Chapter Eighteen
Levi
I’m sweaty and hot and could definitely use a cold shower, but that still doesn’t stop me from reaching over for Abby’s hand as we head home from Dean and Payton’s place. She gives me one of those shy grins that I’ve come to love the shit out of. Just one glance at it makes my heart start beating crazy-fast in my chest.
It’s a scary feeling, but I don’t let myself freak out over it. Not now. Not when sitting beside her, with her hand in my own, feels so fucking right.
And I ran from this? Hell yes, I did. This feelings shit is big-time scary, but I’m not going to let it pull me down. There’s no room for doubts anymore. It’s like standing on the diving board. I’ve already committed to the jump, so there’s only one thing left to do: jump. And that’s what this is. A big leap of faith and trust, but if I’m going to step out of my comfort zone and into the relationship zone, then I’d only want to find Abby on the other side.
She’s my calm. My solace.
It’s a short drive to our building, so before too long, I’m pulling into the parking lot. She waits until I can come around and help her down from the passenger seat, something that I’ve come to love in light of recent events. Her body molds to mine as I help her, the scent of vanilla and a bit of sweat hitting my senses like a freight train.
Abby gives me another grin, her green eyes shining as the day turns to night. Taking her hand again, we head towards the front door of our building. Another couple from our floor is coming out, and after exchanging a few pleasantries, we’re heading towards the stairwell.
She has her key out before we hit the landing for the third floor. I follow at a very close distance, craving that nearness. When the door is open, she turns, those emeralds sparkling up at me like diamonds caught in the sun.
“I have to work next weekend, but we have a gig at The Beaver Friday night. Go?” I ask, stepping forward and running my hands up her bare arms. I’m rewarded with a shiver.
“Oh, um…” she hem and haws around, the wheels in her gorgeous head spinning faster than a hamster wheel. “I don’t know.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she insists quickly. Too quickly.
“Why don’t you want to go?”
She looks to be sputtering to find the right words, and eventually just stops trying. Abby stares at me, wordlessly.
“Confession time.” I know she’d never lie to me during a confession. It’s part of the pact.
She closes her eyes for a moment, and I start to wonder if she’s going to speak. It only takes a few seconds before her eyes open and she’s staring straight at me. “Okay, so you know I’ve kinda had a crush on you for longer than a few weeks, and well, it was too hard watching you go home with other girls after your shows. That’s why I haven’t gone much lately.” Her eyes divert from my face, but there’s no way to miss the look of hurt etched in those eyes.
“I haven’t done that in a year,” I tell her honestly.
Irritated. Oh, my little firecracker is definitely looking at me like she wants to bite. And yeah, I might like it, but I don’t want her to do it because she’s pissed at me. “You’re not supposed to lie during a confession. It’s against the rules,” she reminds me.
“I would never lie to you. I haven’t.”
“I saw that girl slipping out of your apartment a few weeks ago, Levi.”
Think, Levi, fucking think!
Then it hits me.
Jessa.
“Oh, no! That was Dexter’s sister. He ended up hooking up with Crystal when I wouldn’t so I gave her my spare bed for the night so she wasn’t scarred for the rest of her life, listening to her brother have sex.”
Relief seems to transform her face as she relaxes a bit. “Oh.”
Stepping forward, I rest one hand on her shoulder and use the other to stroke her cheek. “Confession time,” I say. “I haven’t been with a woman in about a year because I’ve been hung up on my best friend.”
She seems completely fucking surprised by my confession, and we can’t have that now, can we? “You didn’t know? I’m sure I’ve done a shitty job hiding it.”
“I didn’t know,” she confesses sweetly.
“You don’t have to go Friday night. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable, but I need you to know that I’ll be going home solo. You don’t have to worry about that.”
“You want me to go?” she asks.
“Fuck yes,” I tell her. “I love it when you’re there, and besides last month, I haven’t seen you there in a while.”
She nibbles down on that lush bottom lip, making me want to suck on it. And I will; I just need her answer first.
“Okay, I’ll go,” she whispers, giving me a warm smile.
“Will you go with me? It doesn’t take too long to set up and tear down. But I’ll understand if you don’t want to be there that long. It can be a long night,” I say, pulling her against my body and wrapping my arms around her waist.
“Sure.”
