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“She’ll never knock,” he says to himself, and I look up at him.
“Pardon?”
“You won’t knock. Hell, if I see you after tonight, I’ll be surprised.”
“What does that mean?” I frown, and his eyes scan my face.
“Since I moved in, you’ve been avoiding me. I don’t see that changing.”
“I haven’t been avoiding you,” I lie, wondering how the hell he knows I’ve been avoiding him. Have I been that obvious? I don’t think I have been.
“Babe, I’ve knocked on your door and heard you on the other side turn off the TV and play possum.”
Oh my god, how the hell did he hear that? “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I bet you don’t.” He sighs, and I can’t tell if it’s a sigh of annoyance or something else as his arm tightens again, forcing me deeper into his side as we stop at another tree.
“Good girl,” I call to Muffin when she finally takes care of business and turns her head toward the sound of my voice. Her ears perk up, and her tail wags, shaking her whole body as she gallops back toward us and bumps her nose into Levi’s thigh.
“Are you ready to head back?” he asks me while rubbing the top of her head.
“Sure.” I let out the breath I’ve been holding as he turns us around and leads us back through the park and across the street to the apartment building. Once we are both inside our building, I expect him to give me Muffin’s leash and remove his arm from around my shoulders, but he doesn’t. Instead he keeps us locked together side by side as we take the stairs with Muffin ahead of us. I want to dislike the way it feels being tucked almost protectively under his arm, but I don’t. Instead I’m wondering what kind of excuse I can make up to spend more time right where I am without actually having to admit to myself that I like him.
“If I don’t see you on your birthday, I hope you have a good time,” he says, letting me go once we reach the landing between his apartment and mine. Turning to face him, I take Muffin’s leash as he holds it out, then look up into his golden eyes.
“Thanks.”
“My pleasure.” His fingers touch the underside of my chin; then his thumb sweeps just below my bottom lip. Getting lost in the way he’s looking at me, I lean into his touch and hold my breath as his face starts to descend toward mine.
“Oh good, you’re back. I was just coming to check on you.” Mac breaks into the moment. I jump back a mile like I’ve been caught with my hand in the cookie jar, and I hear Levi curse quietly behind me. “Oh sorry, I thought you were out here alone,” Mac says, and I don’t even have to look at her to know she’s smirking.
“It’s fine, I was just coming in . . . um, night, Levi.” I wave in his direction without looking at him, then growl under my breath when Muffin tugs on her leash, preventing me from making my escape.
Feeling my face heat, I turn around and find my dog sitting at Levi’s side with his hand on the top of her head. “Go on in, girl,” he commands with a pat to her head, and Muffin looks up at him, then looks at me, but what she doesn’t do is move an inch.
“Come on, Muffin,” I urge, giving her leash a gentle tug as my face grows hotter.
“I think Muffin wants to stay with Levi.” Mac laughs, and I glare at her. “Just sayin’.” She smiles.
“Come on,” Levi rumbles, and I watch him lead Muffin to my apartment door, where Mac steps back to let him inside. Feeling the leash in my hand pull, I know I don’t have a choice but to follow behind them.
“Oh, hey, Levi,” Libby calls from the couch as I release Muffin so she can get to Libby. “We’re getting ready to watch a movie. Do you want to join us?” she asks, and I peek up to find him already halfway out the door.
“Sorry, it’s been a long day.” He pauses to look over his shoulder. “Maybe next time,” he says, then his eyes find mine and I hold my breath. “Night, Fawn. See you soon.” The promise in those words and the look in his eyes has goose bumps breaking out across my skin.
“Night, Levi.” I watch him close the door behind him as he leaves.
Shrugging off my windbreaker, I avoid looking at either one of my sisters as I hang it in the closet along with Muffin’s leash.
“So Levi went with you to walk Muff—”
“Don’t.” I hold up my hand, cutting Mac off, because I know what’s coming. I don’t want to answer a million questions, and I don’t want to listen to her and Libby tease me about Levi, especially when I’m feeling so conflicted.
“I was just going to say that was nice of him,” she grumbles, walking to the kitchen to get a bottle of water from the fridge.
“Sorry, I’m just tired.” I sigh, rubbing my face. I’m actually not tired anymore, even though I should be, since it’s almost three in the morning. Instead I feel wired, like I’ve just drunk three cups of coffee and taken a trip on a roller coaster.
“Come watch a movie with us,” Libby pleads, and I look to the couch, where she and Muffin are curled up under one of my blankets.
“I think I’m just going to go to bed.”
“We won’t talk about Levi anymore if you watch a movie with us,” Mac pouts, taking a seat on the couch and pulling a separate blanket from the back.
“Fine,” I give in, feeling guilty for being so short with her moments ago. Kicking off my Toms, I go to the couch and take a seat next to Mac. As soon as I sit, she drapes part of her blanket over my lap, then picks up the remote. “What are we watching?”
“Nightmare on Elm Street.” Libby smiles while Muffin stands, only to lie down across Mac’s lap so she can rest her head on my thighs.
/> “God, I haven’t seen this in forever,” I say, absently running my fingers through Muffin’s thick fur.
“Me neither. I wonder if it will be as scary now as it was when we were kids.”
“I doubt it. Most movies I thought were scary back then aren’t as scary now,” I say as the movie starts to play. Not even thirty minutes later, I yawn for the fourth time in a row and look over at Mac and Libby, finding them both asleep. I think about waking them and helping them set up the pullout, but they honestly look comfortable enough. Flipping off the television, I climb carefully off the couch and head to my bedroom as Muffin follows me. Shutting my bedroom door, I turn out the light, take off my sweats, and climb into bed, feeling Muffin jump up a second later. She groans as she flops down next to me. Lying there in the dark, it takes forever to find sleep as my mind spins with thoughts of Levi.
Chapter 4
IT’S MY BIRTHDAY—I’LL CRY IF I WANT TO
FAWN
“Time to pack up, guys,” I call from the front of the class, seeing that it’s two minutes until the bell will ring. “Remember, your permission slips need to be turned in tomorrow, so make sure you have your parents sign them tonight if you haven’t already,” I shout over the sudden eruption of talking, books slamming, and coats being put on. “Also, don’t forget that your book reports are due tomorrow, so bring your books with you to class,” I say, watching my students look restlessly from the clock to me, ready to escape as soon as the clock strikes three fifteen. I can’t blame them—I love what I do, but after being surrounded by four walls all day long, I’m just as antsy to get outside. Hearing the bell ring, I smile. “’Bye, guys.”
“’Bye, Miss Reed,” they say one after another as they pass me on the way out of the room. Giving them all smiles or pats on the back, I wait until the last student passes, then turn around and grin when I see Tamara, one of my favorite students, with her head buried in a book.
“Honey, class is over,” I say, and her chin flies up, causing the curly ringlets covering her head to bounce. As she looks around, her mocha cheeks get pink just a bit, and she shakes her head.
“I did it again?” she grumbles, and I smile.
