Chapter 12 #2
“How’s my boy?” I ponder as I sidle up next to her, JJ on my other side as Levi slips in next to Cole. “I miss that little fluff ball.”
“He’s the best,” Blue replies, immediately reaching for her phone to show me a few pictures. “I can’t believe how big he’s gotten, though. He takes up half my bed.”
I laugh as she shows me proof. “Welcome to my world.”
“You need to let me watch him sometime,” JJ says from my right, leaning in so we can hear her better. “I think I’d be up there for his favorite aunt.”
Blue’s eyes narrow playfully. “I will have you know that title is strictly reserved for me.”
“Not for long,” JJ quips back, a smile tugging at her lips. “I make the best treats. Last time I checked, you almost burned down your kitchen trying to make cookies.”
“Hey,” Blue snaps back quickly, pointing her finger at JJ, but I see the twinkle in her eye. “Cookies are hard, okay? It’s not my fault that the recipe wasn’t clear.”
RJ laughs as I bite into my knuckles to keep mine at bay. Levi’s eyes are bouncing between the two of them, a slight arch to his brow. “Because why wouldn’t you think that forty-three minutes in the oven was accurate?”
I burst out laughing this time as Blue makes a distressed sound. “I told you guys, there was a smudge on the container.”
Everyone is laughing now except for Levi, who looks between all of us with a confused expression. I rest a hand on Blue’s arm and take a sip of my drink before turning to him.
“Blue was never the competitive type until JJ came along,” I state, but then I tilt my head. “Actually, I take that back. She was never overly competitive until JJ came along.”
“Careful,” Blue hums as she elbows me gently. “Or else I might think my competitiveness actually annoyed you over the years.”
I rest a hand on my chest and widen my eyes. “Oh, never.”
Blue pushes me playfully as laughter echoes around the table. We talk for another few minutes, us girls poking fun at the boys before they decide to drag us to the dancefloor. It seems like an hour has passed before I feel parched, deciding it is time to go rehydrate.
“I’m going to go grab a drink,” I announce to the group before I maneuver my way through the throng on the dance floor to get back to our table.
Reaching for my half-finished beer, I take a swig and dig through my purse for my phone. When I click the screen on, I freeze, my eyes scanning the three missed calls and five text messages.
Heather
I just got a call from Claire. I’m going to pick her up now.
She didn’t tell me what happened, just that she wanted to go home.
Package secured.
She seems okay, don’t worry. I’m taking her back to my place for the night.
She doesn’t want you to worry or ‘ruin your night’… but I wanted you to know. She’s in excellent hands, don’t worry. I got things here.
I slam my drink back down on the table and shove my phone in my purse, frantically swinging it over my shoulder before I make a beeline for the exit without saying a word to my friends or Levi.
Why didn’t she call me? That is the only thing that is running through my mind. Claire calls me for everything, always. Have I been giving her the impression lately that I was too busy for her? And if I have, what kind of mother does that make me?
I finally reach the main doors and push them open, stepping out into the downpour.
The rain drenches me instantly, my shirt sticking to me like a second skin and my hair plastered to my face and neck.
I glance up and down the street, looking for a cab but come up empty.
Just as I turn to head back to work to go get my car, I hear someone call my name behind me.
“Lowe, wait,” Levi calls out as he comes running over to me, his white shirt now completely soaked, and even in my panicked state, I still notice the way his dress shirt clings to his abs. “What’s wrong?”
“I just—I need to go, I’m sorry,” I spit out as I walk backwards, wanting so desperately to get to my car and go get my daughter.
Levi follows me, a concerned expression covering his face. “Talk to me. What’s going on? Did something happen?”
“Levi,” I start to say, stopping my escape to fully look at him. “Something came up and I just need to go, okay? I’ll call you later.”
“Marlowe,” he says a little more firmly, closing the space between us.
As he reaches for me though, I back away slightly and I don’t miss the hurt expression that briefly crosses his expression.
“You don’t need to tell me, but at least let me drive you.
You don’t seem in the right state of mind to be driving right now. ”
All that’s running through my head is Claire. How my daughter called her nanny instead of her mother to get her from a sleepover because she didn’t want to ruin my night. As if she didn’t come first and foremost. And with that thought in my head, I snap.
