Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
STEVIE
Taking my final bow onstage for the semester, I grin widely, seeing all of my friends and family in the front row. My dad sticks a bouquet of flowers out and brings it to the edge of the stage, while my costar’s girlfriend does the same for her.
I blow him a kiss, beyond excited that he managed to get here safely and see me onstage for the first time.
The applause continues around us, and I attempt not to look at Levi.
If I do, I’ll either burst into tears or the rest of the room will disappear as it always does whenever we share an intimate moment.
Right now, I want to feel this. The excitement of the crowd flows through me, and I feel proud of myself for everything I’ve managed to do this semester.
I’m going to miss the feeling of being onstage, but I’ll be back on it in the fall, and maybe it’ll be as the lead.
I told Levi to dream bigger, yet I haven’t done that myself.
Now, I see it. I’m allowing myself to see it.
I finally chance a look at him and just as I expected, the crowd fades.
He smiles and I return it. He mouths the words I love you and I do the same.
He’s the only man in my life to keep every single one of his promises, and I’ve never trusted anyone more.
He’s exceeded any expectations I’ve ever had with any man…
and I need to slow down. We just hit our three-month anniversary, and I’m well aware that after three months, the honeymoon phase lessens.
Only our relationship has never felt like a honeymoon phase.
He’s seen me at my worst—well, almost worst—and I at his.
Giving one final bow, the cast and I walk to the side stage and go to the dressing rooms. After half an hour, I’m dressed in dark flared-out jeans, thick-heeled boots, and a green flowery V-neck short-sleeved shirt.
I’ve gotten more comfortable in my own skin, and I like showing off my tattoo.
I finally got used to these thick-heeled boots, too.
My hair bounces around my face as it has grown well past my chin and is halfway down to my shoulders.
The natural tight waves remain, and I plan to get more highlights soon.
My makeup skills have gotten better over the past few weeks since I’ve had to do my own for the show.
I’ve found that earth-colored eyeshadows, along with some gold shimmer, complement my eyes the best.
Saying goodbye to the cast in the dressing room, I head to the front where everyone is waiting. My dad is the first one to congratulate me.
“You did amazing, honey. Bravo.” He kisses both of my cheeks.
“Thanks, Dad.”
Jenn is right next to him, looking teary-eyed. “S, your voice and your acting, my God. I’m so proud of you.” She hugs me and squeals in my ear. I’m sure she and Em were a handful for the rest of these guys.
Before I’m able to say hi to anyone else, my dad yells, “Dinner’s on me!” We all look at him, stunned, including my moms.
I tug on his sleeve, and the smile that matches mine flashes me. “Dad, I know you’re doing well at work, but there are nine of us here, and three of them are boys who are over six feet tall and work out like crazy.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “Yeah, I didn’t think about that.” My shoulders relax. That bill could’ve been hundreds of dollars—
“Pizza’s on me,” he shouts. Ma rubs her eyebrows, and Mom shakes her head. Dad leans down. “Better?”
When I give him a look, he shrugs and tells “the handsome tall man” to lead us to the best pizza place in town. Cameron happily leads the way, and Levi finds me, kissing my forehead and putting an arm around me as Jenny and I talk on the way to Moonlit’s.
She’s only in town for one more night, and as much as I love my family, my dad is staying for a week. I want to go out with my friends tonight and celebrate everything one last time before finals.
We’re at the pizza place in the middle of a conversation when a wave of exhaustion hits me.
I try to suppress a yawn, but it makes its way out.
I cover my mouth, attempting to hide it, and luckily succeed.
Truthfully, I’m more tired than I’ve let on.
I know I’ve been pushing my body too much, and it’s reached its limit.
Thankfully, my brain had mercy on me throughout the show.
I never messed up any lines, and I didn’t have any seizure activity, meaning it was never necessary for me to take my emergency medication. All in all, things went well.
“You okay, Bambi?” Levi rubs my shoulder from where his arm rests on the back of my chair.
Nodding, I tell him the whole truth. “I’m exhausted, but happy, and before you ask, yes, I still want to go out.”
Levi raises a brow and takes the last bite of his slice.
He sits up and looks at me, picking up his root beer.
He’s barely drunk since we started dating.
I never told him to stop, and I’ve called him out on it, but he says he was never much of a drinker except when he goes out with everyone.
Even then, it’s only a couple of drinks.
“Tomorrow, you’re sleeping in,” he states, as if his word is final.
