The Love Raffle

Chapter 13

Levi twisted the bottle of wine so it faced his chair then made picture frames with his fingers. Those hand-picked roses he ordered complemented it well. His penthouse dining room was right up there in class with the finest of restaurants. That was what Levi believed. He’d set the glow of his lights to a warm gold and the rosemary-scented air freshener left him longing to snuggle close to someone. But not just anyone.

With hands clasped on the table, Levi read the circular clock hanging on the wall above his counter. He was far from skilled in culinary arts so hadn’t bothered with the hassle. Their main course for tonight was A5 Wagyu with charred eggplant and spring garlic confit, ordered straight from Providence. He’d had Oscar make the order to avoid this getting out to the public. By now, the man must have known of Levi’s antics but somehow refused to address them.

Levi didn’t know if Oscar liked him being low-key and let it be, or if he didn’t know about him and Amber, making Levi too scared to ask. Oscar’s role was keeping Levi in check. If he secretly disapproved of Levi’s decision, then reminding him through questioning might just galvanize him to shut down this undercover relationship. That was the last thing Levi wanted. They’d only had several dates so far but…Levi was having a great time. Their late-night encounters were everything. It was as if a pocket dimension enveloped them both, forming a barrier that restricted all stresses and woes from entry.

He’d loved the comfort of Amber’s tiny studio setup, but she’d requested to see his place this time. At first, Levi had been hesitant but after much pleading from Amber, he’d relented. Strict instructions had to be followed, though. No risks could be taken. Amber had agreed to remain in complete disguise on her way to and from his abode. So far, no one had caught on to their rendezvous at her house but that was due to Levi’s experience. He knew all about preventing the nosy public from knowing his whereabouts, but Amber was still new to this. As long as she follows what I said she’ll be fine.

He tapped his thumbs together at the table. The packaged steak rested on the counter beside his microwave. It was midnight and they both had work the next day, but he didn’t mind being tired before shooting if it meant spending every waking moment of the night with—

“Knock, knock, knock,” a familiar voice cooed at his door.

Levi hopped to his feet. He rushed to the door like someone had chased him and then opened up. “Why, hello there,” he said in a sultry tone.

Amber giggled and held his collar. She wore a long black coat and a black baseball cap. A little on the suspicious side but Levi would take it.

“Hi there, gorgeous—” She raised her chin to plant her lips on his, but he held up a hand.

“Hold on.” Levi stuck his head out to look for wandering residents. “Okay…and…”

Amber walked in while he was on the lookout. She put her hat on his coat rack and then slipped out of her coat. “See anyone?” she asked tiredly. The sight of Levi’s million-dollar penthouse perked her spirits. “Oh wow.”

“The coast is clear. The only thing we got to worry about is security cameras, but the guards don’t release those unless there’s an emergency.” Levi pulled back in and locked the door. He caught her twirling in his living room. The smile on her face refreshed him. “Like the place?”

Amber stopped and pulled the end of her tunic over her leggings. “Yeah.” She wore flats, but the snug feel of his high pile carpet reached the sides of her feet. “Oh, and look at this TV!” She’d never seen one so thin. She got closer and traced a finger over the top. YouTube playlists were not foreign to Amber, but the quality of Levi’s screen gave the impression she was watching YouTube in a cinema. “Dude, what?” She picked up the remote beside the TV, admiring how the design was like a mini iPad. “This is all so cool.” She tapped a button, and the home menu came up, stopping the music. “Oh, um…sorry.”

“No, no, go ahead.” Levi smiled. He jogged up to Amber with a chuckle and took the remote. “You’re like a kid in a candy store.” He’d detected this part of her personality since their first date, but it had never come out so strongly. He loved this side of Amber. A side she seemed to suppress.

Amber smiled coyly. “Sorry.” She eyed the neat orange couch and the glass doors to his city-view terrace. “I swear I don’t usually act like this in new settings.” She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

Levi flashed a smile. “If you said you did, I’d take you all over the world just so you’d let out that side a bit more.” He leaned in.

