Chapter 11
ELEVEN
ALLIE
GOBBLE, GOBBLE
I rolled over as the morning sun shined on my pillow nearly blinding me.
I peeked over at Levi who was facing me on the floor.
I stared at his sleeping face and listened to his soft breathing.
I curled up and just let my eyes soak him in.
I wanted to memorize every bit of him. He was adorable and hotter than a jalapeno’s armpit at the same time.
Memories of waking up with his arms around me, his body next to mine as I curled into him, warmed me from the inside out.
I slipped out of bed and back to my room to find a bazillion text messages from the girls.
Allie, how are you? I worry about you all alone in that big old house.
Why are you not answering me?
Allison Marie I am worried sick about you!
The snow is still coming down. Damn mother nature! What a freaking bitch!
Don’t make me call the police, respond!
I grabbed clothes from my suitcase and dialed Lexi.
“Galloping gremlin, I’ve been so worried. I have been going crazy with zero responses to my texts! What in the frack are you doing to me?”
“First of all, it’s been night time and I’ve been sleeping like a normal human. Secondly, why are you saying stupid words?” She was a head scratcher alright.
“I’m trying to clean up my language. I need to stop my swearing and pull my ship together.”
“I’m rolling my eyes.”
“No, I swear I’m doing it this time. No cursing while I’m in Colorado. Royce, get me a margarita.”
“It’s morning for God’s sake. Do not have a margarita. Please no drinking at the airport. The last thing you need is to be hauled off another plane.”
Her gasp nearly sucked my earring through the phone. “Mother trucker that was not my fault. I was just nervous about flying and my meds and the wine did not mix well. It happens, Allie.”
“No, it doesn’t. You were laughing and started screaming we’re going down. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, you head butted the steward who was just doing his job.”
“Hey! I didn’t mean to do that, his big old head got in the way. We agreed to never discuss this topic again.”
“You also agreed not to drink within five hundred feet of an airplane or any aviation facility. I think you even signed something.”
“Whatever. Are you the fucking margarita police now? Great, now you ruined my no cursing thing.”
“You can still not curse you know.”
She huffed. “Why bother now? Let’s face it, I love to curse and hate people. That’s just me I guess.”
“Yes, you suck.”
“Not for free.” She giggled. “People just need to be happy this blizzard hasn’t turned me into a gun toting maniac.”
“Wow, your life skills are top shelf.”
“My life skills are fine but it’s my tolerance for idiots that’s low today. I used to have an immunity built up, but there must be a new strain of stupid out there.”
“Damn stupid strains.”
“Are you keeping the doors locked?”
“Of course I locked the doors. You’re going to lose it when you see this place.”
“I’m just worried about you being all alone.”
“Evan has a cousin who got here the same day I did.” I smiled at the memory of sleeping Levi with his messy hair and those pillow lips that did a little cha-cha through my frontal lobe. Yes, as much as I’d fought it, those lips were burned into my brain like a tattoo.
“And he’s been nice? What’s his name?”
A little horn blew in my mind.
“Shoot, my phone’s going to die. When do you think you’ll get here?”
“I’m hopeful in the next day or so.”
“Love you. And Emily says to get your butt to the church to decorate this morning.”
“I will.”
“Bye-bye, babe.”
I applied the ointment I was given at the ER to my stitches and popped two more pain reliever tablets before hopping in the shower with Levi on my mind.
I pulled on my favorite jeans that make my bum look nice, white tee, and topped it off with the Nike black zippy jacket I found thrifting. Score for me.
I put some gel in my hair to tame my curls and then spent thirty minutes getting the natural look with my make-up.
I bopped down the stairs and let my eyes take in the beautiful Christmas tree in front of the window while I’m dreaming of a White Christmas softly filled the room from some invisible speaker somewhere.
As I entered the kitchen the aroma of bacon gave me a hug, and the sight of Levi made me want to hurdle the center island and give him a hug. Stop!
“Hey.” His hair was damp from a shower. A shower where his muscular chest that was holding up his shirt would have had hot, steamy water running over it.
He wore black joggers and an Adidas Blue sweatshirt that made his eyes pop. “You still only like boring scrambled eggs with zero cheese or veggies?”
He remembered. “Yup.”
“You picky eaters.”
“I don’t want to be picky; it’s just the way I’m wired.” I gave a nod. “Proud to say I still eat from the kids menu.”
“Really? The kids menu?” He slid a plate to me.
