The sound of a horn blasted behind us, making me jump. Levi laughed at my shock, shaking his head. Bringing my hand to his lips, he asked again, “Are you sure you wanna do this? If it’s too much I can take you home. I won’t be mad.”

As I watched his lips brush against my skin, I said, “No. I want to be here with you, for you. I need to do this, for me too. I have to do this sometime. Why not now?”

Levi gave me the brightest smile, then he opened his door. The valet opened my door too and helped me out. I walked round the car and immediately took hold of Levi’s outstretched hand. He proudly led me into the foyer. I looked around in awe at the opulence surrounding us. “Crazy, huh?” Levi said pointing the huge crystal chandelier hanging down from the ceiling.

I nodded my head just as someone came over and asked if they could take my coat. I shrugged it off, Levi’s storm gray eyes roving over my bare arms. He licked along his lips. I caught the flush traveling up his neck.

The moment was interrupted by Levi’s friends who came barreling through the crowd with their dates in tow.

“Alabama, there you are!” the boy I remembered as Jake called, his girlfriend, Stacey clutching his hand. Ashton came too, along with a few other guys I hadn’t met and about four other girls. I immediately saw the redhead girl standing near the back. I saw her watching Levi, my stomach turning in possession. It was strange for me to feel like this toward someone else, but Levi was mine, I didn’t like the surge of jealousy that sprouted from someone looking at him with more than simple friendliness in their gaze.

“Elsie, hey,” Ashton said, snapping me from my thoughts. I smiled as he kissed me on my cheek, before moving closer to Levi’s side.

Jake did the same, as did Stacey. I was introduced one by one to Levi’s friends, then finally, the redhead, Harper, stood before me. “Elsie, hey, nice to see you again,” she greeted and kissed my cheek. I pulled back as quickly as I could, my hands beginning to tremble. She reminded me too much of Annabelle—the hair, build, the same fake smile that hid her true intent. Even from the way she spoke, I could see Annabelle’s cruel eyes and hear the voice that still kept me from sleeping at night.

The girl that, every night, haunted my mind.

The sound of a man clearing his throat came from the doors of the dining room. “If you’d all like to take your seats, please. The dinner is about to start.”

Levi glanced down at me with his eyebrows pulled together. I knew he had felt my shaking hands, but I forced a reassuring smile. I would have to tell him the deeper reason why I hated speaking so much, why meeting new people—especially girls my age—caused cold shivers to race down my spine and my stomach to flip. But I wouldn’t do it tonight. I didn’t want to pull any attention. I would get through tonight, then I’d tell him.

I took a deep breath—I’d tell him it all.

Clara’s echoed words filled my mind when I told her to fight against the damage done to her by her bullies. And her response couldn’t have been more accurate when she’d asked me if I had fought the damage I’d endured.

Because I hadn’t, their words were still lodged in my mind, they held the knives still piercing my heart.

Still.

After all this time.

I had to begin to try.

Tonight, I would try.

“Elsie?” Levi pushed, and when I looked about the room, I realized that all of the people had already taken their seats.

“I’m sorry,” I said as I rushed forward.

Levi pulled me back, kept me still and cupped my face. “Are you sure you’re okay? You’ve been acting strange since we got here.”

“It’s just nerves,” I replied, taking hold of his wrists. “I’ll be fine. I…” I drew in a breath. “I’m going to try tonight.”

Pride engulfed Levi’s expression. “I’m so proud of you, bella mia,” he rasped. “So proud.”

I fell into his chest, when Jake appeared at the doorway. “Alabama, you best get in here. Coach is about to start and you know your ass’ll be doing sprints into senior year if you come in late.”

“We’re coming,” Levi called in response and pulled me, hands clasped together, into the room. My feet faltered at the sheer number of people filling the huge space. But Levi kept tight hold as he threaded us through to the table. And he didn’t let me go as many pairs of eyes stared at me—the girl that had won Levi’s heart.

A hand signaled which was our table, and I saw it was Jake. When we arrived at the table, there were two empty chairs, our names written on place cards. We quickly moved to sit down when the coach stepped on to the small stage. It wasn’t until I sat down that I realized I was sitting beside Stacey. Harper sat beside her and the other girls I had briefly met were on her other side.

Stacey leaned in close. “I refused to sit with Jake in place of sitting with the girls. I see him all the damn time.”

I laughed with Stacey, shrugging at the fact she’d refused to sit with her boyfriend. Then Levi’s hand squeezed my own. “You okay?” he mouthed. I melted, knowing that he mouthed the question because he was sitting on my deaf side.

I nodded my head. Coach started talking about the rest of the season. He referenced certain players’ efforts, in particular Levi’s school record for receiving yards and touchdowns scored. Levi ducked his head in embarrassment as the coach focused the spotlight on him. This time it was my hand that held his steady. He shook his head at being the center of attention, and I laughed when his friends wouldn’t let him live it down.

The coach sat down and, after prayer, announced the beginning of the meal. The people on our table chatted amongst themselves, until Stacey sat forward looking my way. “So, Elsie, how did you meet Lev? We didn’t even know he was dating anyone until we saw you at the game.”

Even though Stacey seemed friendly enough, my throat clogged. It clogged when the other girls became silent, joining the clamor, all waiting for my response.

I opened my mouth, willing the words to flow, but I coughed and shifted on my seat when the panic held them back.

“Family friend,” I heard said from beside me, and turned to see that Levi had spoken for me, rescued me. I adored him at that moment, my heart falling for him just that little bit more—if that was at all possible.

Stacey glanced to Levi and then back to me. “Nice. And are you from Seattle, Elsie, or are you from Bama too?”