Chapter 11 #2
Her head snaps up, and she smiles. “Since you decided to take a hiatus and fulfill your true calling as a beautiful-but-mighty princess.”
“Queen,” I whisper to her.
“Since you decided to take a hiatus and fulfill your true calling as a beautiful-but-mighty queen.”
“Well, that was nice of him.” I smirk, letting her know I appreciate her willingness to go along with my weird antics.
She points at me. “I shouldn’t have told you.”
“What?”
“Your face!”
“What about my face?”
“You’ve got that look in your eye.”
The elevator doors open, and a posh looking couple stands on the other side, staring at us. Raeann, holding on to Athena while she points at me, eyes crazy, and me, acting as innocent as can be.
We drop our fight, smiling politely, and navigate around them. “I have no look,” I tell her once we’re out of earshot.
“It was all dopey and lovestruck.”
“Would it be that bad?”
My stomach tumbles over itself as Raeann thinks. “Micah seems to believe so.”
“Would you really deny the beautiful-but-mighty queen her king?”
“Okay, I think we’re going overboard.”
The doorman sees us coming and directs us outside toward the waiting car. Athena hops in first, and then Raeann before me. I was only focused on the back door when we got in, but once settled, I spy how big it is. “Are we really in a limo?” I whisper-yell to Raeann.
“We really are.”
Athena hops off the seat and goes to a cabinet.
A piece of rope hangs from the handle, and she pulls it until it opens.
The next thing I know, she’s chowing down on something.
I’m about to get up to make sure she hasn’t gotten something she shouldn’t when it dawns on me. I snap my head toward Raeann.
“Yes, that’s her treat door.”
I dissolve into giggles. “Oh my God. How did we get here? One day, we were living a normal—.”
“Well…”
“Okay, partly normal life, and now suddenly we’re in a limo with a pet treat door heading toward Wildcats stadium where we’ll presumably be sitting in a catered suite watching a game that a few months ago, we really didn’t care about.”
“That last part is all you.”
“Oh, right. How is Pawpaw?”
“They’re fixing to come visit soon.”
“That’s wonderful. I can’t wait to see them.”
Athena noses the door closed, and then swats at it until it clicks.
She sits where she is, her lips pulling back and tongue lolling out of her mouth as if she’s so proud of herself.
Honestly, she should be. I’m sure not a lot of dogs can say they ride in limos.
To that point, I’m proud of myself, too. And Raeann.
I hook my arm through hers and lean against her. The truth is, my whole life changed when I met this girl. “We’ve done alright for ourselves.”
“Better than alright,” she muses. “Remember when we got our first order and we both cried?”
Her shoulders shake against mine as I chuckle along with her. “It’s a wonder how we even made that first sale.”
“I still sometimes get teary-eyed when our daily orders start printing.”
“I miss that,” I tell her, sighing. “That feeling of accomplishment because you know it’s a direct result of something you did. We used to try and guess where the orders were coming from. A social media post. Our ads.”
“God, I don’t think they ever came from our ads.”
“Me either.”
Raeann squeezes my arm. “I miss you being there, too. I think you should come back for good, but you have to promise me that you’ll know your limits.”
“I know my limits.”
The car starts to slow. Athena stands and shakes, and Raeann calls her over so she can straighten out her outfit again and grabs onto the leash. I’m convinced Athena doesn’t actually need a leash. It’s more for Raeann’s peace of mind.
The limo comes to a complete stop. Soon after, our door opens, and a hand comes into view. I grab it, and am met with a smiling Joey. “Hey!”
He gives me an awkward hug, but I get it. Everyone wants to make sure they’re not going to hurt me. “How are you feeling?” he asks.
“Feeling…good,” I tell him with a smile. It’s actually been a while since I could say that and actually mean it.
Next, Raeann and Athena appear, and Joey quickly holds his hand out to her. Micah would probably fire him if he didn’t.
“Mrs. Freeman,” he says.
“Oh, good lord,” I announce, laughing. “Not you, too.”