Narrowing my gaze, I creep in closer, too tired to deny what we both know I need. “Yes, sir.”
His eyes heat, and I smirk, giving him a quick peck.
“Stephanie?”
Giving Levi a slight eye roll, I turn. “Yes?”
“When we’re done here, why don’t you and your friends go have some fun?” Ma grabs her glass of water and tips it back slightly.
My eyebrow shoots up, surprised that out of anyone, she’d be the one suggesting this.
“Are you sure?” A foot hits me under the table, and I know that it was Mom’s.
Holding in my grunt, I clear my throat. “I appreciate that, Ma, thank you.” Mom must’ve been convincing her all week to do something like this.
Looking over at her, I see her blue eyes dancing with mischief.
We share a smile, and our moment is interrupted by Ma. “You’ve been with my daughter for a little while now, Levi.” My eyes widen slightly. Crap, so close.
Levi clears his throat. “Yes, three months now.”
“Ma,” I warn, wanting her to be nice.
She puts a hand up, shushing me, and my dad halts his conversation with Jake and Emma, noticing the sudden shift.
Ma looks around at us. “For the love of God! I was only going to ask that he keep an extra eye out because she’s exhausted, but too stubborn to go home and rest instead of celebrate, which I completely understand,” she quickly recovers.
Collectively, we let out a breath. Ma looks offended, and she opens her mouth to say something else before Mom interrupts. “Okay, why don’t you kids get going?”
Everyone at the table thanks my dad for the meal, and begins to gather their things as I say my farewells until Sunday, when I’ll see them again.
My dad kisses me on the cheek. “Bella!” he says, and squeezes my cheeks.
I laugh and smack his hands away. We’re walking out of the pizza place when Dad starts yelling something.
“Have fun and dance a lot and drink a lot and make out with lots of people—ow, Evelyn!” My dad’s ear is yanked back by Ma when I turn.
I debate on going back to the table, but Mom shakes her head, silently telling me to run away while I still can.
“Yeah, listen to your mom,” Levi whispers with a chuckle.
Leaving my dad in the hands of Ma, I follow the group out the door.
It’s for the best.
“Taki Taki” by DJ Snake plays overhead at King’s Wolf as Luna, Kami, and Jenny dance on two different tabletops.
Em is fighting Kami, claiming she’s not drunk enough to dance the way Kamila is. Kamila is indeed tipsy, but needs no drinks to dance. Levi and I joke about the way that Cameron admires her, while also glaring at any man he finds getting within an inch of the table.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Brad stands mesmerized by the girl he has a massive crush on.
He joined us tonight, and surprisingly, he and Levi got along well.
Levi must’ve noticed how head over heels Brad is for Luna, and ended up buying the guy a pity beer because she’s been making him work for it for months now.
The girl is having fun making him beg, but I can see that she likes him too.
As soon as the thought hits me, Luna moves her hips downward until she’s on all fours and crawls to Brad, singing the lyrics to the chorus, giving him a performance that’s worth multiple twenty-dollar bills.
“This is the best night ever!” Jake yells from Levi’s side.
I shove Jake for staring directly at Jenny, who’s also doing a wild dance of her own.
“No,” I say firmly, and point a finger at him. “Anyone but her.” The last thing I need is for any drama to happen between my friends due to a one-night stand.
Jake rolls his eyes. “Unfair.”
Levi whispers something into Jake’s ear, which causes him to glance at Jenn, then me, and he smiles empathetically. “Fine, I’ll be a saint for the rest of the night. With her at least,” he clarifies.
“Thank you.” I tip my head back and give Levi a peck for whatever he said to his best friend that saved me from sounding like too much of a nag.
He shoots me a wink and takes a sip of his beer.
I managed to convince him to get a third one, and he has just begun to feel some sort of buzz.
Levi is twenty-one years old and needs to have fun.
I don’t want to stop him from doing something every college student does.
He looks happy and relaxed, which in turn makes me feel the same way.
“S&M” by Rihanna begins to play, and I feel a hand tug at my arm. Shooting my head at the person who currently has me in their hold, I’m surprised that instead of Jenn’s dark brown eyes, I’m met with amber ones.
Kami grins from ear to ear. “Come on, it’s your turn.”
My face reddens instantly. “I can’t dance like that,” I state, pointing to Luna, who’s standing straight again and swaying her entire body as if no one else is in the room.