Chapter 21 #2
Andrew laughs as Tiffany smiles beside him.
Oh no.
“What are you gonna do? Hit me?” Andrew taunts him, and I see Levi’s back moving, caused by his heavy breaths. “Don’t be such a pussy, Levi.” His hands turn into fists, and I move in his direction, but Jake beats me to the punch.
He taps his best friend’s back, and Levi flinches. “He’s not worth it. Stevie doesn’t want this.”
I exhale loudly as he allows Jake to steer him back in our direction.
“Enjoy my sloppy seconds,” my ex-boyfriend yells, and I straighten my lips at the unoriginal diss. “Stevie was always a prude. I doubt she’s even sucked your—”
Andrew isn’t able to finish his sentence as Levi knocks him so hard, he falls on his ass and practically screeches.
My mouth hangs wide open while Cam and Jake hold Levi back from doing any more damage.
Shit, shit, shit. This could get Levi into so much trouble. He was the first one to throw a hit, and I know Andrew holds grudges. If anything, he made it more apparent tonight.
Jake is still calming Levi down as I make my way to a now whining Andrew and muster up all the remaining confidence I have in the world. Tiffany attempts to comfort him, but he pushes her away. His girlfriend sees me, yet doesn’t make a move, looking past me to who I assume are Kamila and Emma.
Jake speaks up as I lean down. “Get away from him, Stevie.”
“Believe it or not, there are some things I can handle myself.” And I know how to handle my ex-boyfriend.
Andrew spares a glance at me. “I’m going to the cops, and your boyfriend will be arrested.”
I shake my head and put on the sweetest smile I can muster. “No, you aren’t.”
He raises a brow, now holding his bleeding nose. “And why the fuck not?”
Leaning in so only he can hear me, I make sure that I’m far away enough from his hands in case he decides to make a move.
But I know he won’t. Andrew might’ve called me a prude; still, he’s never laid a finger on a woman.
“You see that man over there? The one with the dirty blond hair? His dad owns one of the biggest media corporations in the world and has the entire police department here wrapped around his finger.” His eyes widen slightly.
“And he’d do anything for his best friend, and I mean anything.
In fact, hey, Jake, Kami?” I call without taking my eyes off Andrew.
They both kneel next to me. “Yeah?”
Tilting my head, I smile once again at my pathetic ex-boyfriend and his girlfriend. He looks so small and weak. He always was, it just took me a long time to notice. “Kami, would you mind bringing Em and escorting Tiffany away for us to have a private conversation?”
“You have no right to do that,” my former friend says in a small voice.
Kami and Em only have to stand a little closer to her, and she backs away, taking Cameron’s earlier threat seriously.
Once it’s only Jake, Andrew, and me, I explain what I need from him.
“Andrew here wants to know what will happen if he tells the police about Levi. He didn’t seem to believe me when I told him that you know the head of the police department, or that you would do anything for your best friend.
” Andrew wisely keeps his mouth shut. “So, I’ll leave you two to have a nice conversation. ”
Jake’s mouth widens into a menacing grin. “Will do.”
I stand and hide my shaking hands by stuffing them into my pants pockets. The brave face and threatening tone I had put on are completely gone now, and my regular self is slowly reeling back in. But I know that the situation is handled.
“He won’t be a problem,” I tell Levi and Cam.
As soon as I return to where Andrew is still sitting, Jake stands. “I’m glad we agree.” He saunters back to us. “It’s handled.”
Tiffany takes off as soon as Andrew manages to stand. They give me a dirty look before disappearing into the night.
A long exhale leaves me. Thank God that’s done.
Looking at the group, I thank them profusely for the backup. Levi grunts a quick thanks and takes off to the apartment.
What the shit?
I walk fast, attempting to catch up to where he is.
“Hey, Levi, wait.” No response. “Levi.” Still nothing. “Levi, stop!” I yell. It’s loud and stern enough to catch his attention. “Do not ignore me when I’m talking to you, goddammit.” He keeps his head down. Is he mad? Sad? I’m so confused. “Why are you upset?”
He shakes his head.
My breaths become shallow as I grow impatient. “Levi, talk to me, please.” Silence. “So what? I have to yell now to get your attention, is that it?” Still nothing. Fine, so be it. “What the heck is making you so upset?!”
He looks at me, confused. “You heard what Andrew said.”