Raeann quickly butts in. “What are you doing here?”
“Levi hired me for the night to make sure the both of you were well taken care of. I have to admit, it’s a refreshing change.”
“Oh, God, you can’t leave Micah. Please don’t,” she begs.
He shrugs all non-committal like, but that’s Joey.
“But if you do,” I add. “You know you’re coming to Pet Threads first.”
He winks at me. “This way, my dears.”
We follow him through hallways and in and out of elevators until finally, he brings us through a door.
If it’s not the same suite we were in before, they all must be alike.
The upper section is filled with tables that now host appetizers on bar tops and bar seating.
Beyond that, there are steps down into the viewing area with plush seats.
Raeann lets Athena roam. There’s even a Pet Threads dog bed in the corner, and I spy another rope coming off a handle right next to it that is no doubt more treats for her if she wants them. Man, this dog has it made.
The crowd noise pulls me closer to the seating area, and my stomach tightens.
I understand social anxiety because of Raeann, but experiencing it is a different thing.
A cold, creepy crawly feeling slithers up my spine.
It’s as if all of these people could look around at any time and see my scars right through my shirt.
It doesn’t matter that it’s a completely ridiculous notion, it still sits there, heavy on my heart.
“Aww, Tab, come look.”
Turning, I drift back over to the tables and when Raeann shifts out of the way, a humongous flower arrangement appears. “That’s pretty!” I bump my hip into hers. “That Micah is always outdoing himself.”
She shakes her head. “It’s for you. Look.”
I follow her finger pointing to the card. It reads, The Wildcats welcome Miss Tabitha Riley to the stadium. Best wishes. “Well, that’s so nice.”
The arrangement boasts dyed flowers that match the Wildcats colors and white accent buds interspersed amongst green filler. It’s absolutely stunning.
I pick a few veggies from the veggie tray, dip them in ranch, and toss them in my mouth. I’m still chewing when my phone buzzes. Without thinking, I pull it out of my purse and check the message.
“How’d you get a phone?”
Raeann’s voice makes me still. Wow, I’m super stealth…and apparently, very forgetful. I peek up. “The internet.”
“Same number?”
Honestly, I hadn’t even looked. It didn’t matter because I’ve only been talking to one person.
“You know…” I say as I search through the phone.
“I don’t think I could figure out how to keep it so I think…
” I’m pressing buttons trying to find it until finally, it appears on my screen. “Yeah, new number.”
She peeks over my shoulder, and I angle it toward her so she can update my contact information. Afterward, I peek at the text:
Levi: The real note for the flowers is on the back of the card.
I smile at my phone. I really thought the Wildcats had put them here for me. Just then, the door to the suite opens and more people arrive. I peek up briefly to find Raeann’s other friends walking in. While she’s occupied, I take the card and turn it around.
Tab,
It means a lot to me that you’re at my game. I’m honored to have a beautiful woman cheer me on. When I score, pay attention.
Can’t wait to see you after the game.
Love,
Levi
“Tab!” Briar, the quarterback’s wife, is walking toward me, so I slip the note into my back pocket. “It’s so good to see you out. How are you doing?”
“All things considered, pretty good.” Isn’t life always better when you’re being pursued by a ten out of ten on the hotness scale?
I’ll give Raeann’s friends credit, none of them look at me funny or attempt to see my burns.
I told Raeann before, they’re a nice bunch.
I’m so glad she found them. As the start of the game gets closer, no one else shows.
The suite is so big for the half a dozen or so of us.
The last time we were here, there were way more people in the suite. It was almost full.
I have a feeling Levi had something to do with this.
Every single person in this suite, I’ve met before.
There wouldn’t be any awkwardness in hanging out with them.
Before, I would’ve thought someone like Levi couldn’t be so thoughtful, but I’m beginning to think that Levi is exactly the type of person who would buy out an entire suite just to make sure I wouldn’t feel awkward.
“Where is everyone?” Charley asks, peering around the empty suite.
I want to scream, My thoughts exactly!
