Chapter 52
FIFTY-TWO
ALLIE
OH MOTHER TRUCKER
Shit, shit, and shit!
“I can totally fly by the seat of my pants sometimes.” I dramatically threw my fist in the air. “Yup, that’s why I got it.” My nodding was rapid. “I saw that tattoo parlor and said, Allie, get your ass in there. It’s time to live a hell yeah life. Am I right, or am I right?”
Lexi shot me a that’s bullshit stare, and I wanted to disappear down the hot tub drain. “Enough about me. Emily, how are you doing? Big day is almost here.” I reached into the water and grabbed her hand. “Tell us every single emotion you’re feeling right now.”
“Turns out there’s nothing like planning a wedding to make you want to punch every person you’ve ever met in the throat.” She gave a nod. “Not you guys, of course.”
Travis hopped out and grabbed a towel. “I wanted to sneak off to the Virgin Islands if you remember correctly.” He winked. “But your choice was a splashy affair, but I’m sure it’ll be great.”
She blew him a kiss. “Oh, don’t question my choices; you were one of them, buddy.”
Kristina laughed. “The wedding will be beautiful.”
Emily leaned her head back. “I keep telling myself to put those big girl panties on and shut up. But I’ve really been debating on hopping into my ass kicker boots and messing some folks up. My mother is driving me nuts, and I’m a little pissed.”
“Again, or still?” Evan ran and jumped into the pool and laughter echoed around the room while Will, Royce, and Lexi followed him.
Everybody was getting out when Evan came up behind Levi and put his finger over his lips. In his hand was a big bucket filled with water. A second later he dumped it on Levi as more laughter filled the space.
“Dick!” Levi hopped out and dropped his wet towel to the ground and grabbed another on the table behind him while he chatted with Evan. My mind screamed as my eyes landed on his new tattoo. I held my breath hoping it would be covered soon as he dried himself off.
“Oh my gosh.” Lexi spoke quietly.
I follow her stare to the new infinity art on the perfect arm of Levi. Uh-oh.
Rachel stood. “I’m going to get some snacks.”
She, Kristine, and Emily didn’t notice and walked toward the door while Lexi stood up. Her eyes cut me as she leaned in close and whispered.
“You two got a matching tattoo? Together?”
“It’s not a big deal. I was a little drunk and—”
Her head dropped back. “You were drunk with Levi? This is so bad.”
“It’s not. We got a tattoo, no biggie, and I want you to shut your face about this.”
I climbed out, grabbed a towel, and headed to my room. No sooner had I closed the door than the hot one sprung inside, closed the door behind him, and yanked me to his chest.
“I have to kiss you right this very second.” His lips brushed against mine. “The guys are playing stupid poker and Evan is making me join so I don’t think I’ll be able to sneak over later.”
I kissed his cheek. “I’ll see you in the morning then.”
His hands on my arms made me tingly and my heart beat in triple time.
He brushed aside a whisp of my hair as he green eyes made me want to lock him in the room forever and ever.
My breathing stopped for a second as his warm lips were on mine.
A restless burning ache spread through my tummy and heated my skin.
I wiggled against him and pulled him closer as my pulse spiked. I didn’t want him to leave or even move an inch. He should be in my room all night to provide me every bit of lusty pleasure I could ever hope for.
A little whimper escaped when he broke the kiss and grinned down at me with victory in his eyes, knowing he was still triumphant when it came to heating me up. My cheeks grew hot knowing he could read me like a book.
“Sleep well.”
I nodded as he disappeared out the door.
I got ready for bed and headed to the kitchen to get a glass of chocolate milk.
I’m a firm believer in the fact that behind every successful woman is a butt load of chocolate.
Yes, money can’t buy happiness, but it can by chocolate which is kind of the same thing.
I was about to enter but stopped around the corner when I heard my name rolling off of Lexi’s lips, and I took a peek to find the kitchen table full of poker chips and cards but only Lexi and Will were seated at the table while Levi stood with his back toward me.
“Levi, thanks for today. Well, for yesterday too.” She shrugged. “You’ve kind of kept us out of jail twice.”
“You know I’d do anything for her. Then and now.”
My pulse ticked up at his words.
“Since we’re all here, I just want to clear the air. I know I was out of control with Allie in the past. All I wanted to do was love her, but we all know how that ended.”
Will’s voice oozed anger. “We’re not talking about this, Dawson.”
