Chapter 5 Levi
Levi
Hearing a car’s engine, I peek through the curtains and let out a breath of relief when I see Jordan drive away.
I doubt my sanity, once again, as I let the fabric fall back into place. After I learned about the horrific events that transpired in this small town, I couldn’t stop thinking about Kelcie and Jordan. The guilt kept eating away at me even though I knew it was unreasonable.
The first time I came to Verona after the attack, it was under the guise of being on vacation. The few times I saw Jordan, he seemed to be doing okay, but Kelcie was spiraling.
I know what happened to the Woodruffs isn’t on me, yet I couldn’t stop feeling bad for them, and like the fucked-up, crazy person I am, I moved to Verona and bought the house right next door to Kelcie.
Over the past two months, I’ve watched her like a fucking stalker. I’ve learned her routine and matched mine with hers.
Yep, I’m fucking insane.
I try to write at night, but I haven’t gotten much done the past year and had to ask for an extension on the book, which the publishers agreed to.
In the mornings, Kelcie leaves for two to three hours to visit the cemetery, and I use that time to go for a jog and play catch with Lick so we can get some exercise. Afterward, I manage to get roughly four hours’ sleep before Kelcie’s screams wake me.
I’ve been trying to think of a way to help her, but I can’t come up with anything.
Lick nudges her snout against my hand to get my attention, and I walk to the back door to let her out. Like always, I take a seat on the top step, and while Lick sniffs for the perfect spot, I glance at the house next door.
When I see Kelcie come outside with a glass of wine, my eyes follow her as she walks to the old wrought-iron table and plastic chairs.
She sits down and stares at the trees behind our properties. I once took a walk out there with Lick to explore the area and found a stream. Since then, it’s the trail I use for my morning jogs.
With my gaze on Kelcie, I think back to earlier today when Jordan introduced himself to me. She kept her distance, though. Honestly, she looked so fucking lost and broken as she stood by the SUV, it took a swing at my heart.
A breeze picks up, and it plays with her caramel brown hair, which hangs past her shoulders. Lick looks at Kelcie, then at me as if she’s silently asking permission. Gesturing for my dog to go, I watch as she slowly jogs to Kelcie.
Lick stops beside the chair and sits down, happily panting, which gets my neighbor’s attention.
“Oh, hey there,” Kelcie says. She sets the wineglass down on the table, then holds her hand out for Lick to sniff.
My dog takes the chance and licks Kelcie’s hand. Her mouth curves into a slight smile that looks more sad than happy, and I can’t tear my eyes away from her beautiful face.
I read that she was beaten and shot during the attack. She almost didn’t make it. As I get a good look at the petite woman who’s been on my mind twenty-four seven since I read the article, it’s hard to believe someone could hurt her.
Yet they did. In the most unimaginable way.
“You’re very friendly.” Kelcie scratches Lick’s head and ears before she glances at me and calls out, “What’s his name?”
“Her name is Lick,” I answer, and not letting the moment slip through my fingers, I get up and walk closer to them.
“Good name.” She lets out a soft chuckle when Lick’s tongue takes another swipe at her hand. “You’re such a pretty girl,” Kelcie murmurs, clearly falling in love with my dog before she looks at me again. “She’s so well behaved.”
“Thanks.” I stop a few feet away from the table. “I’m Levi.”
Up close, she’s even more striking, and for the first time in a really long while, I feel a pull of attraction.
“Kelcie.” Her gaze gets stuck on my face for a moment, then a faint blush creeps up her neck. “I’m sorry for being such a bad neighbor. I should’ve introduced myself when you moved in.”
Her brown irises are dark with grief, and it makes something shift in my chest. Wanting to make her feel better, a rare smile tugs at the corner of my mouth. “That’s okay. I should’ve made an effort to come over sooner.”
She shakes her head and turns her attention back to Lick. “How old is she?”
“She’s about four years old.”
“She’s beautiful.” Kelcie pets Lick, then mentions, “Her coat is nice and shiny. You take good care of her.”
“You know about dogs?” I ask.
“My brother dated a girl who wanted to become a veterinarian, and it’s the only thing she ever talked about. But she ended up opening a doggy parlor. I can give you her number if you want to take Lick to get groomed.”
“It’s okay. I like bathing her.”
Lick jumps up, and placing her front paws on Kelcie’s thigh, she tries to move closer. Instead of telling my dog to get down, Kelcie places her arms around Lick and gives her a hug.
