Page 10 of The History in Us

“Can I speak with you?”His low voice sent a sudden thrill through me, and in that moment, I believed he deserved the label Tuck shared with Penelope and me: Sexy Walker.

“I was wondering if I could ask you something.” He hoisted his bag higher on his shoulder, but his eyes avoided mine. It was the tell-tale sign of someone asking an uncomfortable question and my brain rapid-fired crazy thoughts.Oh my gosh, is he…

“I know it’s Friday, and it’s kind of short notice…”

Holy wow, could this really be happening?

“And you probably already have plans for tonight…”

It’s really going to happen.

“But if you aren’t busy…”

“Yes,” I blurted, my tone eager, breathless. My body swayed forward and my arms clutched my bag to my chest. Suddenly, the room grew too silent and his dark eyes weighed down on mine.

“I…uh…wondered if you could babysit?” His face held the most puzzled expression at my outburst, his dark brows pinching together enough to form a crease between them.

Babysit?In shock, it took me several seconds to process and recover.

“Babysit,” I muttered. “Of course.” I closed my eyes in complete embarrassment. He must be married. What was I thinking? When I opened my lids, his eyes softened, but the look on his face shifted inquisitively.

“What did you think I was going to ask?” He tilted his head and scratched at the scruff under his jaw. I stared at a large metal band around his wrist. My body shook in mortification. I couldn’t possibly answer that question.

“Nothing,” I mumbled, anxious that I’d need to explain myself. Thankfully, he started speaking immediately.

“I don’t know how this works. Do I pick you up?” His eyes caressed down my body, but I shook any wayward thoughts from nesting in my head. Ridiculous fantasies.

“I’ve never done this sort of thing,” he amended.

“Picked up a girl?” My voice squeaked, and I could feel the heat rushing my cheeks. It wasn’t like he was picking me up, not really, just offering to ride me. I meant, giving a ride to the babysitter. Jesus, Katie, I cursed internally. Just stop. Stop thinking. A smirk forced those damn dimples to parenthesis his lips as he shook his head and my eyes dropped from his face.

“Could you drive to my home?” he questioned.

“I don’t have a car, but I can get to you.” Public transportation excelled in the city. I cleared my throat at the raspy desperation in my tone. I took a deep breath to calm myself and clenched my hands around the edges of my bag. Levi noticed the motion and his face fell. He held out his hand, and I stared at his thick palm.

“Phone?” he asked. “Or maybe I should just write down my address.” He returned his hand to his leather bag and began rummaging within it. Assuming he looked for a scrap of paper, I pulled my phone from my own bag, and I asked him his address, typing it into my contacts.

“I might need your number, too. Just in case.”

“In case of what?” he inquired, sounding slightly defensive, and I was taken aback. Continuing to glare at him, I fought myself for a second before I could think of a response.

“In case I get lost?” I hesitated.

“Of course. Right.” He gave me the number and the time he would need me to babysit. Sigh, babysit.

* * *

I arrived at the walk-up, pressed the bell, and waited while a soft buzz filled the small lobby. Like many Chicago-style duplexes, this looked like a house from the outside, but inside the main entrance was a narrow foyer with two doors leading to separate apartments. Levi’s was on the second floor. A return beep unlocked the door, and I took the steep stairs upward.

The door was propped open at the top, and the small cry of a baby filled the stairwell. I hesitantly pushed forward on the door to find Levi running through the living space with his shirt unbuttoned to his waist, a tie dangling around his neck, and a roly-poly infant laying on the floor under a baby-mobile toy. His arms and legs flailed in multiple directions as his cries grew to a screech.

“Alicia,” Levi yelled. “I can’t talk now. The babysitter arrived.” He stood up straighter as I stepped farther inside the living room. A sense of relief crossed his face and his eyes scanned my body. A strange sensation prickled my skin, like he was familiar with me, like he recognized every inch, but the feeling passed quickly. It couldn’t even be true. We’d never been that close to one another and Levi didn’t appear to remember me. He tugged the Bluetooth at his ear and then tossed the contraption onto the coffee table. His eyes remained on me while my own slid down the skin exposed through his open shirt. Taut chest and sculpted abs teased me, and I travelled the hills and valleys in need of further exploration. His eyes closed briefly when my gaze dropped to the hair peeking out the waist of his pants.

“AJ, please,” he groaned softly, fumbling with his shirt. He squatted to the baby and lifted him gently. Holding him upward, the baby drooled toward his father while he continued to cry. Levi turned toward me.