Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
STEVIE
“Happy birthday!” I yell as soon as Levi leaves his bedroom.
He rubs his eyes and tries to fix his tousled hair, looking adorably exhausted. He’s turning twenty-one, it’s a cause for celebration. Hell, his being born is a cause for celebration.
It technically started last night after I got back from my final day of tech week.
It’s been exhausting, to say the least, but we open next Thursday and we got the weekend off since we’ve been working day and night.
My dad’s set to fly out from Spain to see me on closing night, while my moms will try to make it to at least three of the eight shows.
Meanwhile, Levi promised to be there every night and his—our friends will be there on opening and closing night.
I’ve gotten closer to his—I mean, our friends, as well as Brad.
Even though I wanted nothing more than a shower and a full eight hours of sleep last night, I crawled into bed with Levi and gave him a blow job like I did the night I got my tattoo. Only this time, I let him take over. I never knew sex could be so much fun and stress-relieving before him.
Levi reaches the kitchen, and his eyes widen at the spread I’ve concocted over the past two hours, while listening to the entire Rumours album by Fleetwood Mac and then Banks’s best hits.
“Bambi, you did not have to do this.” Levi takes a look at the buffet, which includes scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns, fresh orange juice, lattes, biscuits with butter, and finally, a coffee crumb cake with a raspberry drizzle and two candles smack-dab in the middle.
I tilt my chin up proudly. “I wanted to.”
He stalks around the breakfast nook, picking me up by my hips. I yelp and smile. His dark ocean eyes bore into mine. “I love you.”
My jaw drops open. “What?” What? That’s the first word to leave me after I’ve been waiting for almost two months for him to tell me. “I mean, are you sure?”
He kisses me deeply, our tongues touching for a second, before he sets me down on the counter and cups my face. “I love you, Stevie. So fucking much. I’ve never been so sure about anything in my life.”
Levi looks at me, sureness gleaming in his gaze, and I grin. “It’s about damn time you caught up, Hotshot.”
I try to kiss him, but he stops me. “Why do I have a feeling you already knew?” One of his eyebrows quirks.
Shrugging, I tell him the truth. “I heard you that night at your grandma’s house. I was already falling for you, too. These weeks only solidified it for me, and I’ve been waiting for you to catch up to where I was.”
He scoffs. “You knew this whole time, and you didn’t say a thing?”
“I’m good at keeping secrets,” I whisper, and wiggle my brows. He opens his mouth again, and this time I put a finger to his lips. “Will you shut up so I can tell you that I love you, too?”
Levi lets out a chuckle and a tortured sound simultaneously. “Say it again.” He pulls at a strand of my hair and meets my eyes.
His look is so intense, I almost melt into his arms. “I love you.”
His lips envelop mine, his tongue parting them as we moan. The rest of the world disappears, and my mind becomes blank when he touches my nipple.
I throw my head back before Levi tugs it forward. “Say it again. Tell me everything you’re feeling.”
My heart grows at the need in his voice. It makes me feel all fuzzy and warm inside, something I never thought I’d feel. “I love you so much.” He touches my clit. “And I’m yours.”
He hisses when he finds how wet I am. “Fuck, I love you.”
“And?” I beg to hear him say the second part. He might be the dominant one, but he meets my demands as much as I meet his.
“I’m fucking yours.” He pulls my shirt forward until our noses are an inch apart. “Forever yours.”
Forever.
The word makes my heart gallop. I swear I tear up before our bodies are flush against each other’s and he picks me up by my ass as we repeat how much we love each other—
The doorbell rings. “Ignore it,” Levi says, already breathless.
I close my eyes, regretting what I did earlier. “I’d love nothing more, but I kind of invited some people over for your birthday brunch.”
The doorbell rings again, and Levi growls at the door, looking like he wants to kill his best friends.
“They’ll never stop ringing that fucking bell.
” He lets me down near the couch, and I miss his touch already.
The ache in between my legs leaves me soaked, and I wish his friends would go away, but it’s such an important birthday.
The doorbell rings again, and Levi moves to the intercom, pressing a button. “I have the biggest boner of my fucking life right now, so, unless you want to see it, give us two damn minutes.”
“And a good morning and happy birthday to you, too,” Jake says from the other end. Cameron’s, Kami’s, and Em’s snorts sound clear through the small speaker. I cover my mouth and bite the inside of my cheek, attempting to stifle a laugh. I’ve never seen him this pissed at them.