“Of course I did.” My voice rises a couple of octaves. Is he taking his anger out on me now?
He shrugs. “There’s your answer.”
Scoffing and knowing him better than he thinks I do, I don’t let it go. “No, there’s more to it.” I cross my arms, waiting to hear the words that haven’t been said, whatever it is that he’s holding back.
“Stevie…” He trails off. “Not now.”
I move closer to him. “Talk to me.”
He looks at me for a second, then another. In the blink of an eye, his arms wrap around my waist, his lips are on mine, hungry, seeking, but I push him away. I won’t let myself get distracted or allow him to use whatever this is to take out his frustration.
My voice drops, and tears spring to my eyes as the aggravation builds.
“Tell me what is going on. Don’t believe that I don’t know that was to distract me and you.
” He hesitates, and for the first time, I see pity in his eyes.
My tears turn into ones of anger. “Be a man and tell me!” His jaw tics. “Say it!”
“You had to save me after I fucked up!” he shouts at the top of his lungs, startling me.
“Is that what you want to hear?” He throws his arms up.
“Goddammit, Stevie. I lost my fucking temper, and you and Jake had to save my ass.” He looks me in the eye.
“All I wanted to do was protect you from him and his words. He treated you like shit for months, and then you had to talk to him for me.”
I stare at him, not moving. The thumps against my chest startle me, and it feels as though my heart is going to fall out of my chest. “And you’d do that for any of your friends?”
Levi most definitely didn’t expect that question, as his cheeks redden. “Yes, that’s exactly it—”
I stomp my foot. “Do you take me for an idiot?”
He shakes his head. “No, never—”
“So say it, Levi. Tell me what you’re truly feeling right now.” I cross my arms. “Unless I’ve got it all wrong.”
His eyes sharpen. “You don’t.” My shoulders tense. “I’ve been a mess all day because of you.” He turns and bows his head. “It’s been so long since I’ve…” He trails off again, causing me to grind my teeth.
Nerves bubble up in my stomach at a rapid pace at his partial confession. I’m going to be sick.
Hold on, that’s not nausea.
“You don’t understand, Stevie.” Levi paces near a storefront.
I wrap a hand around my throat. “Levi,” I whisper, wanting to apologize for making him admit something he didn’t have to, but my body isn’t allowing me to.
He rubs his forehead, clearly not having heard me. “All I saw was red, and I can’t get my thoughts straight. I’ve always been overly protective of people I…that I…”
Shit. “Levi,” I whisper again, a bitter taste filling my mouth.
He scoffs. “I’m already territorial, and we’ve barely done anything in the bedroom.”
He turns to me, and whatever expression on my face must catch his attention. Levi sprints to me. “Do you feel one coming on? Is it an aura? What do you need?”
Attempting not to cry in embarrassment at the timing of my condition, I ask him to open my bag and take my emergency pill out.
He quickly looks for the small, round, white pill that takes any auras away.
“It’s not here.” He digs deeper, except there isn’t much to dig through.
Tapping his shoulder, I gently tell him that I must’ve forgotten it. I’m trying to keep myself calm, to keep him calm, and not escalate these damn auras. They still haven’t gone past the bitter taste and slight headache, but I need to get to the meds before my right leg starts to jerk.
Turning his face to me, I say, “Carry me to the apartment? I’m not sure when my leg will start jerking.”
Levi doesn’t hesitate when he loops my bag around his arm and scoops me up, like he did the night we first kissed.
“Don’t pass out on me, Bambi.” His voice is smooth and calm, the opposite of how it’s been for the past hour, but the worry is evident in his eyes. I feel the compulsive need to soothe him and tell him I’m okay, we’re okay…only, I’m not.
“It’s going to be okay,” he says, as if reading my mind. “We’re almost there.”
My legs remain still as he walks me up the stairs in smooth strides. He unlocks the door in one swift move and doesn’t bother to take anything off before laying me down on the couch.
I point to my bedroom, where I most likely left the bottle. Levi is in and out in two seconds flat, grabbing a bottle of water and giving me both the pill and an open drink.
Gulping down the small bitter pill, my right leg begins to twitch slightly. By the way I’m feeling, I know this is as far as it’ll go. I’m well-controlled with my medications, and the one I took will put everything to a complete stop in a couple of minutes.