Page 63
The house is quiet when I return, and I try to pinpoint where Levi might be. I’ve noticed he keeps to a bit of a routine—if he’s not in the living room upstairs, eating his adult Lunchables, he’s in the basement, practicing on the simulator. If he’s not in one of those two places, he’s in his office upstairs, taking calls that are too muffled for me to hear. Not that I’m trying to eavesdrop.
And if he’s not there, then he’s running shirtless outside or making disgustingly green smoothies.
I sigh on my way to the spare bedroom—my bedroom—and quickly change into a pair of leggings and Levi’s sweatshirt from that first day that I never returned to him. I take a whiff of it and find that the signature Levi scent of fresh-cut grass and citrus is fading. Something about that doesn’t sit well with me. Would it be too psychotic to go rifle through his closet and steal another shirt?
Probably.
There’s thumping coming from the basement and I grin. So, he’s in the simulator. Without giving it too much thought, I pet Gus, who’s sleeping on my pillow, and head to the kitchen. I’m a madwoman, pulling everything out—meats, cheeses, veggies, fruit.
Reaching on my tiptoes, I grab a large charcuterie plate from the cupboard, but then stop, noticing the even nicer round cutting board. With a grin, I pull that out instead and put together dinner.
Yes, I did refer to charcuterie as dinner. No, I won’t elaborate any further.
Balancing the board precariously in my arms, I make my way down the stairs. I clear my throat to announce myself, but Levi startles regardless.
His free hand flies to his heart, the other tightening around his driver club. “Jesus, you scared me,” he says, green eyes pinning me to the spot.
“Sorry.” I wince. “I made dinner.” I lift the board up and shake it around a little. Why is it so heavy?
“Oh,” he says, blinking down at me, then at the board. “You didn’t have to do that.”
His eyes lift back up to me, and I swear there’s a hint of a blush staining his cheeks and the tip of his ears as he registers what I’m wearing. Does he like me wearing his shirt?
“I don’t mind. Besides, there’s vegan cheese on here too, so we can share.” I take the food over to the large couch where I fell asleep the other night.
“Okay,” he says, returning the driver to his bag and squeezing the back of his neck.
Is he frustrated? Annoyed? Nervous?
Gah, why can’t I read this man better?
I slowly take a seat in the middle of the couch, balancing the board in my lap.
“Pick a movie. I’ll grab drinks,” he says, pausing behind me, his hand resting on the back of the couch by my head.
My gaze drops to his long fingers and the veins across the back of his hand. There’s a gold watch on his wrist, and there’s just something so sensual about the way he flexes without even trying.
I gulp and move my gaze to the TV, grabbing the remote from nearby.
“Water, soda, or something harder?” Levi asks from the mini fridge.
“After the day I’ve had, something harder please.”
He frowns at me over his shoulder, lips parting. He seems to change his mind at the last second and asks, “Beer, cider, seltzer?”
“I’ll take a seltzer,” I say, popping a tomato in my mouth.
I run through all the streaming services he has, which is all of them, and pull up my favorite movie of all time.
Levi groans and pulls the coffee table closer to the couch, setting our drinks down on coasters.
“Don’t tell me you actually like this movie,” he grumbles, taking a seat next to me.
I gasp, pulling the board away when he reaches for a slice of prosciutto. “Do not insult the best movie of all time,” I warn, staring at him wide-eyed.
Levi frowns and looks between me and the TV. “This? This is the best movie of all time?” he scoffs, reaching for the food again.
I slap his hand away and he scowls, but I can see the uncertainty in his eyes as they bounce around my face. “To me it is. My dad and I used to watch it every year when I was growing up. Hockey and golf were the two most talked about sports in my household, so of course this movie is a favorite. It’s a classic!” I am showing way too much enthusiasm over a movie, but I can’t help it.