Chapter 60
“Anyway, I just wanted to let you know since he’s your friend. So, if that’s all…” I turned my head away, unable to look at him. I stiffened when his chair scraped against the floor. Was that it? Was he walking out on me in the middle of the conversation?
But I hardly had time to finish that thought before I was hauled up to my feet and crushed against his chest. My arms flew around his waist and I hugged him back.
“I’m sorry, Levi. I really am an idiot, aren’t I?”
“Yes, you are.” My words were muffled, but his chuckle told me he’d heard me.
“Forgive me?”
“I don’t know.”
“I’ll tickle ya!”
“Noooo,” I whined.
He gave me a final squeeze before letting go. “Sit down and eat your food.”
We scarfed down our burgers in silence and left Miss Myrna a huge tip before we left. Outside the diner, he turned to me.
“Let me know what he says. As if I don’t know what his answer will be.” He reached out, ruffled my hair, and walked away. “TTYL. Bye, brat.”
“Bye, moron,” I called after him.
I hadn’t asked for his blessing. Not really. But it sure felt good to have it. With a smile, I pulled out my phone from my pocket. 7: Beckett
Pisces (February 19—March 20)
This morning, the Moon aligns with Uranus (snort) and our feelings and desires turn fiery and impossible to ignore. If you choose to interpret this literally, may I suggest a nice bottle of warming lube? If you’re the more subtle type, you can always get nekkid, tie a bow around your willy, and grease yourself up for your boyfriend when he gets home from work. That’s guaranteed to set your bedroom on fire.
* * * *
I lay curled up under my gramma’s old quilt, re-reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Princewhen my phone buzzed with a new message. I scrunched up my face, reluctant to reach out and grab it. Winter was approaching fast, making my apartment chilly, but I was warm and toasty in my quilt cocoon.
In the future, when it was time to buy a house, I definitely wanted a fireplace. A crackling fire would make even a harsh Minnesota winter bearable. I could easily picture myself with a cup of hot chocolate and a book on the floor in front of the fire. Maybe some music in the background. And someone to cuddle up next to. Preferably Levi. Yes, a fireplace was definitely a priority.
My phone buzzed again, and I unraveled from the quilt and grabbed it. A smile split my face in two when I saw the name on the screen.
Levi.
I tapped the notification and read his two messages.
Blinked.
Read them again, but the words didn’t change. My heart skipped a beat and I pressed the phone to my chest.
My forgotten book fell onto the floor with a loud thud—good thing it wasn’t my Kindle. I pulled the quilt over my head, buried my face in the pillow, and let out a happy yell. A kaleidoscope of butterflies erupted in my stomach and I couldn’t keep still, so I threw off the quilt and jumped off the couch.
Bouncing on the balls of my feet, I woke up the screen and read his messages for a third time
Levi: I swear I was going to call you, but I chickened out. Please don’t think I’m a coward for doing this via text…
Levi: Do you want to go on a date with me?
Levi Byrne wanted to go on a date with me. He wanted to go on a date with me. My first instinct was to ask ‘why’ but I forced that thought out of my mind. Sure, I’d had a hard time believing he could be interested in me at first. But that night he’d made me dinner…I hadn’t imagined his interest then.
When my giddiness had subsided enough, so I was sure I could speak without sounding like a fool, I called him.
He picked up after the first ring. He didn’t say anything, but I could hear him breathing over the line.
“Levi?”
Silence. Then a hesitant, “Yes?”
“I would love to go on a date with you,” I blurted.
“You would?”
“Of course.”
A deep, relieved exhale followed. “Wow.”
“Yeah, wow.” My smile grew even wider.
Neither of us said anything for several seconds, just listened to each other breathe. It should have been weird, but it wasn’t.
“When are you free?” he finally asked.
“Anytime, really. You know my idea of fun is a good book, so I don’t really have any plans you can interrupt. I’m boring.” As I uttered the words, doubt niggled at the back of my mind. Why couldn’t I be fun and adventurous and have lots of cool friends, instead of being a quiet introvert who laughed at dorky accountant jokes with only one close friend?
Levi interrupted my thoughts. “You’re notboring. I like you just the way you are.”
The butterflies woke up again. “You…you do?”
“Would I ask you out if I didn’t?”
I chuckled “I guess not. Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. How about Saturday afternoon? I promised to watch the Hell Sisters tomorrow evening. The parents have a thing at church.”
“Saturday is perfect.”
We talked for a couple more minutes and after we hung up, I threw myself on my back on the couch and giggled like a smitten teenager. I was going on a date with Levi.