Amber’s face heated and she pushed him away playfully. “Why are you so cheesy but adorable?”

Levi’s smile dropped. “What? That was not cheesy.” He re-opened his playlist and put the remote back on the TV stand.

“ Yes, it was.” Amber laughed at him, poking his chest. They didn’t see each other outside of secret dates but they’d gotten quite acquainted through calls and texts. She’d grown fond of Levi’s good morning messages and counted down the minutes of each day till she could head home to lie back and talk to him. Their situation was far from ideal but…they made it work. Though we haven’t really defined “us” yet. But neither of them needed to explicitly say it, right?

Levi had fallen in love with her teasing over time. He ruffled his hair, his eyes on Amber.

Amber saw the shift in his eyes. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. Just thinking about how infrequently we see each other,” Levi admitted.

Their silence caused the music to seem louder. It swelled while the two stood there awkwardly.

Amber had something on her lips but held it there for now. “Come on. You said we’d be having the finest of meals tonight. I want to see it.” She clapped once and skipped to the kitchen.

Levi hadn’t meant to bring down the mood. She lifted it back up. Where had she been all his life? “Alrighty then. Hope the disaster at Providence didn’t turn you off their food.” He sauntered to the counter where the food was wrapped.

Amber placed a hand beside the plastic bag and watched him undo the knot. “Oh, this is from Providence?” She didn’t know they did takeout.

“Yup. But don’t worry. I asked them to hold the shellfish,” Levi said as he carried the food to the dining room.

Amber gave an eye roll and then took her place at his round table. “Wow, do you polish this yourself?” Her reflection was visible on the glass surface.

Levi put her Styrofoam bowl in front of her. “Would I sound like a pampered prince if I said I didn’t?” He sat down and opened his own bowl.

Amber took a whiff of the fresh steak aroma. “Smells incredible.” She popped her bowl open, and the steam hit her face. “Mmm.” She wiped away the moisture left upon her cheeks. She looked up and noticed Levi had his phone out to take her picture. “Um…is photography going to be your new thing?” she giggled, picking up her fork.

“Sorry. Is it overkill? Sometimes my memories aren’t enough to get me through the gaps between our meetings,” Levi said, setting his phone aside. Wait, that sounded a tad bit obsessive. “Wait, no, what I meant was…”

“Aww.” Amber melted at his nervous babble. He may have come off as cool and aloof in interviews and movies, but Levi Marks was just a big ol’ dork. Sometimes, Amber feared that their time apart would lead him to other people. More interesting people he met while working. The guy was a movie star after all. She’d heard that celebrities tended to lack in the personality department but wasn’t sure how true that was. The possibility of Levi meeting someone more extraordinary than she was during day-to-day activities was not impossible at all. After all, he did work with one of the coolest actresses in Hollywood…and was also in a fake relationship with her. And trust me I know she’s a cool person because I googled her and watched interviews. Not that she was obsessed. She just…liked…researching? It’s hard, okay. Avoiding Liona was close to impossible. How could she not be uneasy when Levi seemed enamored for this girl in magazines, articles, photos, and according to gossip? I know how he really feels but… She shook away her wandering thoughts. “I think it’s sweet that you want to capture every moment to look at later.” She picked up her knife and fork.

Levi was so relieved. Every time he thought he’d messed up, Amber would always reassure him. Is she just really sweet or does she secretly think I’m a weirdo? He was still out of practice with this whole relationship thing. It had been a while. “Really?”

Amber nodded while reaching for the rose at the center of their table. “Yeah.” She twirled the flower by its stem. “This is real?”

Levi pointed his steak knife at the rose. “Yes, it is.” A bashful chuckle left his mouth. “I figured you liked roses, so I got some for our special night.” He took a bite and chewed.

“So thoughtful.” Amber popped a piece of steak in her mouth as well.

Levi rose when he remembered to pour their wine. “What’s your favorite brand again? Of wine that is.” He picked up the bottle.

His phone buzzed, shaking the table.

Amber chewed and swallowed then reached for her napkin to wipe her lips. “I’m a sucker for any kind of red wine.” She wondered who’d just messaged him. “I think you got a message just now.”