I take a few steps to the side so my border collie will see me and gesture for her to stay before I say, “I’ll catch you later, Kelcie.”
When I walk away, she calls out, “What about Lick?”
“She can visit with you until it’s time for dinner.”
I don’t give her time to reply as I step into my house.
Leaving the back door open, I watch her through the kitchen window.
She climbs off the chair and sits down cross-legged on the lawn.
It looks like she’s talking to Lick, and knowing my dog will do her more good than I ever could, I head to my office and take a seat at the desk.
It’s the one-year anniversary of the attack, and I assume Kelcie won’t be getting much sleep today, which means I won’t get any either. I might as well try to knock out some words.
I open my laptop and type in the password. I have two documents open, one with the meager plot I’ve managed to think up and the other for the manuscript, which only has eleven thousand, two hundred and thirty-six words.
At this deplorable pace, I’m never going to get the book done in time, and I doubt the publishers will give me another extension.
Luckily, I didn’t spend the advance they paid me, and I’ll be able to give it back should the worst happen and I’m unable to write.
I used to dream about being a successful writer. It was all that mattered to me, and I worked my ass off. But after the dust from the instant success settled, my life felt meaningless. I made millions from my royalties, but I can’t think of a single thing I’d like to spend it on.
I’d give every cent I have if it would erase the past year and give Kelcie and Jordan their parents and sister back.
If only money had that kind of power.
I lean back in my chair and cross my arms over my chest while I try to focus on the book.
“Hello?” I hear Kelcie’s voice, followed by the sounds of Lick’s paws on the wooden floor.
It’s only then I realize I zoned out, and it’s dinnertime for Lick. Getting up, I hurry out of my office, but when I dart into the kitchen, Kelcie is already gone, and the back door is shut.
I yank it open, and when I take the steps down to the lawn, I see her walking toward her house.
“Kelcie,” I call out to get her attention.
She spins around, and I feel like shit when I see her eyes widen and a startled expression tighten her features. I need to tone down my assholishness around her.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to bother you,” she says.
“You didn’t.” I come to a stop a safe distance from her, and when she gives me a questioning look, my mind races to come up with a reason for why I stopped her.
Fuck. Think faster, Levi.
“Ahh . . .” I have zero brain activity while I stare at her like a creep.
Frustrated that I’m so antisocial, I rub my fingers over the week-old stubble on my jaw.
“You look like you could use a glass of wine,” she says. “It’s just sad when I sit outside and drink by myself, and I can’t be inside right now. We don’t have to talk.”
I don’t like wine, but I’m not letting this chance pass me by. “Sure.”
While I walk to the table, Kelcie heads into the house to get the bottle of wine and another glass. When she comes out again, she asks, “Don’t you have to feed Lick?”
“Shit. Right.” I jog back to my place and hope Kelcie doesn’t pull a disappearing act while I warm Lick’s food.
Looking down at my dog, I mumble, “Sorry.” I crouch down and press kisses to the white fur between her eyes.
“Your dad’s a little out of his depth right now.
If you notice I’m making a fool of myself, feel free to jump in and stop me. ”
Lick just pants, the excited look on her face for the smell of beef and kidney with vegetables filling the air.
“Your food stinks,” I add before I straighten up. When the microwave dings, I quickly mix the meal with dry food and scoop it all into Lick’s bowl before setting it down.
Knowing Lick will come outside once she’s done eating, I leave the house. As I walk toward the table where Kelcie is sitting, I notice she’s already poured wine into the glasses.
I sit down in the only available chair that’s near Kelcie’s. Usually, I’d feel bothered about being so close to another person, but there’s no discomfort as I give her a quick smile. “Thanks.”
She nods, her eyes tracking my movements as I pick up the glass and take a sip of the wine.
At least it’s sweet. The last time I had wine during a dinner with my agent, it was dry and hard to swallow.
“How do you like Verona?” she asks.
“It’s okay.”
Kelcie nods, then glances at the trees.
We sit in silence for a few minutes before I realize I need to ask her questions, or she might get suspicious of me because I’m not supposed to know much about her.
“Have you lived in Verona all your life?”
Her attention turns back to me, and she nods. “Born and raised.”
I suck in a deep breath, and my heart clenches when I ask the next question. “Does Jordan also live here?”
Her beautiful features tighten with grief as she shakes her head. “No. He lives in Naperville.”
When she doesn’t mention her parents and sister, I just don’t have the heart to ask any more questions and stare at the glass of wine.
What the fuck am I doing inserting myself into her life like this?