“No, I’m staying with Mac and Libby for a couple days.”
“We need to talk,” he murmurs, heading for his door, but I refuse to budge—unlike Muffin, who is attached to Levi’s side, willing to follow him anywhere.
“No talk necessary,” I say, quickly stomping toward him. With an annoyed tug, I pull my bag from his grasp. “I’m sorry about this morning. I don’t know what I was thinking, but believe me, I regret it and it will never happen again.” Okay, that was easier than I thought it would be.
“That’s too bad.” I hear the smile in his voice, and my eyes fly up to meet his. “I sure as fuck don’t regret what happened this morning, and I definitely want more of that, but, babe, seriously, we were two feet from my couch, where in my head I had already stripped us down. Neither of us had time for what I wanted to do to you, and you are not even close to ready to go there with me.”
“Ex . . . excuse me?” I stammer, staring at him with wide eyes.
“I like you, I like that you’re a little bit crazy and a whole lot blind, but until I know you understand exactly what’s happening between us, there is no way I’ll take you to my bed.” Blinking at him, I try to understand exactly what the hell he’s saying, but all I can focus on is the fact that he called me crazy and blind. “I’m not crazy or blind.”
“Gorgeous, you’re so fucking stuck in your own head, you can’t see straight.”
“I am not,” I growl, resting my hands on my hips as his eyes move over me and his lips twitch.
“I’m not going to argue with you about this.”
“Well, it’s not even true,” I huff, then step back when he takes a step toward me.
“Oh, it’s true, but that’s okay. I’m enjoying this game we’re playing,” he murmurs, taking another step closer.
“Game?” I breathe as he reaches out, rubbing his thumb over my bottom lip.
“You’re cute when you get flustered, and I like that you don’t know how much you affect me and my self-control.” Okay, what the hell is going on?
“What are you doing?” I whisper, pressing my hands to his chest when his head lowers toward mine.
“Kissing you.”
“Why?”
“To prove a point.” His lips brush over mine, and I know instantly that I wasn’t in trouble before, but I’m in so much trouble now.
Chapter 6
JUST ADD THAT TO THE LIST
FAWN
“Hey, mamacita,” I greet my mom as soon as I open the door to my apartment. Throwing my arms around her, I hug her tightly while she rocks me back and forth. Pushing me away while holding my arms, she searches my face and smiles, then pulls me close again.
“I’ve missed you, honey,” she whispers, petting my head the way she always does.
“I missed you, too.” I breathe in her scent that hasn’t changed since I was little, taking comfort in its familiarity before she lets me go.
Hearing my dad clear his throat behind me, I turn to find him with his arms open wide. “Daddio.” I grin, his laughter deep as he tugs me into him.
“Kiddo,” he mutters, kissing the side of my head. “It’s been too long.”
“I know,” and it really has been too long. I haven’t seen my parents since school started back up, and I miss them both like crazy. Talking on the phone every couple of days is not even close to the same as seeing them in person. Letting Dad go after a few seconds, I step back, bumping into something, and look behind me to see two small suitcases side by side. My dad must have brought them inside when I was hugging my mom.
“Um . . .” I look between my parents, who haven’t changed much over the years. My mom still has the same short bob she’s always had, which fits her round pixielike face and small stature. And my dad is still intimidating looking, with wide shoulders, red hair, and a scruffy beard. “Do you still need to check in to your hotel room?” I ask, and my dad looks at my mom, who grins at me.
“We’re staying with you. Won’t that be fun?” she asks excitedly.
Um, what? Did she just say they were staying with me and the word fun in the same sentence? Yes, I love my mom and dad, and yes, I miss them, but I moved out of their house for a reason. The first one being that they do not understand the meaning of personal space or boundaries.