Levi had been getting those like crazy. Rachel kept coming up with ideas for him and Fiona to keep the hype going. Anticipation for his next movie was through the roof and they had only just started filming. I hope we won’t have to keep them invested for all the filming. “I’ll take a look at it later.” Work needed to stay where it was. “I could guess you were a red wine girl. You lost it the first time we met at your place. Remember that?”

“I was not that drunk.” Amber’s cheeks heated at the mention. “I was just…tipsy.”

“ Right. ” Levi had opened the bottle and was now filling Amber’s glass. “Tell me when to stop,” he said cheekily.

“Keep going till it’s full. I want to be carried home by the end of tonight,” Amber joked.

Levi laughed.

Once both their glasses were filled, Levi sat to keep eating.

“Wait, when did you say the episode was coming out?” He couldn’t wait to see Amber on TV.

“Of All About Love ? That’ll be out this Friday.” Amber snapped both fingers and winked.

Levi’s eyes went wide. “Woah, already?” Where had the time gone?

Amber swayed happily. “I know, right? I can’t wait— Oh, did I tell you I got a part that I auditioned for a while back?”

“Seriously?” Levi smiled with his glass in hand. He swirled his wine before sipping.

“Yeah, it’s…insane.” Amber loved how things were looking these days. Aside from those little insecurities, of course. She thought of the catalyst of all this good fortune. It’s just two roles, though. “It’s for this new show called, A Season for Us . I was so nervous in that audition room. I felt like they didn’t even notice me. This was shortly before I went on The Love Raffle . I didn’t expect to land it but…Oh and I have another audition next week—”

“Woah, slow down.” Levi laughed at her words, feeling pride swell inside him. “You paying Beca for overtime or what?”

Amber giggled with wine in her mouth, causing some to shoot out.

“Geez!” Levi jumped in place then snatched a napkin from his silver napkin holder. “Careful there.”

Amber’s cheeks turned red. She took the napkin and wiped her nose and mouth. “Wow…” She saw the laughter in his eyes. His body jerked too. “If I’m not blowing up over shellfish, I’m spitting my wine through my nose. Ugh. Can’t take me anywhere, huh?”

“Where’s anywhere? This is home.” Levi put his arms on the table, leaning closer with an easy smile.

“Home?” Amber raised one of her brows. “ Your home. Not mine. This is just another place for me.” She sat back to admire the décor of his apartment. The theme was white and orange. The home of the real Captain Evolution resembled a spaceship in a sense.

Levi forgot she’d never been here. “Well…that could change. I mean, who knows? Maybe one day you will call this home.” He sipped sparingly at his drink.

Amber lowered her chin, looking at him. She was resisting the urge to furrow her eyebrows at him.

Levi avoided her eyes at all costs. They hadn’t known each other that long. Was he overdoing it? “Uh…anyway, let’s talk about—”

“Have you ever moved in with someone?” Amber placed her hands on her lap.

The music was loud once more. This time Adele’s “Someone Like You” blared over their awkward silence. His playlist must have gone through all the seventies hits and started up other love songs.

Levi searched for the answer in the recesses of his mind. “Uh, well…no, but I have thought about it.” She once again wasn’t freaked out by him. Maybe I should stop tensing up around her. Amber was not someone to fear. Am I comfortable with this girl? He admired the way her lashes fluttered unintentionally.

“Really?” Amber held her glass by its bowl, sloshing the liquid around.

He pictured Jenny’s wide silver eyes. “Yeah, actually. She was um…my first girlfriend in the spotlight. I don’t know if you heard of her. Jenny was her name.”

Amber could not recall Levi dating someone with that name. Not that she kept track of his every move. “Was? Is she…” She gasped. “She died?” she leaned in to whisper.

“What? No, no. No, she’s alive.” Levi shook his head. “She’s alive. Don’t worry.”

Amber sighed with relief. “Oh, good.” That was a drastic conclusion to draw, wasn’t it? “Of course she is.” She could see the sadness behind Levi’s eyes. “Wait, so like…what happened? Was it an ugly breakup or something?”

