fuck it, it’s Levi. I’ll say whatever comes to my mind.
Me: Thank you. But didn’t I tell you to back off?
Levi: My other nickname was Hard of Hearing.
I snort laugh as soon as the message pops up. I can’t deny that Levi makes me feel giddy inside, even if I will be another one of his conquests. Would that be such a bad thing as long as I make sure my heart doesn’t get attached? I could do that.
Me: Hopefully BDL is a more apt nickname.
Levi: Girrllllll, don’t be starting with me this early in the morning. I will make that fire escape my bitch again to show you personally how apt it is. Just say the word.
I sit on the bed and kick my feet. A wave of heat hits me. I can’t differentiate if it’s because of Levi or due to some weird post-burn trauma thing.
Me: I actually can’t. I’m going to work this morning.
