To my dismay, he clears his throat and backs up, putting space between the two of us. “Um . . . so . . . what do you want?”
“What do you mean, what do I want?” I ask, still too caught up in the moment to fully comprehend what he’s talking about.
“You won. So you get to pick your prize.”
“Hmmm.” I flop back down on the ground and tap my bottom lip with my finger. What do I want? “Nothing. I don’t want anything.” I look to the sky and then back to Levi. He lowers himself to the ground and looks over at me.
“Nothing?”
“Nope. This is perfect.” Our eyes stay locked for several seconds, but the connection is too intense and I have to look away or I’ll physically melt. “I’m just glad we got to spend some time together, just you and me. It’s been really nice, Levi. So this is it. You’ve already given me what I want.” I take a deep satisfying breath, chancing a quick glance back at him. He’s grinning from ear to ear, and I swear that his smile alone could light up the darkest of nights. His features have softened, his eyes are sparkling with happiness, and I’m glad it’s directed at me.
“Okay.” His warm voice evaporates into the evening air and I sigh, knowing that right now, in this very second, everything has changed. We seem to have found our footing again and some sort of peace, and I can only hope that it will grow from here.
Time slips away as we talk about the past several years. Levi tells me about finishing up his degree and about how Blue came to be. I laugh hysterically when he describes his dad’s face the day he had the cages installed, and I nearly cry when he talks about the pride he felt the day it officially opened.
My education means the world to me, and I love what I do, but I would give it all up if I could rewind time and be there with him for those precious moments that he’ll remember for the rest of his life—moments that I’ll only ever be told about. But that’s why I’m here now, I remind myself, not wanting to get caught up in the ‘should-haves.’
Out of nowhere, a shooting star darts across the sky. “Did you see that?” I gasp at the same time Levi’s hand shoots in the air, pointing to where it flew through the night. “Make a wish,” he says, glancing over at me. I squeeze my eyes shut and wish for the exact same thing I wish for every time I see a shooting star. “What are you wishing for, Laney?”
I open my eyes and look over at him. He looks raw and vulnerable, which is exactly how I’m feeling right now. Regardless, there is nothing I can say but the absolute truth. “The same thing
I always wish for—you.”
Levi’s eyes widen just a fraction and he sucks in a deep breath, holding it for a few seconds before blowing it out. I feel like I should say something else, but I don’t want to ruin the moment. He asked what I wished for and I told him.
“We should probably get going.” Sitting up, I finger comb my hair, knocking loose any grass or leaves to the ground. Levi follows suit, stretching his arms up to the sky with a big yawn. The moment is broken, but that’s okay because more than anything, at least he knows how I feel.
“You’re right. It’s probably getting late.” He looks down at his watch. “Nah, not too bad. Only ten thirty.”
“Way past my bedtime,” I yawn, picking up my purse. Levi stands up and offers me his hand, which I graciously accept, because there is no way I’m going to pass up the opportunity to touch him. He pulls me to my feet and we walk unhurriedly back to the restaurant, enjoying each other’s company. When we reach my car, I click the button to automatically unlock the doors and he reaches for the handle, opening the door for me. I toss my purse into the front seat and then turn back to Levi. “Thank you for this. I had a great time.”
“Me too,” he says softly.
“Okay, well”—I look down at the keys in my hand and then back at him—“I should go.” Sliding into my car, I move to pull the door closed but Levi stops it.
“Wait, I need your list.”
“My list?”
“Your bucket list. Can I have it?” he asks, his hand outstretched and waiting.
“Um, sure.” I dig around in my purse, looking for the folded piece of paper. When I find it, I reluctantly give it to him. “What do you need that for?”
“Do you have a pen?” he asks, ignoring my question. I dig one out of my purse and hand it over, then he walks to the back of my car and unfolds the piece of paper before laying it on the trunk. His eyes travel down the page until he finds whatever it is he’s looking for. He scratches the pen across the paper, neatly folds it up and brings it back to me. “Do you have any plans next Friday?”
I get ready to tell him ‘no’ and then remember that’s my day for chemo. Chewing on my bottom lip, I hesitate before answering his question. Although my treatment won’t last all day, I’m not sure how I’ll feel afterward and I don’t want to make any plans just in case I end up feeling like a zombie. “I do, actually. I took off work every other Friday, remember?”
His brows furrow and then quickly soften out. “Yeah, I forgot. No biggie. How about that following Monday?”
“I’ll have to check my schedule to see if I work the day or evening shift, but I’d be free at some point.”
“Okay. Let me know and then I’ll tell you where to meet me.” He looks hopeful, and it takes everything I have not to jump up and start squealing for joy. This is even better than I could have imagined. A date—well, semi-date—ending with a request for another non-date. This night couldn’t have possibly ended any better. Well, it could have, but I’m not going to go there.
“Night, Laney.”
“Goodnight, Levi.” He pushes my door shut and I watch him walk back into the restaurant. Once he is completely out of sight, I unfold my list. When I see what he’s done, tears well up in my eyes.
He checked something off my bucket list.