Levi sighed, his emotions overwhelming him. “Nah,” he said, his voice breaking unexpectedly.

“Oh.” Amber covered her mouth, concern etched on her face. She immediately got up and went to his side, rubbing both of his shoulders. “What happened? What’s wrong?” she asked, worry lacing her words. Seeing Levi cry was a shock, as she had never witnessed this side of him before. She couldn’t help but wonder if he still had lingering feelings for his ex. Her heart twisted, and a knot formed in her stomach.

“No, it’s not like that.” Levi tried to compose himself, realizing he hadn’t meant to react so strongly. He chastised himself inwardly for showing such vulnerability. “You know what? Never mind. I was just—”

Amber interrupted him, her voice firm but compassionate. “Hey, if we don’t talk about this now, it’s going to hang over us all evening,” she said, releasing her grip on his shoulders and standing up straight with her hands on her hips.

Levi reached for a napkin, wiping his eyes and then his nose. He felt embarrassed by his outburst, but also grateful for Amber’s support. Her presence was comforting, and he knew he couldn’t keep his feelings bottled up.

Amber’s expression softened as she noticed the redness of his eyes and nose. With a reassuring smile, she squatted down in front of him and gently took both of his hands in hers. “Come on,” she said softly, her eyes filled with empathy.

Levi sniffed, trying to regain his composure. “It’s really not like…she didn’t hurt me, okay? It was a mutual breakup,” he mumbled, his voice filled with a mix of vulnerability and relief.

Amber blinked, processing his words. “So?” she responded, her voice gentle but firm. “Even if it was a mutual breakup, it’s okay to feel sad or hurt. Emotions don’t always follow a logical path, Levi. What matters is that you’re allowed to feel whatever you’re feeling, and I’m here to support you.”

Levi massaged the back of Amber’s hands with his thumbs. “Talking about exes is weird.” He averted his eyes.

“Is it to you? Cause I don’t mind too much…except now I am wondering if you still have a thing for this person.” Amber stared at their hands.

Levi’s brows went up. “Huh? No. No way. I’ve completely moved on. It’s just that, well…”

Amber met his reddened eyes. They carried this innocence akin to a puppy. So large and unassuming. Almost unreal. Did people just look like this? He softened her heart with no effort.

“I don’t like what happened to her because of my fame. It’s like I gave her some of the worst months of her life being with me, you know?”

“What do you mean?” Amber asked, her brows crinkling.

Levi squeezed Amber’s hands. “I was probably eighteen when we dated. Considered a Hollywood heartthrob. Had all of my passionate fans marking my every move and wanting to be with me.” He let go and put his arm on the table, turning his face to his half-eaten steak. “I met Jenny, we hit it off and people noticed, and I happily came out and said we were a thing. The general public thought we were adorable, but my fans were pissed. ”

Amber changed position, sitting with legs crossed rather than stooping. The floor looked clean enough to eat off, so she wasn’t worried about dirt. “So what? They posted nasty comments on her social media pages?”

Levi tapped his fingers against the table. “Not only that. She’d get publicly harassed too. Like when we went out and stuff. Fans always knew where we were and would be waiting outside restaurants and clubs for us with paparazzi.” He saw the camera lights clear as day. All the shouting came back too. “Fans would always yell horrible things at her when we walked by. Calling her a slut and all sorts of other insults. They’d even find her when we weren’t together. The harassment was ridiculous. She had to put out a restraining order for someone at one point.” He clasped his hands on his lap, fiddling with his fingers.

Amber hung onto every word. “Oh my God, that must have been a nightmare. So, it all just…got to her?”

Levi breathed out. “Yeah. She drew the line at having a literal rock thrown at her while we were vacationing together in Brazil.” Speaking this aloud felt like a confession. A shameful confession for a heinous crime he’d kept secret for years, regardless of the world’s awareness of the fiasco. “She just…she loved me but couldn’t handle it anymore.”