“My god, will you stop being so nice all the damn time? I really appreciate what you’re doing, I do, but can you please just let me go?”
“Lowe—”
“Just stop,” I practically yell, and I see him flinch. “I don’t need your help. What I need is to go get my daughter.”
The second the words leave my mouth, my eyes fall shut and my hand stops in midair from my wild gesturing. I take a deep breath, letting my hands fall to my hips before I risk a glance at Levi’s face.
His expression doesn’t hold any anger or frustration or disdain, but I wouldn’t say he looks excited or happy, either. Although, if I’m being honest, I can’t read his expression at all. And that? That sends me rambling.
“I’m sorry,” I say as I pace in front of him. “This is not how I wanted you to find out. I hate myself for not telling you sooner. I’ve been making myself so sick over this, and while this isn’t how I wanted this to happen, I can’t pretend I’m not relieved you finally know.”
I run a hand down my face. “God, I knew I should’ve said something. It was unfair of me to keep this from you, to lie to you this way. Although, it was more omitting the truth, but that’s still just as bad and I wouldn’t blame you if you hated me and didn’t want to see me anymore.”
“Lowe—”
“I was so caught up in how I felt that I neglected to tell you one of the most important things about me. Because she really is. My daughter is the most important thing in my life. I’m sorry that I never told you about her or gave you the chance to decide for yourself before you got so wrapped up with me. ”
“Marlowe—”
“But if you want to walk away, I totally understand and I swear I won’t hold it against you—”
Before I continue word vomiting, Levi quickly closes the gap between us. I startle at his approach, the words fading off my lips when he grips my face between his hands, and the next thing I know, his lips are on mine.
It’s brief, just a quick, firm peck, one I think was meant to shut me up. He pulls back just enough to look me in the eye, and I freeze for a moment, caught up in the realization that Levi just kissed me.
For the first time.
In the rain.
After I told him about the existence of my daughter in probably the worst way possible.
My hands wind around his neck, and before I can think better of it, I pull him down to me. I crash my mouth back to his, our lips moving in sync as he slips his hands into my wet, knotted hair.
I push myself up onto my toes, deepening the kiss as he angles my head, sinking into it. My hands slip down to grip his neck before sliding to his shoulders, not wanting to be the one to break the kiss first.
Because let’s be honest, every girl dreams of being kissed in the rain like this.
Levi presses one last kiss to my lips before pulling back slightly, resting his forehead against mine as we both catch our breath. When I open my eyes, I see him already staring at me; the rain dripping down his nose and eyelashes with a soft pink tint to his cheeks.
“Let me know when you get home safely, okay?”
I startle, pulling back a little more so I can get a good look at him as I search his expression. “That’s it? That’s all you have to say?” Levi just nods. “I mean, you’re not scared or mad at me or anything?”
“I’m the furthest thing from upset,” he reassures me as he slides one of his hands to cup my cheek, his thumb gently caressing my wet skin. “I completely understand why you didn’t tell me, and I will not fault you for any of it. And no, I’m not scared. I’m not going anywhere, Lowe.”
“You make it sound so simple,” I grumble, and he chuckles softly. “You sound so sure, like this isn’t actually extremely goddamn complicated.”
Levi gives me a soft smile, his blue eyes never leaving mine. “It’s only complicated if you make it. From where I’m standing, it’s actually quite simple. Now, are you sure you don’t need a ride?”
I look at him, really look at him, and all I see is genuine sincerity in his eyes, and I can’t help it as my throat clenches.
How can one man be so understanding and sweet?
How can someone be so chill and unbothered by something as big as I just told him?
Most men would run for the hills after this revelation.
But as I’m quickly starting to realize, Levi isn’t most men.
“Yeah,” I finally reply with a small shake of my head. “I’m sure. Thank you, though, really.”
“Let me at least walk you back to your car,” he says, putting some distance between us as he drops his hands from my face, but he reaches for my hand. “Can’t exactly go back inside looking like this.”
I can’t stop the laugh that bubbles out of me, noticing how his shirt is basically nonexistent now and his pants might as well be painted on. I risk a glance down at myself and realize I’m not better off, but at least I wore a dark shirt today, so my bra isn’t on display for everyone to see.
“Okay,” I whisper as he gives my hand a squeeze.
And with that, we walk in comfortable silence back to the parking garage, in the pouring rain, hand in hand.