“This is Levi’s deal,” Raeann says when everyone peers at her.
As soon as she says it, the Wildcats growl rips through the stadium.
“Ooh, it’s starting!” Briar runs down to the seats, and we all follow.
I nearly trip over a stair when another thought hits.
Yes, Levi probably wanted to save me from making small talk with strangers, but I wonder if he had another reason?
Every single woman in this suite is a wife or girlfriend.
I’d bet money he’s making a statement. Like a silent claim.
My heart pounds a little faster. A warmth spreads through my body, making me feel like not only that I belong, but Levi Soucy has officially planted his flag. He’s planted his seeds. He’s wormed his way into my uninterested heart.
“Tab! Sit your cute butt down right here!” Jo calls out.
The seat she indicates is smack dab between her and Briar.
I take it without hesitation just in time to see the team run out.
We all stand, clapping and whistling, and I scan the jerseys for Levi.
There he is. Running out motioning for the crowd to get louder, his helmet in one hand, reaching with it toward the sky.
When he gets to the sidelines, I swear he peers up here like he has a GPS to where I am exactly.
He doesn’t look at the suite, he looks at me.
The others don’t realize because I’m sure they’re looking at their guys, but his gaze trains on me, and my stomach drops.
I could tell myself a lot of things. It’s the excitement from the game coursing through me.
The energy going through this stadium could probably power an entire city, so of course it’s rubbing off on me, but the longer we stare at each other, the more it’s apparent.
My breath shallows out when the thought pops into my head. Damn. Levi Soucy really does like me.
The Wildcats snarl breaks my focus, and I peer out toward the field where the opposing team is kicking off.
One of the teal jerseys catches it and starts to run the ball toward the opposite end.
He doesn’t make it very far when he is tackled to the ground.
Right after, those players come off and other players make it onto the field.
I spy a number seven with Parker written across his back.
That’s Briar’s husband. A number seventeen runs into the huddle, Farmer written across his back. Charley’s boyfriend.
I tick them off until I finally see number nineteen.
Well, actually, I spot his backside first, then move my gaze to his number and Soucy in white block letters.
He yells something out and points down field before getting in a running position.
I can’t look away from him. Reid snaps the ball, and Levi takes off like he was just released from confinement.
He sprints down the field, and cuts into the middle.
I haven’t taken my eyes off him so I don’t realize Reid threw him the ball until it gets in my line of sight.
I stand, the crowd in front of us doing the same.
The stadium erupts as soon as the ball hits Levi’s hands.
Quickly, he tucks it into his side and takes off.
He runs and runs, dodging players from the opposite team, jumping out of the way of their hands when they try to tackle him, and when he’s so close, he leisurely walks into the end zone.
The crowd goes wild. I start jumping up and down, and beside me, everyone else is too.
Clapping and cheering, screaming. On the field, a camera man runs up to Levi, and suddenly, his face is on every single screen, and even on the jumbotron.
He points at the camera, then at himself, and then makes a heart with his hands, winking into the lens until I swear every woman in this place is now yelling louder than the men.
“Oh my gosh, it must be true!” Jo squeals.
“What?” Briar asks.
“Tipper told me Levi asked the guys for advice on what to do when you really like a girl. They all gave him shit, of course, but it must be true!”
My stomach squeezes. Levi talked to his teammates about me? I’m about to melt into the floor with how sweet that is.
“I’ve been waiting for this,” Briar exclaims. “He’s too sweet to keep acting like he didn’t want to fall in love. Aww!”
“But who?” Charley and Rae-bae ask at the same time.
“I’m sure we’ll find out sooner or later,” Jo answers.
None of them are looking at me, but it feels as if thousands of pairs of eyes are focused on me right now.
I peer down the line toward Raeann. She’s still clapping, Athena lying at her feet.
I don’t even know what to think, but it’s clear my body has succumbed to the idea that Levi likes me.
I’m almost out of breath. The warmest, gooiest feelings are settling in my heart, and my stomach flips with excitement.
Levi Soucy likes someone, and he just told the whole world.