Levi’s voice was low and quiet. “Your words at the hospital tore me apart. Saying I would’ve held her back. We all know she has that amazing intelligence, and you convinced me I’d fuck up her future.”
My stomach squished into a ball.
Will’s voice was quiet. “You did the right thing when you let her go.”
“You never gave her the letter.”
Silence.
“You made me a promise. I said the only way I’d leave that hospital was if you gave her the letter, but you never did.” Levi’s head shook. “I should’ve never fucking trusted you.”
My brain felt like my junk drawer being dumped onto a trampoline. A letter?
“She needed a fresh break.”
“Maybe from the eighteen-year-old me, but not when I came back for her every year on our anniversary. The letter told her I’d be at our spot if she wanted us. She was everything, she was my wife.”
“Stop saying that,” Will hissed.
“I should’ve just gone after her regardless of you. That letter was the explanation she’s never had. She thought I just left her there and never contacted her again. How could you let her think that?”
My jaw hit the floor and bounced a few times as my temples began to throb.
“She’s moved on.”
“Did she? Because her kisses tell me otherwise.”
Will’s hand hit the table. “Back the fuck off.”
“Every day I fought myself to not get into my truck and come for her. I thought she read my letter and didn’t want me back.
The only way I wasn’t going to go to her was to move to a different continent.
I did that because I believed she wanted to let it all go.
” I looked into the room to see his head shake.
“Do you know how many times I was packed to come back? She was all I thought of.”
“Don’t kid yourself, it would’ve never worked.”
“I finished college and have a good life and career now. I didn’t have your respect back then, and I didn’t deserve it. But I’ve earned that now. I’ve fucking earned it.”
A quick peek showed Lexi looking thoughtfully at Levi. “I think we can agree you have, Levi.”
“Thank you.”
I took a step away when Will cleared his throat.
“Clint loves her. I’m asking you to stay away, Levi.”
“I know what you’re asking.”
I heard his feet, and I quickly disappeared into the coat closet as my brain tried to wrap around the conversation that included all the missing puzzle pieces. He’d written me and said the words I longed to hear for what felt like an eternity. The explanation that never was.
He’d come back every year on our anniversary?
My heart was skipping beats which I was pretty sure could kill me, while my feet were rooted in the closet as my stomach weaved itself into a French braid.
All the blank spaces were suddenly filled.
There was a confirmed answer. An explanation for the chunk of my heart that had been missing for so long.
I stayed in the dark closet until I was certain everyone had left the kitchen, and I was a mess. I needed to resuscitate my brain. I dug deep for a pep talk.
Look at you. You’re not a total mess. Being awake and stuff like that. You’re tucked away in a closet not even stabbing Will right now. You deserve a coffee for being a magnificent little sunbeam.
I finally exited the closet and bolted into the bathroom. Yeah, sometimes in life you just vomit.
Once I’d seen my last meal in reverse, not recommended, I tip toed back to my room.
I locked my door and plopped onto the bed.
I buried my face in the pillow searching for his scent.
Memories zipped through me of being held against the shower wall while he touched me like only he could.
Where my name mixed with cursing as he reminded me what it could be like to be owned by him.
Because I kind of always had been. My heart was cocooned in warmth.
He’d written me. He’d come back for me every year on our anniversary. He thought I didn’t want him.
My family had taken the reins of destiny and sent me in a different direction.
Even through the pissiness I felt toward Will, I was floating.
Yeah, I’d kill him later. I was literally bursting with joy.
Ecstatic was the only word to describe what was bubbling through my veins.
I kicked my feet against the bed while I screamed into my pillow.
He had wanted me. He’d always wanted me. So was it safe to assume he still wanted me even though he’d stated clearly as a train derailment that we were only a closure thing? Maybe he was just saying that?
I heard a ping and looked over to see Levi had dropped his phone when he popped into my room.
I hopped up, grabbed it, and held it in my hands ready to get it back to him.
The case was smooth, shiny, and felt good in my hands.
Of course everyone has a screen lock code, but I wondered if he had a screensaver.
Although I was alone, I locked the door and pulled the curtains closed.
I ran my finger over the screen and a rustic trail surrounded by trees and water popped up.
It was beautiful. I bet it was a Brazilian path where he where he runs.
Yes, his bare chest would glisten in the sunlight as his muscly body jogged along causing gasps and horniness from passing tourists. Sigh.