“A rock? Jeez, did she get hurt?” Amber mustn’t have heard right. She was taken aback by the fact that a crazed fan would go to that extreme.

Levi bared his teeth as he cringed. “It only grazed her forehead thankfully, but it could have been worse.”

Amber’s heart leaped to her throat. She rubbed it tenderly. “But why would they do all of that? No one’s throwing rocks at Fiona, right? Or did I miss something? You said things were crazy ‘back then’ but ‘back then’ wasn’t that long ago. You were eighteen what? Six years ago?”

“It was my first public relationship. Up till then, I’d been everyone’s pure sweetheart,” Levi said to her. He didn’t like being on a higher level so he got up and sat next to her on the floor.

Amber faced him, turning her head to do so. “So, they’re all docile for Fiona?”

“Oscar said something about people accepting us more because we’re ‘canon’ in the Captain Evolution comics or something.” Levi put quotes around “canon” then rubbed his palm against the nape of his neck.

Amber thought briefly of her wild encounter at the restaurant. “I guess that might have some truth to it. Did I tell you about how one of your fans tried to kick my butt while I was working one night?”

Levi’s eyes popped. “Huh?”

She giggled, liking his genuine confusion and embarrassment. “It was just an angry teen.” She held the side of his face then licked her bottom lip. He couldn’t look away. He felt like he was under a spell.

Levi became mush in her grasp. “Ha ha…sorry about that.” How strange. “She didn’t hurt you, right? I know teenage girls seem harmless but trust me, they are not. ”

Amber leaned closer, her lips curling slyly, and his body lit up with anticipation for what was to come. “She just kind of yelled at me.” Something in her made her move back. “But I guess that doesn’t happen to Fiona?” She let go of him, one hand on her knee.

Levi’s mood crashed and burned at the distance. “What? Angry fan attacks?” Why is this all coming out now?

Amber nodded. “Everyone loves you two together?” She interlaced her fingers, unsure of what to do with her hands. Her eyes never left his.

Levi scratched his jaw. “I guess? But she’s not out and about in public like you are. Who knows? Maybe if she went out for ice cream someone would pick a fight with her too.” He was trying to soothe her, but his choice of words was just insensitive. “Not that I’d want that for her.” He looked at Amber’s lap.

Amber hummed, taking a sudden interest in his silver refrigerator. “She’s…fun to be around, right? Like…it’s not painful being her fake boyfriend?”

Levi didn’t like the phrasing of this question. Was she concerned about his wellbeing or daring him to show more favor to someone aside from her? This fake relationship seemed to come up on every date.

Amber was waiting. She didn’t like Levi’s hesitation. “Is it hard to act in love with her?”

“Um.” Levi tried to construct the perfect response. He put on his best smolder and held both Amber’s hands between them. “Of course it’s hard. Who wants to be fake with someone they’re not connected to? I’d rather be real with the one my soul chose as my own . The real boyfriend of my real girlfriend.” He closed the short gap that separated them and kissed her nose.

Amber found herself intoxicated by the lingering scent of Levi’s body spray. It was a subtle yet alluring fragrance that seemed to heighten her senses. Her face flushed with a mix of excitement and nervousness as she realized that Levi was being surprisingly forward with his affection.

Unable to contain her delight, Amber’s smile grew wider, making her look like a love-struck fool. Her laughter bubbled up, a joyful sound that escaped her lips effortlessly. Without hesitation, she went in for a hug, seeking the warmth and comfort of Levi’s embrace.

Levi, too, could not resist the magnetic pull between them. He held her close, savoring the warmth of her body pressed against his. As their lips met in a tender kiss, a surge of electricity passed between them, igniting a passionate flame that neither could deny. Amber smiled, her lips melding with his, a gentle gasp escaping their mouths as they both agreed, without words, to deepen the kiss.

Later, the two packed up their leftovers and got cozy on the couch. Levi had shown Amber the voice command settings of his TV and boy had she gone crazy. She chose a movie using her voice and sat back with him in the darkness. Both cuddled into each other’s warmth.