“All the hotels we looked into were a little too expensive, so we figured we’d save a few bucks and stay with you,” Dad says, and I press my lips together. My parents are not broke—no, they’re not rich, either—but they can definitely afford to stay at a hotel. This isn’t about them saving a few dollars. I know this is about my stupid sisters opening their big dumb mouths about Levi. Levi, who two nights ago insisted on giving me a ride to my sisters’ place after he kissed me stupid in the hall. Levi, who laughed his ass off when they asked him about the building we both reside in being fumigated. I didn’t think it was as funny as he did, and my sisters had no clue why he thought it was hilarious, but they did find it very entertaining when he kissed me in front of them before leaving.
“All I have is the couch,” I mutter as Muffin finally pulls herself off said couch to come over and greet everyone.
“We figured we’d take your bed and you could have the pullout, unless there is somewhere else you wanted to stay—you know, somewhere close by?” Mom smiles knowingly, and I feel my eye twitch.
Oh.
My.
God.
I’m going to kill them. I’m going to be on the eleven o’clock news tonight, because I’m going to murder both of my sisters.
“I’ll sleep on the couch,” I grit out, trying to make it look like I’m smiling at the idea.
“Well, good, that’s all settled.” Dad grins, picking up both suitcases and taking them to my room.
“Are you ready to go?” Mom asks, and I pull my eyes off my dad’s retreating back to look at her petting Muffin.
“Yep, all ready,” I grumble, walking across the room to grab the black wool coat I laid on the edge of the couch earlier. Putting it on, I do up the four toggle buttons, then slip on my deep-red hat, scarf, and mittens set. Once I’m done, I pat Muffin’s head, mumbling, “Be good, girl,” as I head past my mom for the door.
The last time Levi sent me a text message, he said he would be working most of the weekend, but I still want to check to make sure the coast is clear. All I need is for my parents to run into him, and god help me if that happens.
“Honey, if we’re going to leave, you’re going to have to open the door,” Mom says from behind me, laughing, and I groan inwardly.
“I know.” I open the door and step out into the hall with them following me. As soon as we are all out of my apartment, I watch my dad turn to check the knob to make sure it’s locked before we all head toward the stairs.
“So did you get a new neighbor?” Mom asks, sounding far too innocent, as we pass Levi’s door.
“Yep.” Maybe if I keep my answers short and sweet they will give up.
“Oh, that’s nice. What are they like?”
“You know, just a person.” Just a person—seriously, like, what could he be, an alien? I’m never going to make it through this weekend at this rate.
“What kind of person?” Dad asks, and my shoulders sag.
Damn with that. I know they are not going to give up until I give them something. “Fine,” I sigh. “Let’s get this over with.” I spin around to face them on the stairs, and they both stop two steps above me. “His name is Levi, he’s a detective. Yes, he kissed me, and yes, I may like him, but it’s too early to tell if I do or not. So right now he’s just a nice guy that I kissed . . . that’s all.” I pause, then add, “Well, that and he’s my neighbor. So, please, can we not talk about him while you guys are here?” I ask, and their eyes are wide, but neither of them is looking at me. No, they are both looking past my shoulder. “There’s someone behind me, isn’t there?” I whisper, and they both nod. Lowering my head, I shake it from side to side, then turn around hoping it’s not who I think it
is—but of course it is.
“Please tell me you didn’t hear any of that,” I plead to Levi, who’s standing at the bottom of the stairs near the front door with a smile on his face.
“Baby.” He chuckles, and I hear my mom whisper baby behind me.
“Great.” My eyes slide closed as my cheeks heat. One more thing to add to the ever-growing list of embarrassing things I have done in front of him.
“I’m Levi, Fawn’s new neighbor.” His heavy boots sound on the wood of the stairs, then his warm hand comes to rest against my lower back. Opening my eyes back up, I find him standing next to me with his free hand held out toward my parents.
“Aiden Reed.” Dad shakes Levi’s hand, then wraps his arm around my mom’s shoulder. “My wife, Fawn’s mom, Katie Reed.”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Reed,” Levi says as I try to shrink into myself. Where is a sinkhole when you need one?
“You, too,” Mom whispers, and I look up, noticing her eyes—glued to Levi—have glazed over. Great.
