Five
Levi’s gut rolled with the gentle sway of his parents’ houseboat and he realized, as he lay in bed staring at the off-white ceiling, thinking about Jillian’s smile and the way her eyes crinkled, it was like being a teenager again. Back then, he hadn’t known what to do with his feelings, but as an adult, he knew what he wanted to do about them. Seeing her the other day had brought an onslaught of emotions, but it wasn’t just nostalgia or sweet memories.
His skin felt like it vibrated in her presence. It made him want to get closer, hold her hand, see if her hair was as soft as it looked. He’d dated here and there over the last several years, but being the head chef at a high-end restaurant was a life-consuming job. He wanted more out of life, and even though he knew the past was part of his feelings, he wanted to know who she was now. What made her smile besides Ollie? What did she do when she wasn’t working one of her ten jobs? She’d looked so adorably flustered when he’d asked to make her dinner, he switched gears, saying he’d include the others. Seeing her with everyone was better than not seeing her at all.
Rolling off the twin bed, he shivered when he set his feet on the chilly, bare-wood floor under him. As a kid, he’d thought the short bank of colorful homes on the water in Tourist Lane, on the northern tip of Smile, was the coolest thing ever. Now, he was more than a little inclined to find a place on solid ground.
Glancing out the window, despite the unsteadiness of his stomach, he couldn’t help but grin. A few guys were fishing off the end of the dock. A couple of boats were leaving, probably heading out to Mackinaw City for deliveries or pickups. A little girl and her mom walked out of the purple house at the end of the row, the girl’s pigtails bouncing with her jumping steps.
He might not like houseboats anymore—other than looking at them—but he loved being in this part of Smile. It was tucked away down a long, narrow bike and walking path. He’d felt like a tourist himself a few nights ago when he’d first shown up, coming down here with a memory as solid as a photograph about what it looked like. What had once been—the few houseboats and a couple of shops, along with several fishing boats—still existed. But there was so much more. Now, there were over twenty houseboats and a row of shops longer than the walk in. There were picnic tables set up in the green space, clusters of purposefully planted trees, and strategically paved walking paths.
Jonesing for his first cup of caffeine, he hurried into track shorts and a running T-shirt. The metal stairs from the loft his parents rarely used wound down to the first floor and made him a little dizzy. His mom and dad were sitting at the small table for two, chatting over coffee.
His mom rose immediately, pulling her oversized cardigan closed even as she opened her arms for a hug. “I can’t get used to you being here. It makes me so happy.”
He laughed, squeezing her tight. He pressed a kiss to her soft, dark hair that she refused to let go gray. “It’s okay to get used to it, though I think I’ll start looking for somewhere to live more permanently.”
She pulled back, her eyes, just like his, shining, and patted his chest. “There’s no rush.”
His dad shifted in his chair, covering a wince. His mom went back to the table, murmured something quietly to him before his dad shook his head. Levi clenched his jaw, knowing his dad was too stubborn to ask for help. He pulled the cookies he’d made out of the fridge, set about warming a few up as he ignored the tension for a few minutes.
“What are your more long-term plans, honey?”
Levi grabbed a plate, set one of the cookies down in front of his dad. “I’ve got some ideas, Mom. Morning, Dad. How you feeling?”
“I’m fine. No reason for everyone to be worrying so much. What’s that? I can’t eat cookies for breakfast. Is that what you learned at your fancy restaurants?”
“Steven,” his mom hissed.
Levi grabbed another cookie and set it down in front of his mom. “Actually, it’s one of the recipes I created. I made them last night. It’s a cross between oatmeal and a cookie. It’s made with whole grains, cane sugar, cranberries, and no dairy. I researched foods for recovery and came up with it. You were never a straight-up oatmeal guy.”
His dad stared at the cookie and took a bite, and his mom followed. Levi went back to the counter, certainly not expecting praise. Steven Bright believed working with your hands meant building something a person could live in; like a house. Not making cookies or fancy meals. Levi grabbed his coffee, added a generous pour of milk and a spoonful of sugar.
“Levi, this is delicious. Isn’t it, Steven?” There was a tired edge to his mom’s voice. Levi didn’t want to add discord between them. His mom struggled with Steven’s dismissal of his profession and the way they’d left things all those years ago when he’d gone off to culinary school against his dad’s request that he stay and be part of Bright Builds.
“Not bad.” Steven pressed the pad of his finger against the crumbs and licked them off.
Not bad. High praise. Levi held back his smile as he joined them at the table with his own cookie. “So, back to the question, my short-term plans are, I’d like to step in for you while you’re off work, so you can recover without worrying about jobs.”
