Page 48 of The History in Us

“And you say it wasn’t Levi. He isn’t being sly. It sounds fucking romantic.” Her outburst startled me, and we both broke into laughter.

“He swears he knows nothing about them. It’s so strange.”

Penelope’s brow pinched. “Sounds like you have a secret admirer, but it also sounds a bit stalkerish.” Her brow furrowed deeper. “Be careful,” she warned me on a deeper level. I didn’t need to tell her, I worried enough, for my heart.

* * *

“I feel awful about our date and I’d like to make things up to you,” Levi whispered behind me while we waited for class to begin earlier in the week. “Are you free on Friday?”

I nodded too eagerly.

“Let me surprise you.”

My heart raced at the secrecy. I didn’t love surprises, but I loved that he wanted to do something special for me. He told me to dress casually again, so I dressed accordingly in jeans and a skin-tight, white sweater, hoping to subtly accentuate my simple curves and entice him to touch me. I don’t know why I denied him the other night, other than my fear, but Levi was everything I’d dreamed. His physique was perfection, as I’d told him. His voice alone did things to my body. I wouldn’t stop him again, but the afternoon timing of our date put a halt to my wanton desires.

“The Field Museum?” I questioned as we parked in the lot. The air temperature had dropped considerably, and I shivered in my sweater as we walked toward the entrance. Levi’s hand at my back slipped upward to my shoulder, dragging me into him, as we huddled together in the sharp fall breeze. Upon entrance to the museum, Levi handed over our general admission tickets and then the woman directed us to the timing of a special exhibit.

“Fantastical beasts?” My breath caught, squeaking with excitement. I leapt for him without thinking, and then awkwardly caught myself and wrapped my hands around his biceps, tugging him toward me. His chest crushed my breasts. “This is so exciting. Thank you, but why this?” My tone sobered a bit.

“I remembered you saying you slayed dragons with your friend, and you love fairy tales, so I thought…” He shrugged and scratched at his scruffy jaw.

“I love it.” Slipping my arm through the crook of his elbow, I encouraged him to lead me to the exhibit.