Chapter 55 Levi
FIFTY-FIVE
LEVI
WTF?
I stood next to the Christmas tree as We Wish You a Merry Christmas played quietly in the distance while fat snowflakes fell outside the window making it a picture perfect day.
But my morning was quickly swirling down the toilet. What in the bloody hell happened to change perfect Allie to a fire breathing hate machine?
I paced the living room when Evan entered. “We have a few hours before the wedding; you want to play cards?”
“Cards on are my list of things I don’t give a shit about.”
“Wow.”
“Sorry, but everything’s taken a turn this morning, and I don’t know why. It’s hard now.”
He shrugged. “Life is a dick, sometimes it gets hard for no reason.”
“You’re clearly the fountain of knowledge I’m not looking for today.”
“Calm down Karen.”
He sat in the chair next to the roaring fire I suddenly wanted to toss him into.
“Everything was good with Allie.” I looked around to make sure we were alone. “And now she suddenly hates me. Like hates me.”
“She’s probably overwhelmed. All her friends are here, Clint, and now her brother. If you didn’t do anything wrong, maybe just back off and give her some time.”
“Maybe. Nothing happened or changed, she’s just dealing with a lot. Yeah, that makes sense.”
Allie and Kristina walked down the stairs, and I whispered to Evan. “Get Kristina out of here.”
Evan sprung to his feet. “Kristina, Rachel’s been looking for you.”
“What?”
He walked past her. “Follow me.”
With that we were alone.
“Can I have a word with you?”
Her hands popped on her hips. “I thought I smelled something burning, are you trying to think again?”
“Allie, I don’t like this attitude.”
“That’s a shame. I’ll need one minute to recover from that tragedy.”
“Why are you saying these things?”
“If the things I say shock you, can you even imagine the things I’ve left unsaid? It’d blow your effing mind.”
Lexi came in from the kitchen as her eyes darted between us. “Allie, I made a little coffee bar in the kitchen with mocha and all the yummy stuff. Can I get you some?”
“I’ll have a vodka valium latte, please.”
I sat on the couch as Will came down the stairs and pointed to Lexi. “Hey, can you get everyone in here for a minute.”
Lexi yelled and everyone filtered in and found seats. Allie was looking everywhere but in my direction, and other than kidnapping her, I couldn’t think of another way to get a conversation to figure out what the hell had transpired today.
I stood next to the fireplace as Royce and Clint came down the stairs. Some days the supply of available curse words isn’t sufficient to meet my needs.
Evan walked over and spoke quietly. “Hey, are you feeling calmer?”
“No, as a matter of fact I think I’m going maybe kidnap Allie for a while just so I can figure out what’s going on. Not really kidnapping, just an ordered discussion?”
“In my opinion that’s a bad idea.”
“A good place for your opinion is up your ass.”
He punched my arm. “I see we’re playing stupid again. Looks like your winning.”
Clint walked to the center of the room, grabbed Allie by the hands, and pulled her to him.
“First of all, I wanted to thank everyone for welcoming me here.”
Nods around the room, and I would’ve been blind to not notice the fucking overjoyed look on Will’s face. I couldn’t recall seeing him happy. Ever. But there he stood, arms across his chest, wearing a smile.
I hate being hated by him.
Clint turned. “Allie, I know I surprised you by coming here, but sometimes absence clears things up.”
He reached into his pocket, and every ounce of oxygen was squeezed from my body when he pulled out a little red velvet box and dropped to his knee. I’d reached the point in my life where I need a stronger word than fuck.
“Allie, I don’t want to imagine another day without you.”
Everything was in slow motion, and my vision was hyper focused. Her eyes went wide as he opened the box while douchbag wore a fucking smile that could curdle milk.
“Allie, will you marry me?”
Everything froze. I couldn’t breathe and felt Evan’s hand on my arm.
And then it happened. Allie’s hands went to her cheeks as she stared at the ring.
I don’t know shit about diamonds, but as he pulled it out of the box all I knew was that it was big.
A large, shiny diamond that made me want to hurdle the coffee table, grab dickhead, and drown him in the lake out back.
Time stood still as I awaited her refusal. There was no fucking way she wanted to marry this dude after our time together. We were back—Allie and Levi.
“Yes.”
My ears melted off my head. What in the hell was happening?
Clint slid the ring onto her finger before standing and hugging her as the room burst into applause, and I couldn’t seem to suck in any air. I wanted to leave, to disappear, but my feet were stuck. While Clint hugged her, Kristina’s eyes were on me.
I stood there while all the ladies went and looked at the ring as Allie held out her hand. She had a few tears under her eyes she wiped away.