Chapter 47

I grabbed it and pressed it against my nose. “Thanks,” I mumbled.

He shrugged his shoulders and went back to eating.

Matt shoveled in his food as if he hadn’t eaten since last time we met for brunch and talked in detail of what had happened since we’d last seen each other. He could spend hours complaining about his job if I let him. Normally I would cut him off and beg him to change the subject after fifteen minutes or so, but not this time. Instead, I took advantage of his non-stop chatter and snuck glances at Levi.

His short hair was a deep chocolate brown and messy looking as though he constantly ran his fingers through it. Dark stubble covered his face and surrounded his lips that were the same color as his skin. I couldn’t take my gaze off him as he ate at a slow pace as if he was savoring every bite. And maybe he was. He still lived at home with his parents and helped with his eight younger siblings a lot. Between running a successful business and taking care of five-year-old twins, maybe he didn’t get to eat in peace all that often.

He’d always intrigued me, from the first time Matt invited me to visit his family our freshman year in college. Levi had been fifteen at the time and so smart he put all his family—and me—to shame. As he grew older, I started to notice other things. How he never ever complained when one of his younger siblings climbed him like a tree. How he always was polite and helped his parents out. And like how he grew into his long, puppy-like limbs and turned sleek and attractive and moved with unexpected grace.

I forced myself to look away. No use perving on him. First, he would probably never look at me that way. And second…well, he was Matt’s brother. It was highly likely Matt would have strong opinions about me hooking up with his little brother.

Matt’s never-ending monologue was interrupted by his phone. He reached into his back pocket and fished it out and his entire demeanor changed when he saw who was calling.

Ah. Liza. The current girlfriend.

“Hi, honey.” He stood and stepped away from the table. The waitress came back and asked if we wanted anything else, and Levi asked for more coffee. Matt returned just a couple minutes later.

“Levi. Drink up. We have to go.”

“Why? Levi looked up at Matt, who dug in his front pocket, pulled out a couple crumpled up bills, and handed them to me.

“Liza needs my help. She said it’s urgent.”

“But she knows Saturday is the day you hang out with Beckett. Or has she forgotten you have a best friend?” Levi’s voice was defiant, and he leaned back in the chair as if settling down instead of getting ready to go.

“Yes. But like I said: urgent. Finish,” Matt gestured for Levi’s coffee, “so I can drive you home.”

Levi pressed his lips together and looked at me. Then he let out a deep sigh and slumped in his chair. “Okay,” he muttered.

“Sorry, Becks,” Matt said with a sheepish look on his face.

“It’s okay.” I wasn’t surprised; Liza wasn’t my biggest fan. I was more interested in this rare exchange between the brothers. My gaze flitted from Levi to Matt and back. Levi curled and uncurled his fist on the table. Matt shifted his weight from foot to foot. He threw an impatient glance at Levi, eager to get going but trying to be patient.

“If you want to stay for a while, I can drive you home later,” I blurted, not knowing if I wanted him to accept or not. I’d love to spend some time alone with Levi, while at the same time I was scared to death. What if I made a fool of myself?

But as soon as the words were out of my mouth, Levi straightened his back and broke out into a smile. “If it’s okay with you?”

“You don’t have to do that, dude,” Matt said. “It’s so far out of your way it’s not even funny. I’ll drive him.”

“I want to stay.” Levi looked at Matt with his mouth set in a stubborn line and his chin raised.

My eyes widened, and I grabbed my mug and hid behind it. I’d never seen this side of him before, and defiant Levi was…hot. I gulped down a huge amount of chocolate, far too much, and it felt like I’d swallowed a golf ball.

Matt caved, of course. “Whatever. If you’re sure?” he asked me.

I nodded. “I’m sure.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Okay. TTYL,” he said and left.