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“I see,” Rhodes says. “I’m proud of you.”

His words make my spine straighten and my mouth go dry. “Why?” is the only question I can choke out.

“You’re opening up again. To me, to Ezra, to Hazel,” he says. “So yeah, I’m proud of you. Sue me,” he huffs.

I laugh, even though my eyes sting with the burn of tears. I’ve been so lonely.

“Thanks for the chat,” I say.

“Anytime, kid,” he replies. I can’t see his face, but I can hear the smile and affection in his voice.

I hang up, stripping down to my underwear and flopping back onto the bed. You’re opening up again. I’m proud of you.

I just have to be careful not to open up too much to the gorgeous brunette downstairs…for both our sakes.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Hazel

I stretch like a cat in the sun and slowly open my eyes. I expect to see the surroundings of the basement and the TV that I no doubt left on last night after falling asleep on the couch.

Instead, I’m met with the unfamiliar ceiling of—a bedroom? Right. I’m in Levi’s guest bedroom. I sit up and take in my surroundings, rubbing the sleep away from my eyes. I don’t remember coming up here after the movie. Nor do I remember seeing this fuzzy blanket in the room earlier. Did Levi carry me up here?

I shake my head. There’s no way. I must have sleepwalked. I look down and see that I’m still wearing Levi’s green Augusta sweatshirt. I’ll have to give it back now that I’ve gotten the rest of my things from Brody’s, but I don’t want to. It’s soft, and just the right amount of oversized, and it smells like Levi.

I shake my head. You are not allowed to act on this crush, I remind myself.

My gaze lands on my suitcase and the couple backpacks I brought in, dumped on the floor near the closet, and I wince. He’ll think I’m a slob.

I hear purring and turn to see Gus sleeping on the pillow next to mine. He’s purring so loud it almost sounds like he’s snoring.

I smile and slowly reach out, petting his soft black fur. He stretches out and rolls onto his back, presenting me with his belly. His eyes are still closed, and I take the opportunity. Who knows when he’ll let me pet him again? Levi made him out to be this feral cat who doesn’t like anyone, and yet—here he is, sleeping near me and trusting me enough to show his tummy.

“Good boy,” I whisper, lightly scratching his chin. He tilts his neck up, giving me more access, and I chuckle.

I reach over and pick my phone up from the nightstand. I’m surprised sleepwalking-me had the wherewithal to bring it up, but I’m glad I don’t have to go hunt for it in the couch cushions. It’s early—earlier than I usually wake up. I should have plenty of time to clean up and get ready for work.

I unpack the rest of my things and stuff both backpacks inside the old suitcase, which I shove in the corner of the medium-sized closet. It’s bigger than the one I used to share with Brody, and my lack of belongings shows.

I wonder how big Levi’s closet is. He seems to wear a different outfit every time I see him, but the comment he made the other day about understanding the value of money makes me think he’s not the type to spend it on flashy clothes.

The more time I spend around him, the more I realize how harsh my initial impression of him was. I thought he was cold and that his personality was lackluster, but he’s been nothing but kind to me. Now, I think maybe he just takes a while to warm up to people.

I take a look at myself in the mirror and sigh. Even after a good night’s sleep, I still look like a mess. What is it that Rosie is always going on about? Manifestation?

With a deep breath, I start the shower, drop the clothes I’m wearing in the laundry basket, and take out my toiletries: my curl-hydrating shampoo and conditioner, the little bit of hair mask I have left at the bottom of the jar that I try to make last as long as possible, the shower gel and scrubby.

At the bottom of the toiletry bag is my vibrator. I hold it up in contemplation but quickly dispel the thought. Not now. Not here. The last time I used it, it was to a fantasy of Levi. Could I really do that again with him on the other side of the wall? What if he hears me? I exhale an annoyed breath and hide the damn thing under the sink. Not worth the risk.

I’m startled by the sound of scratching at the door. A black paw appears in the crack between the door and the tile floor. “Sorry buddy, gotta have some boundaries,” I call to the cat as I climb into the shower.

The scratching has stopped by the time I finish showering. I go through my hair routine, adding curl cream and volume mousse to my long curls, then use the diffuser to dry them. As soon as I turn off the hair dryer, I hear the scratching again.

With a sigh, I open the door and Gus struts in like he owns the place. I guess technically, he kind of does.

“What, mister?” I ask, looking down at the little ball of fur with a lopsided smile.

He glances at me once out of the corner of his eye and jumps up on top of the closed toilet. Then, he sits on his back legs and just—stares. At me.