Hell yes. I’ve got big plans for my girl Friday night. Big plans that involve good music and hopefully very little clothes. I wouldn’t sleep with her last night because it was our first date, but all bets are off on Friday. If the offer is there, I’m taking it.
And taking her.
As I bid her good night, I can’t help but smile as images start to parade through my mind. One with her and me and nothing but the sheets. I wonder if I’m being too presumptuous with how I picture the night ending, but then I recall the fire in her eyes and the bite of her nails as she held me close, grinding that sweet body against mine. She wants me just as bad as I want her. I feel it.
Oh, yes. It’s happening Friday night.
* * *
My computer lights up, the app taunting me with a new notification. I’ve been home only long enough to jump in the shower and rinse off before firing up the laptop and grabbing a beer. I shed the towel, not a stranger to walking around naked. I just learned the hard way to make sure the front door is locked when I do. Dexter and Andy walked in on me one night, and even though it didn’t bother me as much, they say that some things are better left unseen.
Apparently, neither of them has ever seen a dick piercing.
After the initial shock wore off, we played a riveting game of twenty questions, all focused on my cock. It was…educational. In fact, I’m pretty sure by the end of it Dexter was heading to get his done. No, I don’t know for sure since I don’t make a habit of questioning my friends about their genitals.
Sitting down on the couch with my beer and laptop, I pull up the dating site. I decline all of the other messages and connection requests and click on the one message I’m expecting. We’ve talked a lot over the last couple of weeks via this stupid site. No, she still doesn’t know it’s me, but I promise to tell her soon.
Bringing up the message, I instantly smile.
AngelEyes: I think I have a second date lined up already.
SimpleMan: Yeah? That’s great news. I think I’m in the same boat.
The bubbles appear, so I sit back and wait for her reply. I can picture her now, in her office, sitting at her desk and nervously biting on that luscious lower lip of hers until it’s bright pink and plump. That’s the exact spot I want to suck into my mouth until she’s moaning my name.
AngelEyes: Is it weird that we’re on a dating site and talking about dating other people?
SimpleMan: No way. We’re both here because we want to find our someone, right? Well, part of that is meeting new friends and giving them encouragement.
AngelEyes: I guess you’re right. Tell me about your date?
Well, shit. It’s not like I can tell her where I went on my “date.” That’ll blow my cover, and quite possibly my friendship.
SimpleMan: Dinner and then we hung out.
True. Vague. That’ll work.
AngelEyes: Nice.
SimpleMan: What about yours?
AngelEyes: Dinner and he took me to my favorite place in the whole world.
SimpleMan: Paris?
AngelEyes: No *smiley* He took me to the bookstore.
SimpleMan: Wow, sounds like the guy really wanted to score points with ya! Did you get a goodnight kiss?
AngelEyes: I don’t kiss and tell. *winky face*
SimpleMan: Well, that pretty much tells me you did. If it weren’t for the beating around the bush, the smirky wink emoji would’ve given it away.
AngelEyes: Not telling. What about you? Did you kiss her?
SimpleMan: What, you don’t kiss and tell, but I have to?
AngelEyes: You don’t have to. I was just curious.
SimpleMan: Well, I will tell you that it was the best kiss of my life. Hands down. *inserts flaming emoji*
AngelEyes: Yay! Good for you.
SimpleMan: And I don’t get anything?
AngelEyes: Didn’t I tell you last night it was the best date ever?
SimpleMan: Kiss, Angel. I need deets about that kiss.
AngelEyes: Life. Altering.
I throw my fists in the air like I just won the fucking Super Bowl. And in a way, I did. Never have I been complimented more than in the direct messages I’ve had with Abby in the last twenty-four hours. And believe me, I’ve had a lot of compliments. But I couldn’t tell you what one was. This one? I’ll remember Abby’s words for the rest of my life.
We sign off an hour later, promising to be in touch later in the week. It didn’t even occur to me in that time that I’m still butt-ass naked. Shutting down my laptop, I head to my room and climb into bed. My dick was starting to throb like some perv as I pictured her on the other end of that Internet conversation, so it’s no surprise to me that I’m unable to squash the fantasy of her getting up from her computer and going to bed. Naked.
My cock is in my hand moments later, jizz seeping from the tip and providing my own lube. It’s a quick finish, one I’d normally be embarrassed about. But not when it’s Abby I’m fantasizing about.
When sleep finally claims me, it’s with a smile on my face and her on my mind.