Chapter 56
Levi sat in the courtyard and stared at the moon. Jon’s last text had said he was going to bed. He sighed. It was a slow night. So slow that had Jon not been in Galveston, he might have considered leaving James in charge and going home to spend time with his love.
The door opened. He could hear Jeff’s dulcet baritone cutting through the night. Footsteps approached, but he didn’t look up. He knew James was coming to check on him.
“Why don’t you go home? You need some rest. I know you were up early. Cate told me you were over there at like nine this morning.”
“When did you talk to her?”
“I stop in there for an espresso every day before they close. Started when I went to work for my asshole ex.”
Levi scowled. “You could go home then. Would an asshole let you have the night off?”
James flashed a sly smile and lit a cigarette. “Not a chance. Now, are you going to tell me what’s bothering you? And don’t try any of that ‘nothing’ bullshit. You had Jeff come visit the other day, and he refused to tell me what y’all talked about. He said it was between y’all and that if you wanted me to know, you would tell me.”
Levi grinned. “He’s a good kid. You better not fuck him over. Have you met his grandma yet?”
“God no. His mama scared the shit out of me with all her psychobabble. I ain’t superstitious, but I know that someone who trusts himself as little as I do shouldn’t fuck around with psychics.”
Levi looked at the man standing in front of him and nodded. “I get that. She might put a hex on you when she looked into your past, and since you’re dating her grandson, God help you if she doesn’t like your future.”
James let out an uncomfortable laugh. Levi cocked his head to the side. “You’re absolutely right. I don’t want to fuck up, but I don’t know that I trust myself not to, and I don’t want anybody in my head… just in case.”
“Did Cate tell you anything else?”
“Nope. She was acting weird, though. Why do I get the feeling everyone’s in on a secret that I’m not part of?”
Levi leaned back on the bench. Placing his hands on the back of his head, he let out a sigh. “Because they are. Jeff gave me the idea, but I made him promise not to tell anyone… even you. Cate was more unintended.”
James opened his mouth to protest. Levi glared at him.
“Let me finish. I’m going to propose to Jon next weekend in Galveston. When I talked to Jeff, I hadn’t fully committed to going through with it. I ran into Cate while I was waiting for the jewelry store to open. She read my intentions like a book.”
James stooped down, face to face with Levi. He smiled. “Congrats bud. You deserve to be happy, but I don’t know about having Alicia as a sister-in-law.”
“Jon’s done with his family. I’m the one pushing him to not close the door permanently, though. Can you believe that shit?”
James smiled. “Of course I can. I know you never told me exactly what happened between you and your mom, but I know that deep down there’s a part of you that wishes things had been different.”
“Maybe.” Levi looked towards the door. “It’s weird to say, but I think in the end I’m happy with how everything worked out. I mean, yeah, shit’s been hard. But if not for that happening, I would’ve never met Jon.”
James rolled his eyes and stood. “God, I think I liked you better when you were moody and brooding. This new sentimental Levi is going to take some getting used to.”
Levi laughed. “We should probably get back in there. If it hasn’t picked up by ten, I could probably let anyone who wants to head out early leave and just close up by myself. Jon’s at Gus’s and I am not looking forward to going home to an empty house.”
“Nah, I’ll stick around. Jeff’s here til closing anyway, so if nothing else, I’ll help.”
“I appreciate that.” Levi stood and made his way towards the door.
“Oh shit, I almost forgot. Did that woman ever call back?”
“What woman?”
“Some woman called here last night before you got here looking for you. I said you hadn’t made it in yet, but I’d be happy to take a message, but she just said she’d call back.”
“Weird. I’ve not had any calls. Guess it wasn’t important.”
James shrugged and walked past Levi. “Guess not. You coming?”
A cool wind pushed through the courtyard. Levi shuddered. “Yeah. I’m right behind you.”