Chapter Twenty-Eight
Levi
I know she’s home.
I saw light filtering through her curtains when I pulled into the parking lot, and it took every ounce of strength I had not to run across the hall and beg her to speak to me. Did she like my flowers? My note? Did I help repair even the slightest bit of damage I’ve caused? Probably not, but I’m determined to put in the time and the work necessary to prove to her that she can trust me again. The alternative is unthinkable.
After a quick shower, where I jack off again to more dirty images of my best friend, I head to the kitchen for dinner. It was another busy evening for the fire department and doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon. My stomach growls, as it has a few times today, but I’ve been too worked up to eat. After delivering the homemade mac and cheese to Abby’s fridge earlier this afternoon, the fire call came in for an out of control residential burn just on the edge of town. It might have only taken a short period of time to get it under control, but I ended up staying back at the station, working out and cleaning up some of the equipment.
It’s not like I was super anxious to come home and stare at my fucking walls and surround myself in misery, ya know?
But now that I know she’s home, I wonder what she’s doing. Did she eat the dish I left her? What did she think about the flowers I spend an embarrassingly high amount of money on?
Do you know how much crow I had to eat when I called Payton for help? First off, she didn’t even want to take my call. I believe her exact words where, “I hope you fall into a tub of honey, naked, and then step on a beehive.”
Ouch.
But I was persistent, even though I kinda wanted to cower beneath the coffee table as she spewed big sister venom through the phone line at me, like missiles in an active warzone. (I’ll totally deny that if you ever tell.) One thing’s for certain, these sisters stick together. I feel sorry for the next sorry sucker that crosses one of them.
It took me basically confessing to her what I shared with Lexi early this morning for her to agree to help me. Fortunately, for me, but not so fortunate for my wallet, one of her distributers arrived this morning at the time of my call. That’s how I was able to secure an obscenely crazy amount of red roses and one planted orchid. (Her favorite.) And being the stellar big sister Payton is, she didn’t even charge me a delivery fee for running eighteen dozen red roses over to her sister’s place.
That’s because she charged me full retail price.
But I don’t care. It’s only money, and showing Abby that I’m serious when it comes to working towards her forgiveness is the ultimate goal.
That, and getting her back into my arms and my bed.
Fuck, my bed misses her.
My laptop sits on the coffee table, taunting me as it has for nearly twenty-four hours now. With the remote in my hand, I kick my feet up on the table, one of the Lethal Weapon movies on TV. The movement, again, causes the computer to wake, lighting up my home screen. I should probably deactivate my account on that fucking dating site. I mean it’s not like I plan to find someone to take on the perfect date. Nope. The only woman I want to date is across the hall sticking needles into her Levi-shaped voodoo doll.
With the computer in hand, I bring up the scene of the crime, my guitar profile picture filling the screen. My favorite instrument appears to be weeping in the picture, probably realizing he’ll never be cradled against her sweet body while she gently strums its strings. I know my cock is weeping at the thought.
I’m just about to click on the settings to deactivate when a message notification pops up. I’ve ignored every request received since I set up the profile, so why would now be any different. I guess curiosity really did kill the cat.
My heart literally stops beating in my chest when I see the message. AngelEyes. Click. Click. Motherfuckin’ click!
AngelEyes: I don’t know why you did what you did, but I want to know. No, I need to know. I don’t believe you did it to hurt me, even though that’s where my mind originally went. That’s on me, and for that, I’m sorry.
SimpleMan: You have nothing to apologize for. Nothing. This is on me. I guess the only way to explain it is to start at the beginning. When I saw you signing up for this dating site, I guess I became jealous. No, that’s not true. I was fucking crazy with jealousy. The thought of you dating someone made me mad with possessiveness. Why? Because you haven’t been the only one fighting feelings for the other for a while. I wasn’t kidding when I said I hadn’t slept with anyone for a year. Every woman I saw was you. Everywhere I went, I saw your face. So I signed up for that site under the guise of keeping an eye on you. I should have come clean from the beginning, that first time we talked, but I didn’t. I don’t know why. I can only guess it was because I was enjoying talking to you more than I already was. So I kept it up. It was never to hurt you. Ever. Just knowing that I’m the asshole that put those tears in your eyes is crushing me. When you asked at the restaurant yesterday about it, my initial thought was to just deny. I knew you’d be pissed that I was SimpleMan and had been all along. I realized instantly that my lie was hurtful and wrong, so I had planned to confess last night when we got home. But then the fire call happened, and everything spiraled out of fucking control so fast from there. All I can say is I’m sorry. Hurting you was never my intention. I hope someday you can forgive me. I promise to work for your forgiveness every day for the rest of my life.
I click send without rereading the message, feeling the slightest bit of relief that I finally told her a few of the things I’ve wanted to say. I just hope my apology isn’t too late.
A few moments later, I see bubbles. Fuckin’ bubbles!!
AngelEyes: All lies are hurtful to some degree. That’s why you’re not supposed to tell them, especially to the person you consider your best friend.
SimpleMan: You’re absolutely right. So fucking right, Abs. I wish I could go back and do everything over again. I wouldn’t have lied. Hell, I probably wouldn’t have signed up for the stupid site.
AngelEyes: Me too. I wish I knew where to go from here.