“Are you heading to the show now?” Levi asks, dipping his head toward me and leaving me no choice but to look at him.
“Yes.”
“Do you want me to take Muffin out for you while you’re gone?” he asks quietly, and I swear I hear my mom swoon and melt into a giant puddle at his feet.
“She should be okay. I took her out not long ago,” I murmur as my eyes unconsciously drop to his mouth. Watching a smirk form on his lips, my brows pull together and my eyes narrow.
“Give me your key—I’m home for the evening. I’ll take her over to my place, and you can come get her when you get back.”
“No—”
“That sounds like a great idea,” Dad cuts me off, and my eyes close briefly. Why, oh, why couldn’t my dad be like any normal father who would grumble at the idea of a man being inside his daughter’s apartment whether she is home or not?
“Yes, I agree that’s a great idea,” Mom chimes in, sounding far too happy about the idea.
“Fine.” Shoving my hand into my pocket angrily for my key, I freeze, then feel in my other pocket, coming up with nothing but a five-year-old ChapStick. Dammit. “Um . . . I forgot my key,” I say softly.
“Do you want me to call a locksmith?” Levi asks, and I look up at my dad, knowing that he’s going to be pissed when I say what I’m about to say. But I don’t want to have to pay for a locksmith to come out when I don’t really need one.
“There’s a key under my doormat,” I whisper.
“You’ve got to be shitting me.” It’s growled, but not by my dad, whom I’m looking directly at. No, by Levi, who’s standing next to me with his hand on the back of my coat, clenched into a fist around the material. “Do you know how unsafe that is?”
“The building is secured,” I whisper, and my dad’s jaw clenches tight, shifting the beard on his face.
“You know that doesn’t matter, kiddo,” Dad growls.
Levi mutters, “Damn straight it doesn’t.” Oh great, now I have both of them growling at me.
“It’s been there forever and nothing has happened.”
“You know shit can happen, Fawn Grace Reed. My career is based off bad shit happening to people who don’t expect it to happen to them.” Dad shakes his head, and I know he’s really mad, since he didn’t just use my name—no, he used my full name.
“I won’t put it back after tonight.”
“No, you won’t,” Levi mutters, and I turn to glare at him—not that he notices. His eyes are on my dad’s and they are sharing a look that doesn’t bode well for me.
“We should go or we are going to be late,” Mom says, and all eyes go to her. “We still need to pick up our tickets at the box office.”
“Right,” Dad mutters, looking from her to Levi. “If you’re not working in the morning, come on over for breakfast. Katie’s making pancakes, and Fawn’s sisters will be over, so there will be plenty.” Um . . . what? No!
“I’d like that,” Levi agrees, loosening his grip on the back of my coat. “Have a good night, Mr. and Mrs. Reed.”
“Aiden will do.” Dad takes his arm from around my mom to take her hand on the stairs. With his other hand, he pats Levi’s shoulder.
“And you can call me Katie,” Mom says with a bright smile, and I roll my eyes at both of my parents.
“Okay, Aiden and Katie, I’ll see you both in the morning—and Fawn.” He dips his face close to mine. “I’ll see you tonight when you come to pick up Muffin. Have a good time.”
“Thanks,” I grumble, watching him smile like he thinks I’m cute. Whatever. I pull my eyes from him and head down the last few stairs, hearing my mom and dad behind me as I open the door to the building. As soon as I’m outside, I inhale a deep breath of cool air. I’m no longer embarrassed about what Levi heard me say. No, I’m annoyed with him for being high-handed as well as pissed that he’s going to be coming to my apartment to have breakfast with my parents and sisters tomorrow. I don’t want them to get to know him yet, not when I don’t even really know him, and I don’t want them to try to influence my feelings for him.
“Well, Levi seems very nice,” Mom says, taking my arm, and I sigh.
“Yes, he’s nice,” I agree, because he really is nice.
“I like him.”
“Mom, you like everyone,” I grumble. My mom has never met a person she hasn’t liked; I swear she could find a likable quality in a serial killer if left alone with him long enough.
