Chapter 29
Layla
My eyes flutter open, my cheek pressed to a warm, hard chest, Levi’s heart beating against me.
A small smile curves my lips as I cuddle closer to him.
Last night was so much more than I imagined.
My body tingles, thinking of the way Levi looked at me, the way he touched me, kissed me, and cherished me.
Chloe was right. There are men who really do know what they’re doing in all aspects of the bedroom and Levi Brennan is one of them. A rare breed.
“Good morning,” he rasps sending goosebumps down my spine.
Lifting my head, I meet his sleepy gaze, his hair sticking up in every direction looking sexy and bringing a smile to my face. “Good morning. I didn’t realize you were awake.”
“Only for a few minutes. Did you sleep okay?” he asks, running his fingers through my now loose hair.
“Yes.”
“Are you hungry? We could make breakfast.” His eyes shine down at me, his voice light, hopeful.
“I’m sorry, Levi, but I think I have to say no. I promised my brother we would go over some things for my mom today and then I need to go check on her.”
His face falls and he nods. “Okay. I expect it’s not something you would want company for?”
“Unfortunately, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Tipping his head towards me, he hesitates before asking, “We’re good?”
Giving him a broad smile, I give him a chaste kiss and sigh happily, speaking over his lips, “Yeah.”
Exhaling slow, his body relaxes beneath me. Pulling me closer, he deepens our kiss, his tongue sweeping inside much too quick. “Good. I like waking up with you in my arms.”
He kisses me again, sweet and slow, our tongues tangling and igniting me once again, but I force myself to nudge him back. “You can’t get me going right now. I really do have to go. Besides, I’m a little sore.”
He frowns, his hands skimming my sides. “Then come back later and I’ll take care of you. After all, it’s my fault you’re sore.” His lips find my neck, kissing, licking, gently sucking.
I hum, giggling. “Levi, you’re relentless.”
“Apparently, I am when it comes to you.”
Kissing him again, I concede, “Okay, if I get everything done, I’ll come back later. Does that work for you?”
“Absolutely. And while you’re gone, I’ll get my workout and exercises done, so I’ll be free for you. My physical therapist is very demanding.” He gives me his sexy smirk making my stomach twist.
“Remember to stick only with the exercises I gave you,” I instruct, trying to keep my focus on the work instead of him. He’s too distracting.
He chuckles and kisses me again. “Yes, ma’am.”
A little while later, I walk in my front door wearing the same thing I left in last night.
Slipping off my heels, I heave a sigh as my bare feet touch the cool wood floor.
Lifting my head, I spot Gabe sitting on the couch eating a bowl of cereal watching sports center.
He glances up at me and smirks. “Just getting home, Layla? Did you have a fun night?”
This is new. I never did a walk of shame growing up. Then again, I’m too old to be embarrassed about it now. Pasting a smile on my face, I drop down on the opposite end of the couch. “I did. How about you?”
His face falls but he drops the subject taking another bite of his cereal. “I have some places for us to go over virtually that I think have potential.”
My throat clogs, not ready to have this conversation, but apparently we don’t have a choice. Clearing my throat, I tell him, “Okay, sounds good, but I’m going to go shower first.”
He scrunches up his nose. “Good! I was gonna say something…”
“Ha. Ha,” I mutter, monotone.
“Oh, and by the way, I have a travel baseball camp thing I volunteered for this week a couple towns over. They have a fall break, so there’s no school. It’s long hours, so they’re housing us. I can’t back out now.”
“It’s all right, Gabe.”
“You sure? I won’t be around until the weekend.”
“Like you said, you can’t back out now, so what else could you possibly do?”
He sighs, shrugging. “I don’t know, but this is why we have to find something. Once I’m back to baseball my schedule is rigid.”
“I know. It’s fine.”
He shakes his head. “No, it’s not, but any chance you can check on mom more this week?”
“Of course, I can. Maybe I’ll even be able to get some help too.”
“You think Levi would help?”
“Maybe,” I admit, but is that too much to ask someone you just started dating? It feels like it is. “But I was thinking I could ask Chloe too. I’m sure she would help.”
“Oh, yeah. Her boyfriend is a nice guy. I had fun talking to him the other night at the hayride.”
“Yeah, I’m really happy for her. I like Beck and I like having her here.”
“And what if we end up moving?”
My frown deepens. “I’m not sure, but I do know Chloe will always be in my life no matter where I am. She’s stuck with me forever.”
As for Levi, the possibility of moving is one of the biggest reasons I don’t want to ask him for help with my mom.
We’re barely into a relationship yet we both might be moving to separate states soon.
Is it fair to depend on each other when we can only offer right now?
My own question slams into me like a tsunami inciting more doubt.
Is that what we are–temporary?
Heaving a sigh, I shove down the chaos attempting to take root in my head before it takes over. I just need to take things one day at a time with my mom, with Levi and with my future.
I can’t stop the niggling voice in my head and my heart telling me that I want Levi to be a part of both my present and my future. Maybe that voice is not as insignificant as I’m pretending.
What if it’s right?