Chapter 2 Levi
TWO
LEVI
IN HER PRESENCE
She held the sides of her head with her hands. “Just don’t talk to me.”
We drove in silence and the amount of time my eyes were on her instead of the road might not have been the safest. I’d day dreamed of this moment so many times, being in the same place with her, but in every thought, I’d always had the perfect thing to say, you know, smartassy and clever, but now my ability to spit out the English language seemed to be on hiatus.
It was too quiet. I needed to say something. Anything.
I cleared my throat. “So.” Yup, that was all I had.
She glared in my direction and panic shot through me. My eyes landed on the bag of candy sitting on the dash. “Skittle?”
She huffed as she adjusted the blood soaked glove against her head. “What?”
I grabbed the pack and meant to offer it to her, but I moved too quickly and several shot out and bounced off her face.
“Sorry.”
I pulled up to the emergency room entrance, opened her door, and extended my hand which she swatted away. “I don’t want your help.”
“Will you quit being stubborn, Langley?”
She stood and closed her eyes as she leaned against my vehicle. In an instant I scooped her up and walked through the double doors. While I half expected a punch to my jaw, instead she kind of settled in.
I never wanted to move again.
I held her and got her checked in and the nurse led us to an exam room where I set her on the exam table and she immediately lay down and closed her eyes.
I stood near her as the nurse examined and cleaned the gouge on her hairline.
“The doctor will be in shortly. You’re going to need some stitches.”
The door was closed and she rolled on her side. “Please just go.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Well you narcissistic douche canoe. How can I help the world revolve around you today?”
“Allie, I know you hate me—”
“We’ve clearly gotten off on the wrong foot, Levi. It’s throat punch Thursday. Step on over and we’ll celebrate.”
“Langley—”
She groaned and put her hands over her eyes. “The sound of your stupid voice makes me want to get tanked by noon.”
“Come on—”
“Please leave now.”
“I’m not leaving you here in the hospital.”
She rolled over and her eyes cut me. “Why not? You’re an expert on that front.”
An ice pick to my chest. “It was a long time ago.”
“Fuck you.”
She faced the wall as I took a chair. The room was too quiet. The annoying tick of a clock above my head filled the space where the air was too heavy. My eyes stuck to Allie rolled on her side, and I couldn’t help but notice she still had the perfect tush. What was she thinking?
“OMG Levi, do you have to breathe so freaking loud?”
Question answered.
The door opened and a female doctor entered. She was tall with dark hair piled on top of her head in a bun.
“Hello, I’m Dr. DeWater.”
Allie sat up and flashed a little smile. “I’m Allie.”
The doctor looked over at me and smiled. “And you are?”
Allie huffed. “Ignore him. He’s nobody.”
The doctor’s brows popped up. “Okay. Well, I’m going to take a peek.
” She looked at Allie’s head. “This is a good gouge you have here. We’ll do some stitches and get you some pain reliever.
On a positive note, since the laceration is on your hairline the scarring will be minimal.
I’m going to take care of this first and then I’ll do a little exam. ”
Allie nodded and looked down and the doctor touched her arm. “It’s okay. I’m going to numb you up and get this fixed.”
The nurse returned and they had everything ready. I stood and walked to Allie who was visibly shaking.
“Okay, we’re going to get started now.”
She nodded as a tear escaped. “I’m sorry. I just, I hate hospitals and doctors.” She flashed a little grin as she wiped her eyes. “Except for you, you seem super cool.”
The doctor patted her on the shoulder. “It’s okay to be scared. Don’t worry, I’ve got this.”
I held my hand out and without looking she grabbed and squeezed tightly while they administered a local, then started stitching her up. I never wanted to move again.
I looked at her small hand on mine. The pale pink polish on her nails and the finger that had no ring on it. Thank God.
As soon as they finished she swatted my hand away. After an exam she was given some medication to take with her for her mild concussion.
We stood by the hospital ER door. “I’ll take an Uber to where I’m staying.”
“No, I’ll drive you, come on. I just want to make sure you’re safe.”
She wrinkled her nose. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t hear you over the little voice in my head screaming what a load of crap.”
“You have a concussion, and I’m just trying to get you where you’re going. I’m attempting to help.”
She huffed. “I’m pretty sure you being in Colorado caused this whole thing.”
“So I did this?”
“Probably, somehow. I don’t know, just shut up.”
“Your attitude sucks. I think certain people should use a glue stick instead of Chapstick right about now.”
She spoke through gritted teeth. “You are so annoying.”
I leaned down and she jumped. “I’m driving you where you’re going. No option.”
We got into my vehicle, and I could only stare at her profile as those auburn curls fell over her shoulder. God she was even more beautiful. The visions of the last time we were in a car together. Hands everywhere, her clothes on the floor, and the desperate kisses. I can’t wait to be yours, Levi.
She looked over and our eyes locked for a moment. It was clear the same memories were rolling through her mind by the way she swallowed hard.
She grabbed a cell phone from her purse and scrolled. “I have the address. Why are you in Colorado anyway? You make Colorado suck. You being in the same state makes me wonder what I did in a previous life to deserve this shit. Serial killer? Kicker of cats?”
Did I feel bad that I was about to lie to the most beautiful girl in the world in order to be close and breathe the same air as her? Nope. But were my words about to cause her to quickly become a gun toting maniac murderer? Hard yes.
Sure, she’d have to get a gun, but I had all the confidence in Colorado she could; and I already knew she was a good shot.
“My cousin Evan is here for a wedding and invited me. The last place I wanted to be was here for a Christmas wedding of people I don’t know.” That sounded all natural, huh?
“What?”
“Everybody’s staying at some big house on Winding Ridge Road. Who’s stupid enough to plan that shit in December?”
She looked forward and inhaled sharply, which I liked very much. “Emily.”
“What?”
“My friend Emily is stupid enough to plan that shit.” She looked over with fire shooting from her eye sockets. “Your cousin is Evan? The Evan dating Rachel?”
“Rachel? Wait, your Rachel? My cousin is dating Rachel from high school?”
“How in the bloody hell do you not know Rachel is Evan’s girlfriend?”
She sat blinking at me.
“I’ve been out of the country since Evan’s been with her. I guess because there are millions of Rachels in the world, I would’ve never imagined it was Rachel from high school.”
“No, no, no.” She leaned her head back against the seat. “You can not be at the wedding or any of this. I need you the hell outta here.”