Chapter 12 Kelcie
Kelcie
Sitting under the tree’s bare branches, I look at each of the gravestones.
Hi.
My grief shudders through me, and I close my eyes.
I miss you all so much.
A cold wind blows over the cemetery, and I snuggle into Levi’s jacket, which I never gave back to him. I only wear it when I come here because, in a way, it’s comforting. It’s the second-best thing to having him hold me.
I open my eyes again and read the names engraved into the granite.
Coming to visit you used to be unbearable. But since I’ve met Levi, it’s not so crushing anymore. I wish you could meet him. I think you’d all approve.
He writes books, Mom.
A sad little chuckle escapes me.
And he is soooo damn attractive, Sage.
Dad, you would’ve probably interrogated him, but once you got to know him, you would’ve understood why . . . I love him.
God. I love him.
My sight blurs with unshed tears as I realize how I feel about Levi.
But he’s made it pretty clear we’re only friends.
I look at Mom’s grave.
What do I do? Do I keep my emotions a secret from him and appreciate that I have him as a friend?
Sage would’ve told me to open up to Levi. To take a chance.
That’s easier said than done, Sage.
I let out a huff of air.
Levi is so patient and caring. He makes me feel safe. He listens when I talk and understands when I’m quiet.
The corner of my mouth lifts as I think about the man who’s stolen my heart.
He hates when anyone else touches him, but he hugs me and even presses kisses to my hair. I gave him a small birthday party, and he kissed me on the cheek.
I roll my eyes.
I can’t tell you how many times I thought he was going to kiss me on the lips, but then it didn’t happen.
I spend the icy morning talking to my family, and by the time I climb to my feet, I know there’s only one thing for me to do.
If I don’t tell Levi how I feel, I might miss out on my only chance at happiness.
And, God, have I been happy the past few weeks.
I press a kiss to the tips of my gloved fingers and blow it to my family before I leave.
When I near the street we used to live on, I turn up it and walk down to the cul-de-sac. As I reach the path that leads to my family home, I glance at the front yard and notice how neat it is.
Shoot. The sheriff’s department probably sent someone out to clean it again. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I dial the department’s number.
Once Libby’s done rattling off the usual greeting, I say, “Hi, it’s Kelcie. I notice someone cleaned the yard again at my parents’ house. Will you please send the invoice to me instead of Jordan?”
“Oh, it wasn’t us, dear. The neighbors told us Levi Graye has been taking care of the place, so we’ve stopped sending someone out.”
Levi has been taking care of the upkeep?
“Ahh . . . thanks.”
I end the call and stare at the yard. Why didn’t he tell me?
I hurry down the street, eager to get home so I can talk to Levi. By the time I reach our houses, I’m out of breath from all the exercise. I make a beeline for Levi’s back door, knocking and even trying the handle, but it doesn’t open.
Dang, he’s probably sleeping.
When I turn away and start walking toward my place, I hear Levi call, “Kelcie.”
My head snaps to where he’s coming from the direction of the trees. Lick breaks out into a run to get to me and jumps up, her front paws settling against my abdomen.
“Hey, girl. You’re always so excited to see me.” I scratch behind her ear. Looking up, I take in the sweatpants and hoodie Levi’s wearing. “Did you go for a walk?”
He shakes his head. “I run along the trail to the creek every morning. Lick needs the exercise.”
That’s quite the distance. No wonder the man has abs for days.
He uses his sleeve to wipe the sweat from his forehead. “Were you looking for me?”
“Oh, right. I passed by my parents’ place and noticed the yard was neat. The sheriff’s department told me you’ve been taking care of the upkeep.”
Levi instantly looks uncomfortable and glances down at Lick. “I’m sorry if I overstepped.”
“No!” I dart forward and grip the front of his hoodie. “You didn’t have to.” My eyebrows pull together, and my heart expands to twice its size with love for this man. “But it means so much to me. Thank you.”
His expression relaxes. “I just want to make things easier for you.”
“You do.” I lift myself onto my tiptoes and press a very quick kiss to his mouth, which has my heartbeat setting off at a crazy pace. Pulling away, I walk to my back door. “Anyway, I’ll let you get some sleep. See you later.”
I don’t dare look at his face as I go inside, afraid I’ll see that he disapproves of the kiss.
So much for telling him how you feel about him. One thank-you kiss, and you run for the hills.
I shut the door behind me and lean my forehead against the wood. A few seconds later, I carefully peek out of the window, and not seeing Levi, I sit down right on the spot while a nervous chuckle bursts over my lips.
Well, I kinda did try. Now the ball’s in his court.
The doorbell rings, and I climb to my feet. When I peek through the peephole and see Colby, my shoulders slump.
Unlocking the door, I open it and say, “Hi.”
“I was visiting with my parents and saw you come home. It’s been a while. How are you?”
“I’m great, and you?”
“I’m doing okay. Things would be better if the prettiest girl in town finally stopped playing hard to get and agreed to go on a date with me.”
Not this again.
Desperate to make him understand it will never happen, I totally take advantage of my friendship with Levi and lie, “I’m actually dating Levi.”
Shock flashes over Colby’s face, then he frowns darkly at me. “What the fuck, Kelcie? I was there for you when your family was killed. I helped you get this place.” His voice keeps rising until he shouts, “The fucker moves in, and you jump into his arms?”
My lips part with shock, and I take a step backward from Colby’s aggressive reaction. “Don’t take that tone with me!”
He shakes his head, and just as he moves toward me, Levi’s voice snaps, “Back the fuck away from her.”
Colby’s head turns to the side, and when he moves backward, I’m able to peek out the doorway. Levi cuts across the dead grass between our houses, his expression downright pissed off.
