When I step around the counter, I realize I hadn’t officially rung up Levi’s order. Thankfully, he’s one step ahead of me, like always, and pulls out a crisp twenty-dollar bill. Setting it on the glass counter, he lifts his chin to Indie.
“Thanks. We’ll be back in a few.”
As he guides me to the exit, Suzette calls, “Take your time!”
I toss a quick glare over my shoulder then fold my arms defensively when the bell chimes. We walk side by side in silence. Chewing on my lower lip, I scan the bustling street around me, unsure of our destination.
“Come here,” he murmurs before leading me to a bench not too far down the road.
It’s still warm outside, and the sun is shining brightly in the sky. But it does nothing to heat the deep cold that seeped into my bones the night before. I’m not sure if anything can take away the chill. I rub my hands up and down my arms before tucking them into my lap.
After a long, uncomfortable silence, I finally crack. “Spit it out, Levi.”
“I’m sorry.”
My eyes widen in surprise, but I keep my mouth shut.
Daring to look at me, his gaze shines with remorse. And I melt just a little bit.
He’s always been good at that. Sure, he’s screwed up more than once in our relationship, but he always comes back with a genuine apology and a promise not to do it again. And I’ve always forgiven him, knowing he’ll do the best he can. Because he always does.
Levi doesn’t do things half-assed. It’s one of the things I love about him.
Shying away from the thought, I lick my lips. “Okay. You’ve apologized,” I acknowledge. “Can I get back to work now?”
“Not quite yet.” He smirks. It’s clear he’s enjoying my feistiness. “I was wondering if you’re busy Friday night?”
“I don’t know. Why?”
“Because I wanted to know if you’d want to go out on a date.”
Rearing back, I spit, “So help me, Levi. If you’re honestly trying to force me to go on another date with your friend after your reaction last night, I will hit you in the balls until your voice is cracking like it did in middle school. I can’t believe you would honestly—”
He cuts me off by smashing his mouth against mine. Okay, maybe smashing isn’t the right word. It’s more like possessing every inch of me. I sit there frozen and in shock for about two Mississippis before my instincts take over. Then it’s game on.
Hands tangling into his short hair, I pull him closer, pressing my chest into his shoulder and bicep before he turns his upper body to face me fully. He wraps his arm around my waist and inches me closer. I smile when I realize I’m practically in his lap, but it vanishes almost instantly when I feel his fingers dig into my ass to hold me in place.
With the precision of a sniper, Levi had zeroed in on my mouth, and now, he’s desperately exploring every inch as if he owns it. And he does. He owns every piece of me. Ripping my mouth away from his, I take a deep breath and look up at the shining blue sky. The heat from our kiss burns me up like an inferno. I want to laugh at how quickly the tide turned.
Levi doesn’t waste any time as he cups each side of my face, clearly not finished with me yet. His teeth nibble my lower lip before the tip of his nose grazes my neck as he places a gentle kiss along the column of my throat. Chest expanding beneath my fingertips, he breathes me in like a fine wine.
“God, you smell good.”
With a light laugh, my brain tries to catch up with what the hell just happened.
“You, uh….” My voice is breathy as I search for a response. “You smell good too?” It comes out as more of a question than a witty reply.
His pouty lips tilt up in amusement, his eyes softening before he tucks that same piece of stubborn hair behind my ear. With his hands still cupping my jaw, he plants another kiss against my lips. This time, it’s softer. Slower. More innocent, yet just as promising.
“I want to take you on a date, Charlie. A real date. Just me and you.”
“Why?” I choke out. My brain pushes aside my mushy emotions in an attempt to protect my fragile heart.
“When I saw his hands touching you, his mouth kissing you, his eyes eating up every inch of your skin,”––he shakes his head like he can’t bear the thought––“I realized something. I realized that it should be my hands.” His calloused fingertips release their hold on my face and brush along the exposed skin on my arm. “My mouth.” He leans in and presses a soft kiss against my temple. “My eyes.” Lifting his hand, he holds my chin and tilts my head up until I’m captured in his intense gaze. His breath fans across my face, kissing my flaming cheeks as he whispers, “This might be the dumbest thing I’ve ever done. But if I don’t ask you out, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.”
Logic still fights against his declaration, giving me no choice but to ask, “A date? That’s all you want from me?”
“I put you in a box a long time ago, Charlie. A can’t-be-touched, wingman-only, look-at-her-like-a-little-sister box. Then, when I saw you with him, I realized something. You were never meant to be tucked away, and I’d lose you if I didn’t figure out how to let you out of those boundaries I’d forced on you. It’s not that I never appreciated you. I think I was afraid that if I ever let you out of that box, I’d risk breaking us and our relationship.” Clearing his throat, he drops his hold. “Although, I probably should’ve asked how you felt about me before I stuck my tongue down your throat so….”