Chapter 50
Levi sat in his office. He rubbed his temples, thankful for the slow night. Jon had let him know about Alicia’s visit. After Jon assured him she was gone and hadn’t tried to start anything, his mind wandered to how she had known where they lived. He knew their home wasn’t a secret, and most of Derecho probably knew they had moved into Gus’s house. There was something eating at him, though. Some might call it distrust. He preferred to think he was just protecting his family.
James slipped into the office. A tepid knock was the only warning. “You wanted to see me?”
“I did. Your ex is causing trouble.”
James smiled. “Which one?”
Levi scowled. “You know damn well which one.”
“How is that my problem? I haven’t talked to her since that phone call from your living room. You were there.”
“She showed up at the house unannounced this evening.”
James raised an eyebrow. “You think I told her where y’all live? Dude. I didn’t. Like I said, I haven’t seen or spoken to her. If you remember, we didn’t exactly part on good terms.”
Levi scowled. “Neither did we, yet here you are.”
James shook his head. Levi thought he heard a chuckle. “Nope, but you never treated me like shit, and I did you wrong. But I’m a new man now. I’ve got Jeff, and I’ve even reached out to Gloria to apologize.”
Levi leaned back and smiled. “How did that go?”
“A delightful conversation with her voicemail. I’ve not heard anything since, but I tried.”
“I was going to shoot you, so she’s dealing with it better than I did. Though you were standing in my bar. She gets the benefit of ignoring your calls. In fact, I’d bet it’s therapeutic for her.”
James dropped his head. “Do you believe me about Alicia? If you don’t, what’ll it take? I don’t want to fuck up everything I’ve got going for me, so just tell me and I’ll do whatever it takes to prove to you I’m not bullshitting?”
“I believe you. You’re trying too hard to stay on my good side to do that. You may be a dumbass, but you’re not an idiot. Besides, I doubt she’d ask you for a damn thing. I’d actually wager you coming out messed with her head more than Jon’s. I don’t want to know, but I figure you’d slept with her.”
James cleared his throat. “Thanks. I think.” He paused. “I know you Levi, but I just want to make sure I’m certain. Do you believe me because you trust me, or because you know she’s a bitch?”
Levi flashed a sly smile. “Well, she is a bitch. But I will say I think I’ve come a long way towards trusting you again. You can thank Jon for that. He’s the one who gave you a chance. If it were up to me, you would’ve been kicking rocks.”
James cracked a slight smile and nodded. “I get it. I’ve tried to see everything from your point of view, and I can’t. How have you been able to stay so calm? Hell, I want to kick my own ass.”
Levi sighed. “That’s all Jon. I think for the last decade I’ve been stuck. Not growing, not changing. Since he moved in, I’ve felt more alive than I ever have. I’ve felt like me. I don’t know how to explain it beyond that.”
James smiled. “I think I get it. So, it started after he moved in?”
Levi bit his lip and closed his eyes. Had it been after Jon moved in? “I can’t believe we’re having this conversation, but I have to admit it was even before that. There was something about the way he was sneaking around and checking me out all night, trying to work up the nerve to say something. I couldn’t believe he was into me. With everything that happened the next day, I hadn’t really thought about.”
“Hadn’t thought about what?”
Levi sighed. He didn’t want to tell James any more than he needed to know. “When Jon and I talked over breakfast, I suspected Alicia was going to be a bitch about everything. I think that’s when I started feeling like I would do anything I could to protect him. Hell, deep down, I know I was denying it. You know as much as anyone that I don’t like letting people too close.”
James raised an eyebrow. “Breakfast? I thought y’all met here at the bar, and Alicia kicked him out the next morning.”
Levi chuckled. “You’re not getting any more out of me on that part of the story. But when Alicia kicked him out, I was waiting outside. He was going to go to the cheap motel. I wasn’t about to let that happen. I knew Gus couldn’t risk letting him stay upstairs like I did. We went to the lake so I could think.”
James chuckled. “I think I can piece the rest together. I have one question though. You’re really in love?”
“I am. I could see a future with him.”
“Do you think that Robbie guy’s going to be a problem?”
“Not a bit. I talked to him for a few minutes while we were cleaning up. He seems like a good kid who just went down the wrong path. If it hadn’t been for Gus, I might’ve ended up where he is now. I think he and Jon are up to something, though.”
“Any idea what?”
“I have an idea, but I won’t say any more.”
“Got it.” James turned to leave the office.
“One more thing. I think I’m going to talk to Gus about maybe spending the weekend in Galveston in the next month. Just me and Jon. Would you care to watch the bar?”
James spun around and smiled. “Levi, you may still act like you’re trying to trust me, but that question tells me you already do. Of course I’ll watch the bar.”
“Don’t get too far ahead of yourself. Gus would probably be here, too. You just get along with the computers better than he does.”