With deliberate slowness, his dad turned his body toward Levi, his lips in a firm line. His dad’s dark hair, once so similar to Levi’s, was thinning on the top and liberally sprinkled with gray. His always-calloused hands were lined with age. But he was still strong and solid and a damn good man. If they could get past what his father saw as a betrayal on Levi’s part, maybe they could get back to the way things had been before he’d chased his own dream.
“You know I have a crew, right? You think I’m going to bench Eddie and let you just boss my guys around because you’re home on a fool’s errand?”
His mom groaned and moved away from the table, taking the empty plates.
Levi tamped down on his irritation, kept his voice calm. “It’s okay, Mom. I knew this was coming. I’m sorry I didn’t want to follow you into construction or become a partner in your company. I loved working with you growing up, but it wasn’t my dream. It still isn’t. But I want to help out if I can. However I can. I still know how to use a hammer. I’m not looking to step on toes, but I know you always pull your weight at every job, which means no matter who is in charge you’ll be down a man, and I want to pitch in until you’re on your feet again.”
His mom put her hands on his dad’s shoulders, like maybe her touch could put him in a better mood. To be fair, from what he remembered of his parents’ relationship, it usually could. “That’s very sweet of you, honey.”
A derisive noise left his dad’s lips. “Then what?”
Using his need for caffeine as an excuse not to snap at his dad or lose his patience, Levi took a long sip. It wasn’t a good time to tell them about the food truck. Not with his dad’s surly mood.
“Then I’ll figure out what I’m doing and start building my life here.”
Getting up a little slower than Levi liked to see, his dad took his coffee cup to the sink. “You need money? That why you’re asking for a job?”
Jesus. Levi huffed out a breath. “I don’t need your money, Dad. I was head chef at one of the best fine-dining restaurants in Vermont.” He’d cooked for senators and dignitaries and under chefs who’d received James Beard Awards. His career had been, quite literally, a dream come true. But it hadn’t filled his soul the way he thought it would. “I have money. I’m offering to help. You can think about it, but I don’t know why you’d have to.” Other than stubborn pride, which Levi knew a thing or two about.
Before his dad could answer, Levi pushed back from the table and took his own cup to the sink. He’d grab a coffee in town. This houseboat was too fucking small, especially with his dad’s shitty mood.
“Let me know.” With that, he scooped up his phone and his keys, gave his mom a kiss on the cheek, and took off.
He hadn’t finished tying his shoes on the front step before his phone buzzed.
Beckett
Happy you’re back, man. Come meet my girl, see my bike shop.
Levi
Will do. Need to get settled then I want to make a big meal for all of you. Not at my parents’ though. Too small in too many ways.
Beckett
Let’s do it at the lodge. Lots of room and we’re not booked until June 1.
Levi
Perfect. Next week. You and Gray are running your own businesses. Maybe I can talk to you about my plans. Look at us, growing up. And you’re getting married. If you ever get up the nerve to ask her.
Beckett
You saw the poll.
Levi
And voted.
Beckett
Jackass.
Levi
Can’t wait to meet her. I’ll try to talk some sense into her; warn her off.
Beckett
I repeat: jackass.
Levi
Admit it. You missed me.
Beckett
About as much as a sliver in my ass.
Levi
I won’t ask how it got there. See you soon.
Beckett
Awesome.
Levi’s fingers hovered over the screen. Oh, by the way, is your sister dating anyone? Mind if I ask her out? He shook his head. “That would go over well.” Are sisters still off-limits? A laugh burst out of him as he pocketed his phone. “You know the answer to that.”
Two things never failed to clear his head—making an excellent meal, and running. Since his dad had bitched and complained about the grilled chicken and rice he’d made the other night, Levi was in no hurry to cook him another healthy meal. Running it was. If he ran into Jillian, so be it. He grinned as he stretched, remembering that this was Smile and there was always a good chance of running into someone, whether you wanted to or not.
With his muscles loose, he started with a slow jog off of the docks, letting his mind wander. No surprise, it zipped back to Jillian. Waving to people he passed, he cut down a back alley between two of the shops along Tourist Lane, hoping it still led to a trail he remembered. Thankfully, it did.
AirPods in, his pulse matching the beat of some old-school AC/DC, sweat pooling at his spine, Levi slipped into the zone. Would have stayed there, too, if he hadn’t looked to the left and kept looking, because what he saw made his pulse race faster than the exercise. In the middle of the green space, several women—though there was only one who captured his attention—were bent into some very awkward-looking positions he wouldn’t even attempt on a dare. Jillian’s hair was twisted into a pretty braid down the back of her pale blue tank top that showed off toned arms, soft curves, and tantalizing skin that…
He heard a muted “Dude” seconds before his shin came into direct contact with something cold and hard. He caught air before he felt the rough slide of crushed gravel abrading the skin of his knee, thigh, and hands when he landed. He would have gladly concentrated on the stinging, burning pain but Anderson—freaking do-it-all Anderson—was in his face, checking him out, telling him not to move, even as the women hurried over. Reaching him first, because it wasn’t bad enough that he’d tripped over a cooler—in front of people—or that he’d have cuts all over him, was Jillian, the woman he couldn’t stop thinking about.
