Chapter 53

Five seconds later—or maybe ten—he accepted.

“Woot!” I did a little butt wiggle on the chair and when Messenger announced I had a new message, I wiggled even more.

The wiggle came to an abrupt halt though when I realized it was only the standard “you are now connected on Messenger” alert, which had never been more annoying than right now.

But as I grumbled over stupid automatic functions, an actual message popped up.

Beckett: Hi!

The single word was followed by a smiley emoji, and it made my face break out a wide, happy smile.

Levi: Hey! What’s up?

I stared impatiently at the three dots as he was writing back to me.

Beckett: Nothing much. Considered going for a walk but it’s too cold. I watched all the Harry Potter movies. It’s too early to sleep. My life is so exciting! You?

Levi: I’m trying to work, but can’t concentrate.

Beckett: At this hour?

Levi: Yes. Mom’s sick. I’ve been babysitting for two days. I’m behind.

Beckett: Oh no. What’s wrong with her?

Levi: Cold and a fever. She’s feeling better now, so hopefully, I can work tomorrow. I have a deadline.

Beckett: I hope she feels better soon. Is there anything I can do to help?

Levi: Sure. You know how to create a webshop?

Beckett: Um. No. Sorry.

Levi: Thanks anyway. I appreciate the offer.

Beckett: I thought about something. But I don’t want you to feel obliged to say yes if you don’t want to.

That statement made me sit up straight and pay attention.

Levi: Spit it out. I promise to not agree to something I don’t like. I followed it up with a smiley face.

He wrote for a long time and when his message finally popped up on my screen it was much shorter than I’d expected as though he’d typed and deleted several times before sending.

Beckett: I could help with your accounting if you’re interested. It shouldn’t take long.

My mouth fell open. “Are you kidding me? Oh man, that would be so awesome.” My happy holler echoed in the empty room. I wanted to accept. I really wasn’t a numbers guy. Not that I was bad at math, but as soon as the numbers were associated with dollars and cents, my eyes glazed over, and I’d rather be frozen in carbonite for the rest of my life.

I can’t ask you to do that, was what I actually wrote and a large part of me wanted him to insist.

Beckett: You didn’t ask. I offered.

Levi: Are you serious right now?

Beckett: I am.

Levi: Why would you offer something that valuable to me?

Beckett: Because you always help everyone else. It’s time someone has your back.

My hand flew to my mouth and I leaned forward until my forehead rested on the desk. My lower lip wobbled under my palm and I had to swallow repeatedly. That was probably the nicest thing someone had ever said to me. And it came from a fabulous person. It was too much. I had to breathe.

So I did. Deep breath in through the nose. Exhale through the mouth. I kept doing it until a sound from my computer alerted me to a new message. I looked up.

Beckett: Did I freak you out?

“No!” I started typing, my fingers flying over the keyboard.

Levi: I accept! If you’re really really really serious, I accept. I can’t thank you enough!

Beckett: No need to thank me. It would my pleasure, I actually enjoy my job.

Levi: I do need to thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me.

Beckett: Okay. Then you’re welcome.

Levi: When can you start?

Beckett: Anytime.

“Don’t say now, don’t say now, don’t say—” I muttered as my fingers typed…

Levi: Now?

I slapped my palm against my forehead. I was such an idiot. But at least I had the good sense to add a winky face, so he could take it as a joke if he wanted.

He didn’t.

Beckett: Sure. I can come over. I can pick it up and look it over at home?

He would drive thirty minutes at—I glanced at the clock on my computer—ten past eight at night? Just to pick up some accounting stuff as a favor for a friend? Or a brother’s friend even? I should tell him no. Suggest we do it another day. I nodded and started typing but was interrupted.

Beckett: Tax season is approaching after all. Prognosis is it’s going to be particularly cold this year.

I stared at his message followed by a laughing emoji. Holy cow! Just when I thought he couldn’t get any cuter, he told a dorky accountant joke. Was this how it felt to swoon?

Levi: I was joking when I said I wanted you to start now, you realized that, right?

Beckett: I did.