Every part of me tensed, but I saw nothing but sincerity in his expression. Shoulders sagging, I kept my head low, but slowly shook my head. I hadn’t finished high school, I’d ran before could.
Levi’s hand released mine, and he stepped closer, so close that his spiced smell enveloped my senses. I saw his fingers clenching and unclenching, then he lifted a trembling hand, only to lay it softly under my chin.
Guiding my head upward, my eyes collided with his, and he said, “Ain’t no reason to be ashamed, Elsie. We all have demons.” He paused like he needed a minute, and added, “Believe me, I got a whole ton in my past. But there ain’t no shame to be had, not in front of me. I get that life can sometimes get in the way.”
One by one, my muscles relaxed, until I had leaned into his hand on my face. I took comfort in his touch, I spent minutes with his hand touching my skin, until I stepped back, needing to get away. Tonight, all of this, had been a lot to take in, and I was tired.
I stepped back, and I could see that Levi knew I was leaving. Walking to the desk, I scribbled out, “Thank you for tonight. I loved the story of Hero and Leander.”
Levi read it over my shoulder. “You’re welcome.”
Picking up my jar, I went to walk to the door when Levi called my name. “Elsie?”
Looking over my shoulder, I saw Levi holding out a book in his hand. I frowned, wondering what it was. As I took hold of the book, Levi explained, “It’s a book of poems.” My eyes snapped to his, as the words left his lips. He put his hands in the pockets of his sweats. “I took a poetry class last year. I don’t need it no more and thought if you like poems, and you’re still needing to be in bed and rest…” he trailed off, sucking in the bottom corner of his lip, as he did.
I didn’t know how to react. I held the book tightly in my hand, and moved forward until he looked down at me from his tall height. His face was apprehensive. Unable to do anything else, I timidly rose on tiptoes and pressed a chaste kiss to his cheek.
I heard him inhale sharply. Feeling my face heat, I darted to the door. As the door opened and I stepped outside, Levi followed me to the yard and said, “I’ll watch, to make sure you get in safe. I’ll see you’re in your room when you stand in your window.”
Smiling a goodnight, I rushed through the house. Entering the room that I was staying in, I placed the poetry book and the jar on the dresser top, and moved toward the window to show Levi I was in and safe. As I stepped across the floor, I stopped and a thought came to my head.
My heart beat in tandem with my quick steps as I went back to the dresser and held the neon jar in my hands. As I arrived at the large window, I saw Levi standing in the shadow below. My hands trembled as I stared down; then, with painstaking slowness, I placed the fake lightning bug jar on the window ledge. Its light still shone brightly.
I waited to see what Levi would do. When he stepped into the path of moonlight, his expression soft and gentle, I could see he understood.
This jar was my light.
In minutes I was in bed and asleep. The glow from the jar kept all the haunting memories from my mind, and the nightmares from my sleep.
It was the first night I’d slept right through in years.
Chapter Eight
Levi
“Why you so damn anxious to get home?”
My leg was bobbing up and down and Ashton slammed his hand on my knee to stop it. Turning to my friend and teammate I pushed his hand off.
“What?” I asked. Ashton looked at Jake who was sitting in front of me on the team bus. We’d just played at USC, winning by six points. I’d scored a touchdown and was fairly happy with my receiving game. But from the minute we got on the plane back home, and now on the bus back to college to pick up our cars, Ashton had been right, I was desperate to get home.
My friends both waited for a response. I didn’t give one.
Ashton rolled his eyes, and asked, “You coming over to the party tonight?”
Checking my phone, I saw it was nearly midnight and shook my head.
Jake sighed, but the pair of them dropped the subject. They were now getting used to me not turning up to anything.
“You see Harper after the game?” Jake leaned across the table between us to ask.
I shook my head and stared out of the window. Jake kicked my leg under the table and I slammed my eyes to meet his. He smirked. “She was looking for you. I told her where you’d be.”