Page 25 of The History in Us

Katie

“So, Katie.” Nate approached me as I collected my things at the end of class. “I hear you tutor for writing.” Among the many odd jobs I had, working in the writing lab was one of them. Anne Johnson, my old Creative Writing professor, posted my name as a tutor.

“I do. Can I help you with something?”

His eyes roamed my body and I shivered. Nate was too good looking for his own good. Suddenly, the heat of Levi surrounded me, as I sensed he stood behind me. Without touching, the solid wall of his chest stood at my back, his nearness a statement.

“So, yeah, I need some work with this business writing prompt?” Nate continued, but my hands fluttered at how close Levi stood.

“Oh, well, I don’t usually tutor those types of things. I’m more for the creative types.”

“I like creative types.” Those inquisitive eyes skimmed over me again. A white row of teeth met my gaze. There was more in his meaning than writing, but my thoughts muddled at this handsome man appraising me. His newly borne attention was disconcerting. With the presence of Levi still directly behind me, the attention of two men at once left me feeling dazed as heat spread over my body, primarily radiating from the man behind me.

“Are you almost done?” Levi huffed, and I jolted back to reality. I quickly finished loading my bag with my pen.

“Sorry. I’m finished.” I turned sideways to allow Levi to pass, but he stalled after stepping forward, pressing his body flush with mine. His eyes were nearly black and he clenched his teeth.

“Not you, him.” His head tipped sideways toward Nate, and I turned to find Nate still drinking me in, but his face stiffened. His false smile held firm as the presence of Levi’s position appeared almost possessive.

“So, Katie, anyway, how about Thursday night? I can rent a room…”

“What?” Levi choked out, taking a half-step forward, angling his body before mine.

“At the library,” Nate hissed, squinting at Levi before his eyes returned to mine. His tone teased. “You can work on me there.”

“You mean your paper,” I corrected. “Thursday is fine.” Levi’s head spun to face me, and I remembered what he’d said. He didn’t think I should settle for fine. I don’t know how he didn’t recognize that staring at him was better than good. The feeling inside me I had when I looked at him was more than anything I’d ever felt before, and I believed I wore my emotions on my face.

“That’s what I said.” I broke my gaze away from Levi in time to see Nate wink at me and remove himself from the desk he’d been sitting on. For some reason, Levi passed without another word and Nate handed me his phone for my number.

Thoughts of both Levi and Nate haunted my walk to another one of my many jobs. Levi was dark, hard lines, older with an edge, and a child. Nate was pretty boy, good-looking, a blinding smile and an out-of-my-league air about him. Both men were a contradiction. Nate had never given me the time of day before. Levi wasn’t giving me the time of day, although we’d spent a whole one together. And there still hadn’t been any mention of the times we’d met before. I shook my head with the thought. I just did not understand men.

Taking a refreshing breath of the early fall air, I walked the blocks to Vintage Vines, an eclectic store of stuff. Old junk artistically turned to treasure and gently worn, second-hand clothing, gave the place a homey, cluttered feel, and I loved it. The collection strangely reminded me of my small town. Looking around, I giggled as I realized each one of these old pieces told a story. There’s a history in them, Professor Erickson would say. The jar of Scrabble chips—who played the game? Did they laugh? Did they win? A wind chime made of utensils shaped like flowers—who ate off those instruments? Did they enjoy the food? Were they a family? History had come alive again, in Vintage Vines.

Thinking back on our class, I blushed. I’d lost my mind staring at Levi. I don’t even know what I said. I only remember how the heat in his dark eyes melted over me. I clenched the surface of the desktop to hold myself still when all I wanted to do was launch myself at him. Seeing him holding AJ in Dr. Johnson’s office also gave me the warm-fuzzies. There was something sexy about this man with his child.

“Katie?” I jumped at the sound of my name. Sidonia Thomas was a strikingly handsome woman. Yes, handsome was the correct word. She had hard features that gave her almost a manly edge, but there was something about her overall appearance—rich, raven hair, caramel skin, and green eyes—hitched your breath because she was beautiful.

“Hey.” I blinked out of my reverie and reached for one of the boxes dangling at the top of the pile Sidonia carried. “What’s all this?”

“Getting ready for the holiday season.”

“It’s not even September.”

“I know.” Her chuckle was throaty. “But you know the saying: Christmas comes early.” She winked playfully. Sidonia was one of those people who brought me comfort. Something about her calm demeanor, and her business-like mind made me aspire to be like her one day. She was probably closer to Levi’s age than I was, and suddenly, I was back to thinking of him. I carried the box to the counter, reaching for a box cutter and slicing open the lid with extra gusto.

“Whoa, careful there, Katie Kat.” I didn’t look up to meet her almond-shaped eyes, but I smiled weakly at her use of the nickname deemed by Penelope. “What’s on your mind, girl?”

“Boys.” I laughed.

“Safer on the brain, than in the heart, or between your legs,” she murmured. Silence fell between us after I chuckled without conviction.

“Tell me,” Sidonia demanded, dragging out the words. “I’ll help ya. So, there’s this boy…” she prompted.

“In my class,” I giggled.

“And…”