Chapter 6 Levi
SIX
LEVI
NOT DEAD…YET
So I was taking her not killing me as a positive step forward. That was the key, I needed to stay positive and on task.
Be like a postage stamp; stick to one thing until you get there.
The difference between try and triumph is just a little umph (come on, you like that one.)
When life gives you lemons make lemonade and find someone with vodka?
Onward buttercup, there’s fuckery to spread.
Okay, I’m getting a little off track.
Anyway, I looked over and her eyes shot to me for a second before returning to the road. I examined her profile and there was the same pull. From the second I saw her, my body had overtaken my brain.
While she was the uber intelligent girl in high school who should’ve never looked my way, the second she did I pulled out all the stops. The effect she had on me was all consuming, and in seven years it hadn’t changed.
After the times I’d dream of being in the same space as her, it was happening.
Did I put the puzzle of Rachel being Evan’s girlfriend together three weeks ago?
Yes. A few months back it sounded fun to fly in and hang with Evan and his friends in Colorado.
I’d been out of the country for a few years and hadn’t met Rachel, his girlfriend, but in a text, he referred to Allison Langley, and I couldn’t help but wonder if the universe or something bigger was at work.
Evan only knew her as the Allie from my past, and would’ve never imagined it was the same person.
He and his family put me back together after her, when I went to live with them in Wisconsin when all hell broke loose.
He would’ve never wanted me at this house if he was aware it was the same Allison.
Yeah, if Lexi or Rachel knew I’d be here, they would’ve likely hired an assassin to take me out altogether.
Since I’d flown under the radar and made it to the Christmasy Colorado mountains, I wondered what the odds were of me chipping away at the icy exterior beside me.
There was an unmistakable noise. “Langley, was that your tummy growling?”
“Don’t you be listening to my stomach.” She grumbled as she turned the radio on and Frosty the Snowman filled the front seat. “I haven’t eaten since this morning.”
We turned onto a road that screamed Christmas ski resort town. On both sides of the street were shops, boutiques, and restaurants. Above were holiday lights strung from one side of the street to the other casting a warm glow on the folks strolling down the congested sidewalk.
“Wow, this is cute.” She pointed. “The Summit Sip coffee shop. Adorbs. I’m making a mental note of that one.”
“Hey, there’s an Earth and Fire BBQ.”
“Yes, I remember you love bar-be-cue.” She glared at me. “I don’t want to eat there.”
“There’s just no winning with you.”
A sarcastic laugh bounced off my window. “Nice to see you realize that.”
At the end of the street was an enormous ski lodge. I pulled into the parking lot. “I’d like to check this out.”
“Do you realize how annoying your voice is?” She zipped up her coat.
“Isn’t hating me every second of today exhausting?”
Her head shook. “Nope. Actually, I hate you so much it almost feels good. Yeah, like I’ve climbed the Everest of hate. Accomplished what few others could.”
She bolted from the car like I was toe fungus and walked a step ahead of me through the parking lot while light snowflakes dropped from above. There were a few in her auburn hair that made her look angelic.
“Levi, we’re finding a restaurant in here and sitting at separate tables so I don’t have to look at your face.”
It felt good. “Quick question. Is this your mood just now or like always?”
She laughed. “Well, Levi, I’m in a I’d like to set someone’s face on fire and put it out with a fork kinda mood.”
I chuckled. “So that’s just tonight?”
Her hand flew into the air. “Did you ever just see someone and think yes, this is the night I’ll be arrested for assault?”
We stepped inside the lodge with soaring ceilings and people everywhere. There were several Christmas trees filled with an obscene amount of lights, green wreaths hanging on the walls, and several seating areas with burgundy sofas and stately brown leather chairs.
Mahogany floors ran under foot and marble pillars in the distance screamed we’d arrived where the whole town wanted to be. There was a large wall of windows ahead of us showcasing the mountains, snowy trees, and ski lifts. The vibe of the whole place was Holiday Vacation.
We checked our coats at the door, and I followed her into a dimly lit bar where a woman in her late twenties stood. “Welcome, two?”
Allie shook her head. “Oh God no, I’m not with him. Just one.”
The hostess’s eyes darted between us. “Okay, please follow me.”
She was seated at a small table to the right of the bar, while my sad seat was a few tables over. I glanced at the menu and did the only thing I could; order a thick steak, side of mashed, and a Miller Lite.
As I drank my beer and waited for my chow, my attention wouldn’t leave her. With a flick of her wrist she brushed away a stray curl from her face while her pink pouty lips were strangling me. She was literally the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen; then and now.
Her sunny smile appeared and punched me in the gut as the waitress took her order.
The one I’d spent countless hours dreaming about as I sat staring and obsessing like a crazed stalker.
It was then she noticed my gaze and immediately hopped to the seat across from her, so my view was now of the back of her head.
Still good.
The waitress set a margarita in front of her. Oh how I wanted to lick the salt from her lips. Yes, I’m the definition of what gives men a bad name. Sue me.
I finished dinner and my beer when my pulse spiked as a guy who was at the bar a second ago, was now seated at her table.
But this was okay, I couldn’t blame him, and I knew it was cool.
But when she slurped down her margarita in record time and threw her head back and laughed, I realized this was not okay.
The guy said something to her and exited. As bad of an idea it was, I walked to her table. “Are you ready to go?”
She looked over and her flushed cheeks confirmed she still wasn’t a big drinker. “No, I’m not ready. You just go over there, or I’ll take an Uber back.”
“You’re in a bar with a stranger. We both know what happens when you drink.”
Giggles. “You don’t know me anymore. I’m a grown up now. Please go away.”
“I know me being here is a problem—”
“Well, the answer to this problem may not be at the bottom of this margarita glass, but I’m going to be checking it hard.”
“You have a concussion.”
Her eyes rolled. “A minor concussion. My headache is gone and it’s none of your business anyway.”
“It’s not good for you—”
Instantly she reached into her purse, pulled out her magic eight ball, and shook it. “Do I give a shit what stupid Levi thinks about anything?” Her eyes looked into the little triangle window. “It says fuck no.”
“It does not.”
“Does too.” She set it on the table.
“No it doesn’t.”
She dramatically held it out and sure as shit she was right. “Huh, I—”
“Don’t know anything?” She crossed her arms over her perfect chest. “Bye bye now.”
“Alcohol isn’t good for you—”
“There are a lot of things that haven’t been good for me, and I pulled through just fine.” Her eyes narrowed. “You can go now.”
“I’ll wait at my table.”
“Words cannot express how much I don’t care.”
It felt as good as a swift kick to the balls.
By the time I reached my table dumbass had returned with a second margarita in hand for Allie who was now clapping her hands.
He was loud and clearly a little trashed.
He plopped down and stared at her while he downed a drink, and I suddenly didn’t know how this evening wouldn’t end without him going through a wall.