“First of all, it’s an economically sound choice and most people don’t think I’m too weird. Nothing makes me happier than a simple grilled cheese and fries.”
“Kind of comforting to know some things never change.”
The words hung in the air, and I forced out a weird fake cough.
“Uh, I have to go do church decorating for Emily. It figures all the work will fall on me today. Do you think I could borrow your SUV?” My entire being felt all twirly. I didn’t know how to not hate Levi. It’d been a solid seven years, and now we were kind of people who talked to one another?
“I can help.” He used the spatula to push some eggs onto my plate.
“It’s okay, you just stay here.” I needed to not have him close to me, bad idea. Why are the bad ideas always the fun ones to think about?
“I’ve got nothing but time, and we both know I have killer holiday decorating skills.”
“Really, I’m fine doing this myself.” My eyes dropped to my plate. “Yes, I’ll do it.”
I took a bite of the fluffy scrambled eggs and OMG; flipping fantastic.
They didn’t even need salt, they were perfectly perfect.
I took another bite as a few pieces of bacon were dropped on my plate.
I took a taste and wondered how in hell he had perfected bacon; crispy but not too crispy.
Was it just this slice? I ate another and another to find out all the slices were perfect; yummy to the core.
Had he taken a class? Become a chef? I had no flippin’ clue, but wow.
I looked up mid-chew to find Levi leaning on the counter thoroughly amused as I had shoved his delectable breakfast into my mouth at record speed. My cheeks were hot as I swallowed and flashed a weak smile.
“Everything taste okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah, it’s okay.” For some reason I couldn’t stop nodding.
“Good.”
Still nodding. “Yeah, good.”
“So what’s up with the church stuff?”
I pulled out my phone and scrolled through messages. “Well, Emily’s had two Christmas trees shipped to the church so that’s good.” I looked up. “But I’ll get it, really.”
“You’re going to haul two Christmas trees in, assemble them, put all the lights on, and decorate?”
“Yeah.” Huh, that did not sound fun.
“That seems like a lot for one person.”
“It kinda does.”
“How about I come along and just help you get the trees up, and then I can take off?”
I didn’t want to be near him. I didn’t think I liked not hating him. I needed the hate.
“Levi—”
“I know we’re not friends.”
My eyes shot to him.
He cleared his throat. “I mean, I know how things are. But I want to help you get those big trees into the church. I just can’t sit around here knowing I could lighten the load for you.”
I popped a brow and he flexed.
“Come on.”
Eyeroll. “Fine.”
I looked back at my phone despising the fact that I might’ve been a tiny bit glad he was coming.
“So how do you know Emily?”
“We went to college together. She’s great but is particular about things.
” I scrolled on. “Crap, she also wants me to go and cut twenty-five Evergreen branches, approximately fifteen inches in length, and use the ribbon she sent with the Christmas trees and attach a four inch bow to each of them and put at the end of each aisle. Clearly she’s not a control freak, right? ”
He tossed a piece of bacon into his mouth. OMG how could he make eating bacon sexy?
He pointed out the large kitchen window. “Easy peasey. We’re surrounded by Evergreen trees.” He rummaged through a drawer and held up a pair of pliers with a pointy tip. “You use these, and I’ll find something in the garage to cut it with. Do you have boots?”
I let out a huff. “Do I have boots? Of course I came to Colorado with boots.”
His hands clapped together. “Meet you outside in five minutes.”
I pulled on my boots realizing this was maybe okay. Yeah, Levi helping with church stuff would be fine. He knows we’d never be friends so I’ll use him for his muscles. Yes, that’s almost hating him again.
I stomped through the snow while digesting my beautiful surroundings. The crisp air filled my lungs as my eyes dance around from the mountains in the distance to the snow covered trees in front of me, and I could think of no prettier place in the world to be.
I soaked in the sound. Or lack of. So different from my apartment in D.C.
I’d only lived there for six months after I got an unbelievable job opportunity.
I was strong and on my own and achieving my career goals.
While I love living in the city with the hustle and bustle, this was a pallet cleanse for my senses.
I couldn’t hear a single car or noise at all.
It was the sound of silence. (Cue up Disturbed)
But I did miss Chicago where I’d lived since after college and absolutely loved. You might be wondering why I’d moved away from a place that was amazing. Well, it turns out when I date people and start having a serious connection, I sort of cut and run sometimes. Edit: every time.