Twenty-Four Levi
The night’s heavy with the scent of rain on the horizon, the kind of thick, humid air that clings to your skin and promises a storm. I’m out here in the dark, unloading bags of feed off the back of my truck, letting the strain and weight of it quiet my mind. It’s mindless work, the kind of labor that usually makes me feel productive, useful. But tonight, it’s just a way to drown out the thoughts that won’t stop circling in my head.
I throw another bag over my shoulder, my muscles burning as I carry it toward the barn. The ache in my arms is a welcome distraction, but it does nothing to fill the emptiness that’s been gnawing at me since she left. The ranch is quieter without her. Hell, it’s smaller. Every inch of this place reminds me of Sunny—her laugh echoing through the fields, her smile lighting up every damn room she walked into. And now, all of it feels hollow, like the heart of this place left with her.
I still hear her in my head, the way she would tease me, the way she’d get that spark in her eye when she was about to say something she knew would make me laugh. God, I miss that. I miss her. The regret’s been gnawing at me since the moment I handed Colton that letter. What if letting her go wasn’t the right thing? What if I made a mistake?
As I’m unloading the last few bags, the sky opens up, and the rain starts pouring down in thick sheets. I barely register, not caring as I keep working, the rain soaking through my shirt and dripping down my face. I need this. I need the numbness that comes with exhaustion, the kind that shuts your mind off for a few blessed hours.
“Come inside, Levi!”
Colton’s voice cuts through the downpour, loud and insistent from the porch. I glance up to see him standing there, arms crossed, trying to shield himself from the rain.
“That can wait, man!”
I ignore him, shrugging another bag onto my shoulder. The weight is reassuring, something solid in a world that’s felt anything but lately. I’m about to carry it to the barn when I hear a truck coming down the driveway. The lights are blinding, cutting through the rain like a knife, I squint, trying to see who the hell would be coming here at this hour, in this weather.
The truck comes to an abrupt stop, the lights still glaring in my eyes. I hear the door slam, and then someone steps in front of the beams, silhouetted against the brightness. My heart stops. At least, that’s what it feels like. I drop the bag back onto the truck and take a step forward, the rain pouring down my face, but I don’t care. I can’t tear my eyes away from her.
Sunny’s standing there, in that little pink dress I love so damn much. The one that hugs her in all the right places, the one that made me realize just how far gone I was for her.
It feels like a lifetime before she speaks, but when she does, her voice is soft, almost drowned out by the rain.
“Did you mean it?”
she asks, taking a few steps closer to me. The light from her headlights showing her eyes are wide, hopeful, and a little scared.
“Every damn word, sugar,”
I say, running my hands through my hair to get it out of my face. The rain’s relentless, but none of that matters. All that matters is her, standing here in front of me, asking if I meant it. As if there could ever be any doubt.
And then she smiles. That smile that makes my chest tighten, that makes everything else fade away. Before I can take another step toward her, she turns and walks back to her truck. I’m left standing there, confused as all hell, very wet, and starting to wonder if I imagined the whole thing.
But then I see her walking around her truck, opening all the doors. And that’s when I hear it— “Can I Have This Dance”
from High School Musical, playing loud enough to drown out the rain. I can’t help it; a smile spreads across my face.
This is so romantic!
She walks back toward me, holding out her hand. There’s no hesitation in me, none at all. I take it, pulling her close, and spin her around in the rain, laughing at how damn romantic this is, how right it feels. She’s soaked, the pink dress clinging to her in ways that should be illegal, her hair plastered to her face. But she’s never looked more beautiful.
“I’m finishing my classes online,”
she says as we sway together, her arms around my neck.
I blink at her, confusion back in full force.
“What do you mean?”
She chuckles, that sound like music to my ears, her baby blues staring into my soul.
“I love you, Levi. I want to build a life with you, to help you keep the guys in line. I want to spend our Sunday mornings baking, I want to fall asleep in your arms every night and dance in the rain with you. I want to have hundreds of little Monroe feet running around our home.”
Her words hit me like a freight train, knocking the wind out of me in the best way possible.
“Don’t tell my dad you want hundreds of Monroe’s, he will hold you to that.”
She chuckles, leaning in close to my lips, her breath warm against my skin, and whispers, “Eternally yours, Levi.”
And then she kisses me, and it’s like the world stops spinning. The moment her lips touch mine, it’s like a fire ignites deep in my chest, spreading warmth through every inch of me. Her mouth is soft, but there’s a hunger in the way she kisses me, a need that matches my own. I tighten my grip on her, feeling the way her wet skin slides against mine as I pull her closer, like I can’t get enough, like I need her to be as close to me as possible.
I hook my hands under her thighs as I lift her up, her legs wrapping around my waist, her body pressed against mine. I can feel her heart pounding in rhythm with my own. My hand roams up her back, fingers tangling in her soaking wet hair as I tilt her head, deepening the kiss. She tastes like rain and something sweet, something that’s only Sunny, and it drives me wild. Her lip's part, and I take the invitation without hesitation, my tongue sliding against hers in a slow, deliberate dance. A low moan escapes her, and it sends a jolt straight through me.
The sound is everything—desire, need, love—all wrapped up in one perfect note that I want to hear on repeat for the rest of my life.
The rain beats down on us, but all I can focus on is the way she’s melting into me, the way her hands clutch at my shoulders like she’s afraid I might disappear if she lets go. But I’m not going anywhere. Not now, not ever.
I break the kiss only to trail my lips down her jaw, tasting the raindrops that cling to her skin. Her breath hitches, and she tightens her hold on me, her nails digging into my shoulders. I can feel the heat between us, the tension building to a point where it’s almost unbearable, and it takes every ounce of willpower I have to not just carry her inside and show her exactly how much she means to me.
Instead, I lift my head, my breathing ragged, and press my forehead against hers. Her eyes flutter open, those blue depths pulling me in like they always do. We’re both soaked, water dripping down our faces, but she’s smiling at me, that slow, sultry smile that makes my chest feel like it might explode.
“I love you, Levi,”
she whispers, her voice shaky but sure.
“God, I love you too, Sunshine,”
I murmur against her lips.
The sound of cheering breaks through our moment, and we both look over to see the guys and Paisley standing on the porch, jumping, and cheering like a bunch of idiots. I can’t help but laugh, shaking my head as they come running over, their boots splashing in the mud as they join us in the rain. They start slow dancing to the music, everyone laughing, the rain still pouring down, but for the first time in weeks, my heart feels full again.
All my favorite people are here, and Sunny’s in my arms where she belongs. This is how it’s supposed to be. This is where she’s meant to be. With me, with us. And as I hold her close, swaying to the music, I know without a doubt that I’m never letting her go again.