“He’s okay. Just some cuts and scrapes,” Anderson said, pushing their shoulder-length hair back from their face. “I’m so sorry. I tried to get your attention, Levi. You were in the zone.”
“Oh, honey. You fell ass over cooler,” an older woman who looked familiar said.
Levi’s gaze was locked on Jillian. Her expression of concern morphed into one of mild amusement at the woman’s comment right before she crouched down next to him. God, she smelled good. How could she be out in the sun, bending into pretzel shapes, and smell so good?
He was quite certain the same couldn’t be said of him.
“Sue likes to state the obvious,” she said under her breath, touching his knee, her brows furrowing.
Her fingers on his skin sent an electric charge through his whole body, making him flinch. She pulled her hand back, looked at him.
“Did that hurt? You might need to go see one of the Doc Williamses and make sure you didn’t break anything.”
Levi gave a rough laugh, remembering that there were two general practitioners in Smile and they were married to each other. The Williamses. It was the female Doc Williams who’d put four stitches in his chin the night he left. Levi pushed to his feet. “Pretty sure you can’t break pride.”
Jillian rose with him, her top lip pulled between her teeth, and it took all of his effort not to stare. Not to wonder what it would be like to…
“She’s right, sweetie. We should get you checked out.” Sue, whom he still couldn’t place, took his arm.
Anderson held out a bottle of water, dripping with condensation. “On the house.”
“Thanks.” Extricating himself from the older woman’s grasp, wishing he could walk away and pretend the last three minutes had never happened, he opened it, swallowed down half the bottle.
When he lowered his chin, he caught a look in Jillian’s gaze—he was not the only interested party here—that made his skin sizzle all over again.
“You’re sure you’re okay?” Anderson asked.
He didn’t usually lie, but looking at Jillian and knowing he wasn’t going to be able to sidestep his feelings so easily, he had no choice. “Completely. I’m absolutely fine.”
“You could join us for yoga,” said one of the older ladies, with her gray ponytail tucked through the back of a ball cap. “That’ll stretch those muscles.” Her gaze wandered down his length and back up before she whistled, shook her head. “You’re going to be sore tomorrow.”
Jillian pressed her lips together but they quirked anyway.
Sue, whose gray hair was cropped into a stylish bob, clapped her hands. “Yes. That’s an excellent idea.”
“A good Downward Dog never hurt anyone,” Anderson added.
Levi closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them again. This time Jillian wasn’t hiding her laughter. Neither were the other ladies.
“If you do it right, it feels really good,” another woman said, nodding along.
“Kill me now,” he whispered under his breath.
Jillian ducked her head, avoided his gaze. The women slowly dispersed back to their mats while Anderson went back to their lawn chair next to the cooler.
“What are you doing, Anderson?” he asked, tucking his AirPods in their case before shoving them in his pocket.
“I like to make sure the ladies stay hydrated.”
Of course. That made perfect sense. In Smile.
“Are you going to clean that all up?” Jillian asked softly from beside him.
Levi looked down at her, resisted the urge to touch her in any way even though he really wanted to reach out, maybe take her hand. “Yeah. I guess I’d better.”
She hooked a thumb over her shoulder. “I have a first aid kit in my car.” She gestured with a tilt of her head and started walking toward the far parking lot.
So much for avoiding her; Levi fell into step beside her.
“You realize you have to embarrass yourself in front of me now, right? To even the score?”
Jillian sucked in a breath, stopped in her tracks, and turned to face him. His heart beat faster as she stared up at him, hands on her hips.
Sounds rumbled out of her mouth but nothing coherent as her eyes widened. She shook her head, mumbled something he didn’t catch.
His fingers went to his chin without meaning to and he rubbed the scar there, that long-ago night flashing through his head with startling clarity. He hadn’t thought about her being embarrassed. Really, all he’d thought about other than the fact that his chin was gushing blood was that Jillian Keller almost kissed him. And he’d been really disappointed that she hadn’t.
The way she’d acted the other day, he wondered not only if she’d forgotten about it but if he’d imagined her feelings. Clearly, she remembered, but obviously it wasn’t the smile-provoking memory for her that, to this day, it was for him.