Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
LEVI
Penny: She’s on her way.
Levi: Thanks. Did she like your idea?
Penny: Loved it. She looks really happy, Posey, and I think a lot of that has to do with you.
Levi: Wow, are you actually saying something nice to me?
Penny: Stop it, you know I like you—even when you’re being Posey.
Levi: Well, thanks. I feel happy. She makes me happy.
Penny: I’m glad. When are you going to tell the boys?
Levi: Not yet. Once we figure out how to handle her dad, then I’ll tell the boys. They’re just too loud and obnoxious. I can’t let them in on anything just yet.
Penny: Better tell them soon. There’s only so much we can keep from our men.
Levi: I know. And I owe you queens big time.
Penny: Glad you see it that way. Have fun tonight.
Levi: Thanks, Penny.
I set my phone down and look around the living room one more time.
I set up a few blankets in front of the lit fireplace that casts a nice glow through the room.
And to add a touch more light, I set up candles throughout the living room—electric candles because I don’t need to burn down my apartment.
I chose to wear nothing but a pair of joggers because I know she likes it best when I’m shirtless.
And I packed a delicious dinner into a picnic basket that I set on the blankets.
During our short stint away, I kept thinking about what I could do next for her.
How I could woo her and show her that I deserve to be with her.
I can’t take her out in public right now, not until we tell Coach Wood, so I figured a date in the apartment would have to do.
With of course, a surprise at the end. And by surprise, I don’t mean my penis.
Shocking, I know.
But I planned this night to hopefully tell her how I’ve been feeling and see what she thinks about it all.
Am I a little nervous? Yes.
Terrified, actually. I’ve never dated much so this is all new to me.
I’m shuffling through this with the education built off romance I’ve gathered from observing my parents and their long-lasting marriage and anything I’ve picked up from movies or TV shows.
As well as the positive things my friends have done for their girls.
I’ve seen the little gestures, the way they talk to them, hold them, pay close attention to everything in their lives.
They’ve been good examples, even if they were slightly out of touch with solidifying the relationship—hence why they needed me.
But looking around, I feel like I have a good handle on everything, at least I hope I do.
I pace the living room, waiting for her to come home, which I know won’t take very long, given where she’s coming from. She doesn’t know that I’m home. She thinks I’m still at the arena. I told her I had to stay for a few team meetings, so this will be a total surprise.
After a few long, torturous moments of waiting, I finally hear the front door being unlocked and the door opens, revealing my girl in a pretty long-sleeved blue dress and heels.
When she spots me, she stutters for a second, shock on her face before her expression morphs into surprise and affection.
“Oh my God, you’re home,” she says as she sets her stuff down and comes up to me. Her hands go right to my pecs, just where I like them.
“Hey, baby,” I say before kissing her and sliding my arm around her waist. “Fuck, you smell good.”
She rubs my left pec as she says, “I’m so happy you’re back. Are you here for the night?”
“I am,” I say. “I’m all yours.”
She glances around, taking in the candles and the instrumentals Alexa is playing in the background. When her eyes focus on the fireplace and the picnic basket, she says, “Aw, did you set up a date for us?”
“I did.” I force her to look at me as I say, “I know I can’t take you out in public out of fear that your dad would find out, but I wanted to do something nice for you, so we’re having a picnic inside the apartment. Hopefully, that’s not too lame.”
She shakes her head. “Not at all, but could I possibly change real quick? I’m slightly overdressed.”
“I think you look amazing,” I say as I smooth my hands over her sides. “But if you want help getting changed, I can assist with that.”
She smiles up at me and takes my hand. “You know I always want help.” She guides me back to her old room where her clothes still are.
“We need to change this,” I say as we walk into the small bedroom. “We need to move your clothes to my closet. I have plenty of room.”
“You really want to do that?” she asks as she pulls one of my shirts out from where it’s folded in a drawer. “You don’t want to keep your space?”
My eyebrows knead together. “Space? I don’t want space from you. Do you want space?”
Her eyes meet mine. “No,” she says. “But I don’t want to encroach.”
“You’re not when I’m saying I want you there.”
“Hey,” she says, coming up to me and pressing her hand to my heart. “Don’t get upset. I just wanted to make sure you were ready for that.”
