Page 40 of The History in Us

Katie

“I’m not cancelling.” The words came out in a rush before I even completed my hello into the phone.

“Okay,” I elongated the sound. My eye caught my reflection in the mirror. I was already dressed in a black sheath dress and heels. Bracelets lined my arm and my hair was hot-rollered into loose, bouncy curls. The finishing touch was a wrap for my arms as the nights were growing colder. I hadn’t been on a date in a long time, and decided I was probably overdressed. I was getting ready to change for the third time when Levi called.

“The babysitter cancelled on me last second, but I still want to go out, it’s just…”

“It’s fine.” My voice sounded too chipper, too encouraging.

“No, it’s not fine,” he growled, and I remembered his dislike of the word. “I still want to go, we just need to change the plans.”

“Okay, like what?” I sighed, stepping out of my heels, internally grateful at the relief of not having to wear those all night. While I wanted to dress up and feel pretty, after an hour, my toes would be begging to be dull again.

“Well, we might have to take AJ with us.” His voice lowered. “Would that be a problem?”

I laughed. Technically, the first time we spent together involved AJ, so how could I complain about a second man on my date? “That’s no problem at all.”

I heard him exhale through the phone.

“Perfect. We’ll come get you at six.” I had twenty minutes to change again. “But don’t change, you look beautiful.”

I laughed again. “How do you know? You can’t see what I’m wearing.”

“I don’t have to, I know you’re beautiful.” I looked at myself in the mirror, trying to see what he saw in me. Freckled nose, dusted lightly with powder to disguise them tonight. Eyes too bright with excitement at the prospects of an evening with Levi. My lips were covered in a soft pink.

“What if I was naked?” The words tumbled out before I gave them a thought.

“Definitely don’t change then.” Husky and deep, the light command rolled over me, tickling my skin. I chuckled nervously.

“Too late, I’m dressed.” I closed my eyes at the lame retort and shook my head. He groaned, not in mockery, but in pleasure.

“Too bad,” he chuckled.

* * *

When Levi arrived, Penelope beat me to the door, readily introducing herself.

“Penelope Duncan?” His voice hinted at recognition of my best friend, which worried me. He hadn’t recognized me that quickly and Penelope had assured me I’d been more intimate with him than she had.

“Well, Se…I mean, Levi Walker.” Her eyes roamed him without shame and without acknowledgement of the baby in his arms. “Aren’t you something?”

Levi chuckled before his eyes found me in the room. They narrowed as he looked at me.

“I told you not to change.”

I laughed, knowing he had no idea what I’d been wearing before.

“Are you spying on me? Is this some military tactic?” I twisted my head left to right as if searching the room for hidden cameras. “Is this all right?” I smoothed a nervous hand down my jeans. The sweater I wore was clingy, but loose at neckline. I figured with AJ’s presence, we wouldn’t be doing anything fancy.

“I already told you what I think. You’re beautiful.” He said the words unabashedly, not a care that he’d blurted them in front of my roommate. My skin heated and Penelope turned to raise an eyebrow at me.

“Well—” Penelope began, but I stepped forward, cutting her off. “I guess, we’ll be going.”