“I see it. You light up every time she talks. I don’t think I have seen you this happy. Well, unless you are playing.”
“It’s complicated.”Complicated? I don’t understand what Levi is saying. I mean our relationship is different, but I don’t think it’s complicated.
“Levi, what are you talking about?” Levi doesn’t answer right away.
“Her brother is Trevor McCarthy. I hate him and I...well, it's just complicated.” Oh, here we go again about my brother. I wish Levi would understand that Trevor is always going to be in my life.
“I know how much trouble he gave you in high school, but Levi, you’re in college. A captain of a college hockey team with a bright future in front of you. Let the past go, Son. Your mother and I only wished for you to be happy in your life and that girl makes you happy.” I’m wondering what Trevor did to Levi in high school because Trevor would always tell me it was the other way around.
Levi never answers his dad and they are sitting in silence when I turn the corner to go back into the living room. “Did we score?” I smile brightly, as if I didn’t hear their conversation.
“No the Flyers haven’t scored yet.” Victor smirks at me. I sit back down next to Levi and look at him. He just gives me one of his crooked grins and turns back to the TV.
We continue to watch the game with the conversation being around plays, players, and bad calls by the refs. It’s the third period, a couple of minutes left, and it is still tied. All three of us are on the edge of our seats and waiting for that winning goal. That winning goal comes from the Flyers. Victor is cheering as Levi and I face defeat, but I have to laugh to hear Levi and his dad make jabs at each other about the win.
“Well, kids, it’s time for this old man to go to bed. I’ve had a lot of excitement for tonight.” Victor stands up and hugs Levi and me before heading up the stairs to go to bed. I curl up to Levi and we sit there in silence. I feel so happy, but I can’t get the comment of Levi’s out of my head.
“Hey, let’s go to bed and get some rest.” Levi kisses my temple as I nod. He takes my hand, and I follow him up the stairs to his room. Just like at his apartment, his room is clean and simply decorated. There are a couple pictures on the nightstand. I see that it’s pictures of his parents and him. I sit on the bed as Levi goes to a dresser and looks for clothes. It is then I notice on the far side wall, that it is covered with hockey sticks and awards. I get up from the bed and stare at all of Levi’s accomplishments. Levi told me he started when he was young and I can tell from the amount of awards that are there. Ribbons, trophies, and everything in between are on that wall.
Levi stand
s behind me and looks at the wall too. “Mom did this,” he says sadly.
I turn around and see that his eyes are watery. It almost breaks my heart to see this side of Levi. “I think it's great,” I say brightly, trying to break the tension in the room.
“Here.” He hands me a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. I thank him and step over to the bed and remove my boots. I can feel Levi staring at me.
“Levi?” I thought maybe I had done something wrong. He comes to me and kneels in front of me. Surprisingly, we are the same height. “Levi?” I ask again. I touch his cheek and look into his eyes. He is studying my face, and I can feel myself blushing.
“You’re beautiful,” he whispers and kisses me.
“You aren’t too bad yourself,” I say breathlessly. He gets up and walks out of the room, without saying anything. I change into the clothes he gave me and crawl into his bed. Levi comes back in, and I stop breathing. He is wearing a pair of flannel pajama bottoms and no shirt. No matter how many times I have seen him naked, I can’t stop staring at him.
He crawls into bed next to me and clicks off the light. He still hasn’t said anything to me. I curl up next to him and ask if he is okay.
“Yea, Smarty, I am.” He sounds sad.
“I really had a great day. Sorry, we couldn’t go skating.” I’m trying to cheer him up a little bit. “And thank you for the chili. It was really good. So,” I look up at him and kiss him cheek, “is there anything else that I don’t know about you?” In the faint light of the room, I see Levi smile.
“Oh, I might have a couple things.” He touches my chin and kisses my lips. “You know,” he starts, “you are the first girl I have brought home.” I remember hearing his dad saying that.
“Well, I’m honored by that.” I really am. “I’m also surprised you were not sneaking girls up here all along.”
Levi lightly chuckles. “No, it's true. You’re also the first girl in my bed, too.”
“Wow, now I’m really honored. Never thought I would be a first of yours at all.” I giggle at him.
“Oh, you have been a lot of firsts for me.” He says it so quietly that I almost miss it.
“And what are those, Mr. Carr?” Levi doesn’t say anything; he just rubs my arm.
“I’ll just keep that to myself for now.” His voice is serious. I can’t help myself. I know that it is wrong with his dad just down the hall, but I want to be his first of one more thing.
I sit up and straddle him. “Smarty, what...what are you doing?” He puts his hands on my thighs.
“Well, you never had a girl in your room before, so you’ve never made out with a girl in your bed.” I lean down and give him a kiss. “So, I want to be your first.”
“You know my dad is down the hall and you aren’t really quiet.”