Chapter 22 #2
“Gabriella, it wasn’t mine to tell.” It’s a weak argument, but also true. She takes a long sip from her cup before bringing it back down and crushing it between her fingers. Absolutely terrifying.
“We will deal with this later. Right now, I need another drink, and you need to find Levi before Blondie does.” I nod.
Yes. “You start on the far end by the barbecue, and I’ll get a drink and circle the pool area.
And if that fails, we can always check the pantry.
..” Gabriella says teasingly, and I don’t fight the smile that slices into my cheeks.
I walk along the border of the outdoor area, checking faces as they pass.
Not there. I bite at my bottom lip. Maybe he went back to his room?
Just as I’m about to circle back and find Gabriella, I see Levi.
He’s got his back against the wall, head between his knees.
Panic attack. I make my way to him, shouting his name, but he doesn’t look up and he doesn’t answer.
I crouch down next to him, the pavement hot under my feet.
“Levi...” I watch as he looks up, unwinding his mass, the muscles along his chest and shoulders contracting as he straightens. He looks at me, but I’m not sure he sees me. There’s something distant about his stare.
“Look, Tate...” He pauses. His eyes skate down the length of me, and this time, I know he sees me.
The trail he leaves behind his glance births goose bumps.
A part of me wants to hide, but the better half appreciates the glance.
I need to tell him how I feel, why I have been avoiding him.
Midway through a panic attack might not be the best time, but I don’t want to lose my nerve.
“Levi...” I reach out, my fingers landing on the ball of his shoulder.
His heated skin burns into the pads of my fingers.
I start drawing circles with my palm—big, big, small—working my way down his back.
He pulls away from the wall and into my touch.
I hit something in my next round, and he winces.
I look from his eyes to his back where I find angry red scrapes from about his midback to just above his tailbone.
“Levi, your whole back is cut up. We have to clean you up. Can you walk?” I watch as he squeezes his eyes shut and opens them again.
“I’m fine,” he says, pulling himself to a stand.
I follow, straightening myself but only reaching to about his chest. “No, you are not. You’re bleeding.”
“I’m going to get in the pool. It will disinfect it.” He runs a hand through his hair.
I nod, even though it’s quite possibly the dumbest thing I’ve heard in a while, but I let it go.
“Look, Levi.” I exhale. “I’m sorry I haven’t returned your calls or texts. I was processing.” I tip my head sideways, just to make sure he’s listening before continuing. “I want you to know that I feel the same. I do like you like that, but...”
“Hey! There you are!” a voice calls from behind me, and in an instant, Kim comes up, parking herself next to me.
She smells like citrus and coconut, like she’s applied some kind of body oil since the last time I saw her.
“What happened to you? I thought you said you wanted to get drunk and make out?” Something heavy pulls at my stomach.
I look back up at him and wish I hadn’t.
“I did say that, didn’t I? Let’s go.”
He brushes past me, hooking her arm in the process, and I’m alone. I blow out a couple of stabilizing breaths. Do not cry, Tate. Whatever you do, do not cry.
“Girl,” Gabriella yells from behind me. “I just saw Levi, and he is arm in arm—”
“I know. Turns out I was right about him.”
She’s quiet next to me. Her brows scrunch together before she slams whatever was left in her cup. “Okay, it’s time for plan C.”
I look over at her. “What is plan C? Ice cream in bed with The Notebook playing in the background?” I wanted it to come out light, but it came out how I feel instead. Depressing. She grabs the sides of my shoulders, forcing me to look at her.
“No, we’re going to make a big boy cry today, but I need you to put your feelings away for a couple hours. Can you do that, Tate?”
“No,” I say honestly.
“Yes. Yes, you can. If you need to get mad, get mad, but he will pay. Think about how many calls you’ve gotten since the performance. All the times you've been tagged on socials. Think about Tay-vai.”
I don’t have the heart to tell her that I feel more embarrassed than mad, but she’s right. He can’t pull me in just to spit me out when I confess the truth to him.
“Let’s do this!” I finally say.
“Attagirl. Follow my lead.” She loops her arm through mine and walks us out of the protection of the wall. “Tate, smile. Smile like you’re having the best day of your life.”
“Mmmkay,” I say through clenched teeth.
“You look demented. You can open your mouth. Just look happy.”
“Okay, okay. Where to first?” I ask, scanning the crowd. I can see Levi slipping into the mouth of the pool, Kim not far behind him. Gabriella starts to tug me in the opposite direction.
“He’s over there. Where are we going?”
“We’re going to find Slater. We need a prop.”