Levi had gotten a blanket to put over them. He resisted the urge to cover his eyes with each jump scare on screen. Amber’s legs were in his lap and her body was near. She seemed entranced by the film, but he would prefer to not take the chance. What would she think of him if he whimpered like a kid over a horror movie?

Amber laughed at the detailed depiction of a hatchet’s blade slicing a man’s head clean off. “Wonder how much they put into that.” She rested her side against Levi.

“Heh…yeah. It looks um…hardly believable, right?” Levi squirmed in place, an arm around her. Hope she can’t feel my heart going a hundred miles an hour. He sniffed and then remembered his phone on the center table. When they’d migrated from the kitchen, he’d brought it here in case a call came through. It had been oddly quiet since Amber’s arrival. He knew it was late but that never stopped Rachel from bugging him. Levi didn’t know what she ran on, but it must be effective. The woman never rested.

Wait, it buzzed earlier. But he’d boldly disregarded it. Hmm. A chill settled in the bottom of his stomach. Bro, why am I scared? He was not at risk of punishment like a school kid neglecting their homework. He was a grown man who wanted a break. I’m not even usually up to check in on her two a.m. texts anyway. But he did wake to read them. Just in case. Was he a slave to his agent?

“What’s wrong?” Amber had wanted to point out the absurdity of a certain shot on screen when she spotted the paleness of Levi’s face. “Do you feel sick?” She drew back her legs, so they hung off the sofa. “Oh no, do you think the food we ate was bad?”

“What? Was the steak bad? Wait, do you feel sick?” Levi told the movie to pause. “They wouldn’t deliver bad steak. That’s not the way five-star restaurants operate.” He laughed but there was a nervous chuckle hidden in there. If ordering from Providence made Amber sick again after he had been warned the first time, he deserved to be beaten. “How many fingers—”

“Wait, wait, wait,” Amber cut him off.

Levi sat mutely as Amber’s eyes silently searched his for something unnamed. “So, you’re not sick?”

“I think I just overate, but you look pale. I thought maybe there was something in the steak, but I guess not. You don’t feel sick, right?” she asked cautiously. Amber learned over closer to Levi. The dim glow of his flat screen was not adequately illuminating his face.

Levi jumped when she slapped his forehead with the back of her palm. “Ah—”

“Oh sorry. Too hard. I was checking for a fever…I don’t even know why.” Amber laughed at herself.

Levi cracked a smile at the small snort she released. “No, no, I greatly appreciate your concern but there’s no fever, no stomach bug or any of that. I was just lamenting the fact that I haven’t checked that message that came in earlier. Guess it was kind of driving me crazy, but it doesn’t matter.” He straightened himself on the cushy sofa and twisted the tip of his blanket. “Let’s hop right back in, shall we?” He yawned.

Amber got the urge to yawn back. She’d read online it was a sign of deep connection. Aww…or maybe yawns are just contagious. “Didn’t you say that Rachel sometimes sends her most important updates in the dead of night, i.e., now?” She flung an arm towards the glass doors showing the pitch-black city. One or two building lights twinkled like stars beyond the railing but for the most part, things were dark.

“I told you that?” Levi couldn’t recall. He glanced at his phone on the center table. A lot of him was desperate to check but an equal amount served as a nagging mother saying that Amber would lose interest if he kept prioritizing work over her. No one needed to say it. It was clear as day that the whole Fiona thing bothered Amber and would keep bothering her the more they saw each other. She was his secret fling behind closed doors. But she’s not a fling at all. Yet he treated her as such. Hiding her from the public and everyone he was close to. Forcing these odd date hours upon her. Her schedule would only get busier the more jobs she accumulated. And yet…here he was. Stuffing her to the back of his closet. It’s not like that. But it might appear so to Amber.

“You share a lot when we text. Seems you’re more vocal while typing. Funny, right? Since you don’t use your voice to type?” Amber rolled the end of the blanket and held it to her mouth. “Check your phone, Levi. It’s getting late anyway. I should get going.” She dropped the padded blanket to her lap and stretched.