“You better go, Colby,” I say, not wanting a fight between the two men.
“Oh, look,” Colby sneers. “If it isn’t the great Levi fucking Graye. You think you can tell me what to do just because you’re some big-shot author?”
“I’m going to call the sheriff,” I warn him.
His eyes flick back to me, the anger in his gaze scaring me, as he hisses, “I see how it is.” Levi steps between Colby and me, but it doesn’t stop Colby from continuing, “Don’t come running to me when he drops you like a sack of potatoes. People like him never stay in one place for long.”
“Leave,” Levi growls, the sound of his threatening tone making goose bumps erupt over my skin.
“Fuck both of you,” Colby angrily mutters as he walks away, crossing the street to where his car is parked in his parents’ driveway.
“I’m so sorry,” I say while letting out a heavy breath. When Levi turns around, I step out of the way so he can come inside the house. “Where’s Lick?”
“At my place. I didn’t want her attacking Colby.”
“Yeah, we don’t want that to happen,” I agree. My shoulders sag as I wrap my arms around myself. “Colby is probably going to tell the whole town who you are.”
“Let him. I don’t care.” Levi shuts the door behind him and locks it. When he turns to face me, he lifts his hand and rubs it up and down my arm. “Are you okay?”
I shrug, feeling rattled by the unpleasantness. “I hate that it happened, but Colby needed to understand I’ll never date him. I just don’t get why he has to be so difficult.” I give Levi a weak smile. “I mean, I’d give up after the first time I’m rejected.”
Levi’s eyes drift over my face. “How many times did you reject him?”
“I’ve lost count.” Turning around, I walk to the kitchen. “Would you like something to drink?”
“Hold up.” Levi grabs my shoulder and stops me from walking. Coming to stand in front of me, he asks, “Countless? Has he spoken to you like that before?”
“No, usually he just flirts and tries his luck. But it’s been going on for six years. It’s exhausting.”
Levi’s expression turns angry again. “Have you told the sheriff?”
I shake my head, and not wanting Levi to worry, I explain, “Colby is harmless. He is all bark and no bite. I’m sure he got the message this time.
” Knowing word might spread through town, I glance down at my feet as I admit, “I kinda threw you under the bus and told him we’re dating, so if you hear the rumor, you know where it started. ”
“You can throw me under the bus any day.”
Surprised, I look up again, and seeing Levi isn’t angry with me, I let out a breath of relief.
“I’m going home,” he says. “I need to jump in the shower.”
“Okay.” When he walks to the back door, I ask, “Will I see you later?”
“Yes. Dinner and movies at my place,” he replies before pulling the door shut behind him.
A deflating sound ripples over my lips while I go to the couch and sink down on it.
Well, that sucked.
I meant it when I said I wish it hadn’t happened. We could’ve been friends, and I hate that things had to escalate like that.
I kick off my sneakers, and lying down, I pull the blanket over me. I snuggle into my pillow and stare at the black screen of the TV.
Levi didn’t say anything about the kiss. Maybe he’s going to pretend it didn’t happen.
For a day that started so well, it sure turned to crap at the speed of light.
If friendship is all I’ll ever have with Levi, at least I got to kiss him today. Even if it was just a peck on the lips.
My head pops up as I remember the security cameras. I sit up, and grabbing my phone, I go into the security app. I find the camera that’s focused on the back of the house and rewind to where I’m talking with Levi.
I drink in the sight of his face, the week-old beard I’m really growing fond of, and as I go in to kiss him, I see his eyes closing. When I pull away, there’s a flash of shock tightening his features, and he stares after me.
Then he lifts his hand and brushes the pads of his fingers over his lips. When he begins to walk back to his house, the corner of his mouth lifts.
I rewind the footage, needing to make sure I didn’t imagine his reaction.
Watching it again, a smile forms on my face, and hope blossoms in my chest.
Okay. Chill, Kelcie. You’ve made it pretty clear how you feel by kissing him. Let him make the next move.
I rewind the footage again and pause on the time stamp where Levi’s smiling as he walks away. Staring at the screen, I memorize it until my eyes drift closed.
The ringing of the doorbell rips me out of a deep sleep, and when it’s followed by someone banging on the door, I dart up off the couch. My eyes feel as if there’s sand in them, and I rub them before I look through the peephole. Seeing Mrs. Adams, Colby’s mother, I let out a groan.
There’s a strand of hair sticking up at the back of her head, and her cheeks are red with anger. Where Colby has an athletic build like his father, his mother is short like me.
I pat over my messy hair before I unlock the door and open it for her. “Hi, Mrs. Adams.”
“Don’t ‘Hi, Mrs. Adams’ me,” she snaps angrily. “How could you be so cruel, Kelcie? Colby has been nothing but kind to you, and you broke his heart. All for some stranger?”
My eyes grow wide from the sudden attack, but needing to make her understand, I reply, “Even if Levi weren’t in the picture, I still wouldn’t date Colby. I told him so many times that I only feel friendship for him, but he wouldn’t listen.”
“Many marriages built on friendship have been successful.”
I give her a what-the-heck look. “I’m not talking about this with you. I’m sorry Colby is hurting, but that’s not on me. Excuse me.”
When I begin to push the door shut, she darts forward, and her palm connects hard with my cheek.
“Your parents must be turning in their graves,” she spits at me while I lift my hand to my stinging face, too shocked to react. “Shame on you, Kelcie. They raised you better than this.”
Still stunned out of my mind, I watch as she stalks back to her house.
Slowly, I shut the door and lock it, then turning around, I walk right through the house and out the back, going straight to the only place I feel safe.