Levi lets out a deep breath, dragging his eyes to my shorts and tank top. “Put on some fucking pants and a hoodie or else this boner’s never going down.”
A choked laugh finally leaves me. “It’s almost seventy degrees outside!”
He shakes his head. “Fine, a T-shirt with a bra, because your nipples drive me insane.”
I don’t move until Levi gives me a stern look and the bell rings again. “Okay, I’m going.”
“Good girl,” he whispers as I pass right by him. He smirks and smacks my ass as he buzzes his friends in.
We arrive at the Kappa house later that night. It’s my first time here since their parties are extremely difficult to get into, but once Jake announces himself, we’re led inside right away. “Levitating” by Dua Lipa fills my ears, and I observe the massive house with multiple doors.
“The doors are insane, aren’t they?” Em whispers.
I nod in response, entranced by the grand staircase.
Levi sets his hand on my lower back, bringing butterflies to my stomach.
We exchange a smile, and the twinkle in his eye tells me what he’s thinking.
I love you too, I tell him, mind to mind.
I also want to make love. I bite my lip.
We haven’t been able to do anything today, not even a quickie with our friends around.
Earlier, I gave him his gift: customized guitar picks and a box to keep them in. All of them have his name engraved with a special design. He loved them.
And I gave Em a pair of vintage, white-framed sunglasses I’d found at a thrift store back home. She looked timeless and wore them all day until it was time to leave.
We arrive in the living room, where everyone is dancing along to the upbeat song.
Assuming this is where we’re staying, I stop walking.
Then Levi gives me a shake of his head, and we continue our trek.
Confused, I look over at the girls, and Luna smiles at me.
She joined us later in the evening, no Brad in tow.
According to both of them, she’s making him work for it.
Luna isn’t an easy girl to get with and has heard of Brad’s reputation.
However, we all know that it was love at first sight for him, and he is doing his best to convince her that he’s serious about them.
I laugh internally at who seems to be the most challenging and smartest girl I could’ve set him up with.
It’s a good thing. Brad needed someone who wouldn’t fall for his charms easily.
We finally reach a door in the back of the room that’s being guarded by a large man who lets us in when he sees Jake. The door opens, and it’s pitch black.
“Is this some sort of super exclusive hallway?” I whisper nervously to Levi.
The lights turn on, and a ton of people, most of whom I don’t recognize, turn the lights on and yell, “Surprise!”
Em, Levi, and I jump at the sound of what seems to be a crowd of two dozen people smiling. I see a few familiar faces that I’ve met in passing, but everyone I’m close to came with me. Still, if we’re so close, why did they throw a surprise party for Levi without telling me?
I spin around to Kamila. “Why didn’t you guys tell me?
I could’ve helped.” The slight tremble in my voice is pathetic, but I feel insecure and out of sorts.
My exhaustion from the week is starting to catch up with me, and it doesn’t help that I feel like a child who wasn’t chosen for the team.
But I don’t want to be out of the loop again, not like the last time.
It’s Levi’s first birthday with me, and I would’ve loved to have been included.
Jeez, I sound like such a baby.
“You didn’t know?” Levi asks from beside me, and looks at Jake and Kami.
“Guys?” Em pushes.
Kami smiles and points to the room. “Look.” She grabs me by the shoulders and slowly swivels me back around.
Next to a banner that says Happy 21st Birthday, Em & Levi, there’s one that reads Congratulations on your debut!
My jaw goes slack and tears well up in my eyes. “But…” I look back at her, Jake, and Cam. “The show hasn’t even opened yet.”
They all shrug. “We never celebrated you getting the part because of spring break and then your rehearsals. Plus, this one has kept you to himself for the last two months.” Jake shoves Levi’s shoulder.
My heart warms at their words, and another insecurity lifts off my shoulders.
Shaking my head, I look over at Levi and find him grinning broadly, then quickly look at Em. She claps her hands and hugs me. “I love that we’re all celebrating together.” She looks over my shoulder. “Are there more presents in here?”
Emma walks past me, and I laugh as Levi grabs my arm, leading us farther into the room. I take a look around and find almost everyone dressed in old-fashioned suits and flapper dresses.
I hear a shriek from my right, and the whole group covers their ears.
“The Great Gatsby? You’re joking.” Emma jumps into her best friend’s arms.
Kami giggles. “Like it?”