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Dana oohed and ahhed and got that look on her face that a lot of women get whenever the subject of babies comes up. To Levi he just looked like a baby. A pretty baby but he couldn’t see any resemblance to either Harlan or Savannah or honestly, anything unique about him either. Apparently Dana did. “Oh, he has Harlan’s eyes,” she said.
Savannah scrolled through more pictures, making Levi wonder how many pictures you could take of one baby in a two-week period.
“I know. I think so too. But Harlan says he looks like me.” Savannah and Dana huddled over the phone, laughing and exclaiming how cute the baby was.
Levi shot Harlan a glance. Harlan shrugged, as if to say, “I don’t see it either, but what are you gonna do?”
Eventually Harlan and Savannah left and Levi and Dana made their votes. There was everything from traditional scarecrows to ones that looked like space aliens, to one that looked like Frankenstein, to cartoon characters.
“I can’t believe you voted for that one,” Dana said, pointing at the one he’d chosen.
“Why? She’s great.”
“It looks like Jessica Rabbit.”
“I always liked Jessica Rabbit.”
“You just like it because it has boobs.”
“Yeah.” He grinned. “I like boobs.”
Dana laughed. “You are such a guy.”
“Guilty. And I hate to say it, but the one you picked is boring.”
“No, it’s not. Mine is a classic.”
“You say classic, I say boring.”
From there they went to the petting zoo. Which was more fun than Levi had imagined. There were sheep, goats, llamas, guinea pigs, pigs and various other animals.
Dana’s favorite was the miniature donkey. “He’s so cute. I want to take him home.”
“I’m not even sure your apartment complex allows dogs and cats. I seriously doubt they would okay a miniature donkey.”
She sent him a sly look. “No, but you could keep one.”
“Dana, I love you but I’m not keeping a miniature donkey at my house.” The minute he said it he realized it was true. And also that he hadn’t meant to say it.
Dana stared at him. “Do you really?”
Shit. What could he do now but admit it? Here, in a smelly petting zoo with a miniature donkey between them. “Yes. But this isn’t exactly the spot I would have chosen to tell you I loved you.”
“Why not? It’s perfect.” She came around the donkey and threw her arms around his neck. “I love you too,” she said and kissed him.
Applause broke out and they pulled apart.
“Better save it for later,” Dana said, laughing.
“I’m still not getting a donkey. Not even a miniature one.”
She didn’t say anything but the smile she gave him worried him.
Chapter Fifteen
Asher hadn’t thought he’d ever get Levi and Dana to go to the festival without him. But the very last thing he wanted to do was go down to the Square and deal with a shitload of people. And if that wasn’t bad enough, he’d have to talk to everyone he saw who’d known him from back in the day and who’d have heard about his military service and him losing his leg. He didn’t want to talk to anyone period. Much less about his service and his damn leg. Finally, he wasn’t up for dealing with uneven sidewalks with crutches and a prosthesis that he hadn’t quite mastered yet. And a wheelchair in that situation would be way too much trouble.
But the real reason he didn’t want to go was because he didn’t want to be around people. He could handle one or two at a time but no more. And he didn’t even like that.