“If I wasn’t ready, I wouldn’t have suggested it. I want you fully in my life, Wylie. I don’t like this separation. I want you in our apartment, permanently there.”
Her smile grows wide as she unzips her dress on the side and slips it off, leaving her in nothing but a high-waisted thong and bra.
“I think I can get on board with that.”
I take her in as I place my hands on her hips. “Is this a new set?” I ask, running my fingers over the lace.
“It is,” she says. “Want me to keep it on?”
“Yeah,” I say, feeling all kinds of dizzy. “I do.”
“Consider it done,” she says as she slips my shirt over her head and lets it cover up her luscious body.
“Or maybe you lose the shirt,” I say.
She chuckles. “I’m not about to eat a meal in just my lingerie. I would do a lot of things for you, but that is not one of them.”
“Where’s the romance?” I tease.
“Here,” she says, slipping her hand down the front of my pants where she cups me.
I bend forward and let out a hiss as she works her fingers over my length right before removing her hand.
“Baby,” I say in frustration. “You can’t do that.” I stand tall and gesture to my dick. “It’s hard now.”
“Just the way I like it.” And like the tease she is, she takes my hand and leads me back toward the living room, me walking uncomfortably the entire time. “So tell me what you have set up for us.”
I clear my throat and bring her over to the blanket, where I pull her down with me. I open the picnic basket and pull out two plates, each with a bologna sandwich.
She laughs out loud and shakes her head at me. “Oh my God, Levi.”
“This is what our romance is built on.”
“What are you talking about?” she asks.
“That night, when I found out you were the one stealing my bologna in the stadium, that was the night I knew you were meant for me.”
“That’s . . . oddly romantic.”
I lean forward and kiss her lips before pulling back. Reaching into the basket, I pull out some champagne and glasses, as well as classic Lays.
“This is quite the meal,” she says, looking down at it, then her eyes meet mine. “I don’t think I could imagine anything else for our first date.”
I pop the champagne and pour us each a glass. I hold out the flute to her, and I hold mine up. I clink her glass with mine and say, “You mean a lot to me, Wylie.”
Her expression softens.
“And I wanted to have this night with you because you deserved a date, but also because I wanted to tell you that you make me really happy. Like happier than I ever thought I could be.”
“You make me happy too, Levi.”
I smile as my stomach churns. “I’m, uh, I’m glad.”
Her brow pulls together. “Are you okay? You seem nervous.”
“Yeah.” I gulp, then set my champagne down. I set hers down as well and take her hand in mine. “I’m just trying to say something to you, and I’ve never done it before.”
Her face brightens, and under the firelight, it’s the sweetest, most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. And for some reason, that settles the racing in my heart.
“I wanted to tell you that you make me really happy, Wylie, and these past few weeks, although complicated, have meant so much to me. And I know it’s because I’ve found someone who understands me, who matches me in energy, and who cares but challenges me at the same time.
I know it might be crazy, but from the night I first met you at the bar, I knew something was special between us.
Something I didn’t want to let go of.” I wet my lips and look her in the eyes.
“What I’m trying to tell you is that I’m in love with you, Wylie. ”
Her eyes well up as she moves in closer and sits on my lap. She cups my cheeks and gives me a soft yet full kiss. When she pulls away, she says, “I’m in love with you too, Levi.”
Relief flashes through me as joy erupts inside my chest. I wrap my arms around her and pull her in even closer. “Really?”
“Really,” she says. “How could I not when you’re everything I’ve ever needed in my life? The goofiness, the protectiveness, the sexiness, the encouragement. You’re so much more than I deserve, and I’m going to cling to you as long as you let me.”
I press my forehead to hers and sigh. “Fuck, I’m so glad to hear that. I was nervous you’d think it was too soon.”
“No,” she says, dragging her thumb over my jaw. “To me, it almost feels like we’ve known each other for a while.”
“Same,” I say as I play with the strap of her thong under her shirt. “Feels like you were made for me.” And then I drag her shirt up and over her head, leaving her in her lingerie set.
She smirks. “I thought I told you I didn’t want to eat in this.”
“You’re not eating. I am, babe,” I say before laying her down on the blanket. With a satisfied smile, she lets me peel off her thong before I spread her legs and make room for my large body.