SimpleMan: Why don’t we start over? Not the friendship, but everything else.
AngelEyes: Start over?
SimpleMan: Hey, AngelEyes. My name is Levi. I’m an EMT and fireman and a complete bonehead sometimes. My best friend would probably tell you I’m a bonehead most of the time, but that’s OK. She’s right. Yes, a girl. My best friend is the best fucking person I know. She’s smart and sexy and sweet and forgiving. So fucking forgiving.
AngelEyes: *blushing* A girl best friend, huh? Funny, I have a boy best friend.
SimpleMan: I bet he’s the luckiest bastard in the world because you’re in his life.
AngelEyes: Quite possibly. *winky face*
SimpleMan: Tell me about your day.
AngelEyes: I’ll be honest, it didn’t start off so great, but it’s starting to look up.
SimpleMan: Mine either. To be blunt, I messed up with my girl. I’m working on making it right.
AngelEyes: That’s very noble of you. I’m sure she appreciates it.
SimpleMan: I hope so. And that’s why I have to be honest with you now. I’m not looking to hook up or go on the perfect date with anyone but her. But I like you, Angel, and I’d love to be your friend.
AngelEyes: Since we’re being honest, I kinda have a big thing for my best friend too. I’ve tried to fight it, but he’s persistent and, well, he’s pretty amazing. So I’m only looking for a friend too.
I admit. This is the part where I fist pump victoriously in the air. My smile is so big it hurts, and my heart swells more than my chest cavity has room for.
SimpleMan: Excellent. I think we’ll make great friends, Angel.
And then we spend the next three hours, until I had to go to work, chatting and talking as if we didn’t know a single thing, yet knew everything at the same time. It was one of the best Friday nights of my life.
* * *
Saturday morning.
SimpleMan: Just got off work. I’m going to sleep and then text my girl. I haven’t talked to her since I was a dumbass on Thursday.
AngelEyes: You should definitely text her. I bet she misses you, even though you were a dumbass.
* * *
Saturday night.
SimpleMan: I texted my girl. It felt fucking amazing that she replied back right away.
AngelEyes: I bet she couldn’t wait to hear from you. Even if she was angry and hurt, you can forgive those you care most for.
* * *
Sunday morning.
SimpleMan: I’m headed to the beach today to hang out with my friend Tucker. He’s probably gonna want to know why I was such a douche to my girl. I’ll tell him, of course, which will ensure that a year’s worth of pussy-whipped comments will ensue. I can’t wait.
AngelEyes: He sounds charming. Enjoy your teasing. #SorryNotSorry
* * *
Sunday afternoon.
AngelEyes: I spent the afternoon at my sister Jaime’s house. While her boyfriend Ryan was away golfing, we searched the entire house for a hidden engagement ring that we’re certain she’s going to get soon. There may have been tequila involved.
SimpleMan: *big cheesy grin* Tequila and sister shenanigans. What a great combination! Did you find it?
AngelEyes: Nope. But we did find the bottom of the bottle. I’m so sleepy. *yawning emoji*
SimpleMan: Nap, Angel. I’ll talk to you later.
* * *
Sunday night.
SimpleMan: How was the nap?
AngelEyes: Amazing until I rolled over and a thorn stuck in my hip.
SimpleMan: ??? Explain. Where exactly were you napping? The jungle?
AngelEyes: My bed. But I have this embarrassingly amazing display of roses all over my room, and well, I kinda have been sleeping with some of them. They smell so good and remind me of my friend when he’s not here.
SimpleMan: Lucky fucking flowers. I bet your friend wishes he was curled against you instead of thorny roses.
AngelEyes: That makes two of us, Simple.
* * *
Monday night.
AngelEyes: Work sucked. Since I took last Friday off, I was way behind. I had to put in extra hours to catch up.
SimpleMan: I’m sorry to hear that. I wish you’d let me help you. I know the proper uses for there, they’re, their!
AngelEyes: That’s one of the things I like most about you, Simple. Proper use of grammar.
* * *
Tuesday night.
SimpleMan: I’m off to work. Big plans tonight?
AngelEyes: I met my grandparents at the café for dinner. It was all fine and dandy until they started debating the benefits of anal beads and butt plugs. *insert grossed out emoji*
SimpleMan: *insert laughing emoji* I’m sorry I missed that. They sound like a hoot.
AngelEyes: They are the best. But don’t tell them I said that. It would go to their heads and we’d never be able to live with them.
* * *
Wednesday afternoon.
AngelEyes: I just got a text. From my best friend. He wants me to come over for dinner tonight.
SimpleMan: And?
AngelEyes: I said yes. I’m really excited, but incredibly nervous too.
SimpleMan: Why are you nervous?
AngelEyes: I haven’t seen him in a week.
SimpleMan: I bet he misses you. More than anything.
AngelEyes: I miss him. More than anything.
SimpleMan: Enjoy your dinner. Don’t be nervous. Just be your charming, amazing self and you can’t go wrong.
AngelEyes: Thanks for being my friend, Simple.
SimpleMan: The pleasure has been all mine, Angel. Go. Get ready. I have dinner to prepare for. My girl is coming over tonight and I can’t fucking wait to see her.
AngelEyes: She’s a lucky girl.
SimpleMan: I’m the lucky one.