Chapter 12
twelve
PRESENT DAY
KATE
My pulse doesn’t calm for an inordinate amount of time after I leave Brandon in the boxing gym. But since it’s Saturday and I have nowhere to be, I spend the afternoon trying to calm down.
I coax my heart to slow in the locker room shower. I speak soothingly to it while steaming in the sauna. I have half a mind to go as far as booking a deep-tissue massage.
Brandon seems intent on setting my world off-kilter. Testing my willpower every chance he can. Stupid chemistry. But long-lasting relationships require a solid foundation of trust, and ours was shattered six years ago.
Fatigue begins to seep into my bones, and I decide to call it an afternoon. Maybe I’ll go kick it with Mrs. Kovolchuk if I get too lonely, or tag along with Amantha and Val to Anthony’s basketball game tonight. I trudge toward the Pulse Fitness entrance as my phone vibrates with a text.
UNKNOWN: You’ll make one lucky guy extremely happy one day. Still hoping it’ll be me. —Hopefully Yours
I stop in my tracks, the unease in my gut hardening to irritation.
My phone is beyond messed up for not saving Levi’s contact info again, but it’s Levi’s little game that infuriates me.
I storm toward the circulation desk looking for Levi and also to return my boxing gloves. Unfortunately, a peppy college girl is working the shift and is the only Pulse employee behind the counter.
“Thanks for returning those, girlfriend!” she says, smacking pink gum between her teeth as she checks back in my gloves. “Have the bestest day!”
I don’t budge. “Is Levi Schwinn still working?”
Her perky blonde ponytail bobs. “Yup! I think he’s assigned to the laundry service, so he’s probably buried in towels by the washing machines.”
“Where are the washing machines?”
She shoots me a curious look. “Through the employee doors near the spa entrance. But you aren’t allowed in—”
I’ve already rounded the corner before she finishes. If security ends up escorting my exhausted body out after this, I’ll buy them a drink.
I slam the heels of my hands into the employee entrance and the door flies open.
Levi stands looking at his phone, hips relaxing against one of the machines. The mound of towels beside him reaches up to his kneecaps.
His head whips toward the door as I enter. “Sorry, I was just—” A flush climbs his neck, ivory skin tingeing pink. “Oh, it’s just you.” He relaxes for a second before his eyebrows cinch. “Wait, why are you here?”
I tentatively step inside, wading through the piles of laundry. To Levi’s credit, all of the machines behind him are already full.
“Sorry, the girl at the front said I could come say hello.” I shrug my little white lie, too annoyed and somewhat creeped out to care. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you.”
Levi fidgets in his Pulse Fitness polo, then sighs. “I know.”
“Listen,” I say. “I only gave you my number because I wanted to apologize for the way I treated you.” Levi’s eyebrows almost vanish into his hairline.
“I know it’s no excuse, but I was going through a lot back then.
Still kinda am.” I chuckle wearily. “But you didn’t deserve what I did. I’m so sorry, Levi. Truly, I am.”
Levi stares for a full ten seconds before he speaks.
“I… don’t know what to say. Thanks? I guess? I mean, it took me a while to get over it, but I kinda grew, thanks to you.”
He gifts me a smile I don’t deserve, but I return it.
“Thank you,” I say. “For letting me get that off my chest. It’s been long overdue.”
“You’re welcome,” he says.
“And about these text messages…” I bite my lip, wanting to be as tactful as possible. “I’d appreciate it if they’d stop. The compliments are sweet, but I just don’t see a future with you in that way. I’d love it if we could stay friends, though.”
Levi tilts his head at me. He doesn’t look… offended per say. More like I’m an escaped insane asylum patient who missed her last serving of jello.
Honestly, jello and a soft padded room sounds fantastic right about now.
“Kate, I don’t know what you mean. I haven’t texted you once.” He runs a sheepish hand across a tattooed forearm. “I mean, I know I said I wanted to catch up, but I realized I’d be better off not. Sorry.”
It’s my turn to look at him like he’s insane.
Before I can ask one of my million questions, a perky message beeps over the intercom speaker.
“Levi Schwinn, we have a code brown in the men’s locker room. I repeat, code brown.”
Levi curses, blurts goodbye, then darts from the room.
I gape after him, mind spiraling faster than the washing machines.
What is he saying?
I spot Levi’s abandoned phone atop one of the dryers. I hesitate, but I’m already up to my proverbial elbows in law disobedience. Slipping across the mound of towels littering the ground, I snatch Levi’s phone.
It’s locked.
I curse under my breath, heart pounding as I strain to hear approaching footsteps.
Tapping random four digit codes to unlock it seems stupid, but it’s all I can do. I’m desperate for proof that Levi isn’t lying about texting me. It seems like a weird thing to lie about, but Levi also spent time in jail, for crying out loud. Maybe he’s not who I once thought.
After five attempts, the phone detects the moron that’s holding it. A security banner pops up, informing me that the device will be locked for a full minute. A fresh wave of panic skirts up my spine. What if Levi comes back and his phone is still locked?
I try to inhale through my narrowing airway.
My own phone vibrates with a text. I startle like an electrified cat, flinging Levi’s phone across the room.
Thankfully, it lands on a mound of towels, sliding safely to a stop.
I slap a hand across my forehead as I scramble toward it.
I place it neatly back on top of the dryer before launching myself back to my previous position.
Chest heaving, I have no choice but to wait for Levi to come back and explain himself. Levi’s phone sits abandoned, still locked and taunting me. While I wait, I yank out my phone to read the text I just received.
My blood turns to ice.
UNKNOWN: I’d love to take you to Navy Pier at sunset sometime. It’s beautiful, but not as beautiful as you. —Hopefully Yours