Levi was opposed to this. “Hey, hey, our tradition is to sleep over, remember?” he joked, reaching for his phone. A shy smile brightened his face. “Don’t you want to see my room? Snuggle in bed with me?”

Amber folded her lips and playfully rolled her eyes. “Mmm…” She drew out the sound.

Levi leaned closer and closer as she held the note.

Amber held his face and moved it away, laughter pouring out of her mouth. “Levi, you’re the one who seemed extra scared for tonight.” She linked her hands in her lap. Her nails were due for a salon visit. Some of the deep purple polish on her left pinkie was chipping away. “If I leave in the morning, it’ll look weird. I should leave tonight, okay? Paps are not known for camping outside this building, right?” She got up and immediately searched for her shoes.

Half his spirit perished. “Uh…not really. I mean, there was an incident where some stalker followed me a couple of years back but…” He clapped the lights on to help out.

“Oh.” Amber saw her outdated flats beside Levi’s bright sofa. “You got a thing for orange, Marks?” She giggled after tucking her feet into them.

Levi’s cheeks turned rosy. “Well, I mean…I bought this place when I was eighteen and at the time I was into this anime and the protagonist wore orange so I kind of—don’t laugh, Amber, come on.” He ripped off his covers to stand, finally unlocking his phone.

Amber wouldn’t hide her ridicule. “You’re too cute, Levi.” She exhaled, thinking of the week ahead. Regular work, the filming she was excited for, probably more sightings of Levi and… “When can we meet again? You don’t have promotions for anything you were in recently, right?”

Levi had been reading his latest message. Just as suspected, Rachel had sent it. Wait, hold on.

“What’s wrong?” Levi’s appearance earlier had been much less startling than this gray hue now. “Did Rachel have bad news?” Amber went to his side to read over his shoulder. “On a night out with Fiona and her agent. When we’re done, we’re coming over. You and her need to take some cute pics in your place for Instagram.”

“Holy crap!” Levi exclaimed, running to his door. He stretched to his peephole and widened an eye to look through. “She sent that hours ago. They might be on their way!” He paced back and forth while mumbling indecipherable sentences.

Amber thought over what she’d read. “They want you guys to take pictures here together for Instagram?” That sick feeling from overdoing it with the steak wasn’t the only one inside her. Her chest felt like it had an expanding brick on it.

Levi could not have Rachel and Amber in the same vicinity. He would die before letting that happen. “Yeah, I guess because the whole world is into this? By now they’ve realized that Fiona will play Mrs. S in the next movie and you know how popular Captain Evolution is so…okay, look. Amber, you need to leave cause if Rachel comes and sees you—”

A knife slashed right through her heart. From begging me to stay to pleading that I leave in the same hour. Ouch. “Yes, yes, I know. She won’t approve and things will get messy.” She didn’t mean to sound upset but she was, and it was hard to hide. “I was just going, remember?”

Levi hated the disappointment on her face. “Amber.” He held both her hands.

Amber refused to make eye contact.

Levi heard a tiny sniff. Oh no. Oh no. He’d made her cry! “Amber, no. Baby, come on. You know I love you.” He kissed her cheek. “You know you’re all I think about.” He rubbed the tip of his nose against her face. “You know I—”

“Wait, you…” Amber met his eyes, hers wide with shock. “What did you say?”

Levi was taken off guard. He had so much more to say. “I said…” And now he remembered. “Um.” Those sparkling brown eyes of hers were shining with intrigue.

“You love me?”

Levi’s face lit up with fire. “Um…” Did he say that? Did he mean it? Did he— “Yes,” he blurted. He’d be foolish to take it back. “I-I do.” He stuck his teeth into his bottom lip and lowered his face. “I have. I have… been in love since the first time I went to your house, probably since we danced at the club, but I would’ve come off as a total creep if I’d said it around then so I just…um…”

Amber’s pain was no more. The way his words flowed naturally while he’d fought to appease her was just perfect. So honest and true. Like saying he loved her was second nature. She smiled then kissed his lips. “I lo—”

Knock, knock, knock.