“I like him, too,” Dad says, holding out his arm for a cab.
“Surprise, surprise.” I roll my eyes as a cab pulls to a stop in front of us. My dad opens the door for my mom and me to get in the back, and he gets into the front with the driver. Sitting there, I listen absently as my parents chat until my dad asks the driver to pull over so we can walk the last few blocks, since traffic is backed up.
“Are you excited, honey?” Mom questions, leaning into my side as soon as we’re out of the cab and on the sidewalk.
“Yes.” I smile at her. I don’t get to go to shows often, since the tickets are so expensive, but I love getting to pick whatever show I want for my birthday each year. It’s always something I look forward to.
“Come on.” Dad’s arm wraps around my shoulders, pulling me against this bulky chest and holding me there while leading me down the block. Finally getting to the theater, we get in line to pick up our tickets from the box office, then head inside, where we are directed to the first floor. The theater is huge and packed with men, women, and kids from all walks of life, some dressed up to see the show, others wearing jeans and sweaters and pulling luggage along with them.
“We’re gonna go find the restrooms.” Mom smiles as I head toward the concession stand. “We’ll meet you at our seats.”
“Okay, do you guys want anything?”
“Wine for me.” She grins.
“A rum and Coke and a bag of popcorn,” Dad says, wrapping his hand around my mom’s.
“Sure,” I agree, then watch them disappear in the crowd. Waiting in line for what seems like forever, I finally make it to the front and place my order, making sure to get a magnet since I have one from every show I’ve ever gone to. With a drink holder, my dad’s popcorn, and a bag of peanut M&M’s in my pocket, I make my way to the front of the packed theater. Finding my parents already seated, I take the seat next to my mom, unpack the drink carrier, and take off my coat, all the while listening to the quiet hum of excitement around me.
Staring at the red drapes blocking the stage, my mind wanders to what’s going on between Levi and me as I nibble my M&M’s and sip my wine.
“What?” I ask when I turn to find both my parents smiling at me.
“Nothing,” Dad mutters, shoving a handful of popcorn in his mouth as my mom winks and pats my hand. I don’t have long to wonder what that’s about. The lights dim, and the show starts, pushing all thoughts of Levi out of my head as I watch in wonder as the magic of The Lion King on Broadway unfolds
in front of my eyes.
“So was it everything you thought it would be?” Mom asks after the show comes to an end and the people start to put on their coats and leave.
“Everything and more. I can’t believe how magical it was, how amazing the props were. It was way better than the movie.”
“It was cool,” my dad agrees, helping my mom into her coat as I put mine on. “I didn’t think anything could top Hamilton, but this show was very well done.”
“It really was,” Mom says, touching his cheek with her hand, and he turns his head to kiss her palm. God, my parents are seriously still so in love that it’s crazy, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that no matter how long it takes, I will wait for a real love—because I want a love like they have. I want to look at the man I’m with over thirty years later and still feel my face get soft the way my mom’s does when she looks at my dad.
“Can we stop and get a hot dog before we head back to the apartment?” Dad asks, and Mom shakes her head.
“You and those darn hot dogs,” she grumbles.
“They’re good.” He smiles, and I laugh. No street-cart food is really good, but my dad likes standing in the middle of Times Square eating a hot dog while looking at the lights.
“If we must,” Mom agrees, giving in like she does every year.
“Thanks, darlin’.” He kisses the top of her head, then leads us out of the theater with the crowd. As soon as we’re outside, we make our way down the block toward the bright lights. Stopping at the first food cart we see, we order two hot dogs and a pretzel covered with cinnamon and sugar, then wander slowly through the crowd of people. There are some truly beautiful places in the world, and Times Square is one of them. It’s not full of rare, beautiful history like the Louvre in France, but it’s still beautiful in its own way. Standing under the bright lights with people from all over the world around you fills you with an energy that is impossible to describe unless you have experienced it firsthand. I still remember the first time my parents brought us to Manhattan. The first time they bundled us up and took us to see Times Square. That was when I fell in love with the city.