“Babe,” Austin called from behind. “You planning to have them there all night?”
“Hush!” she scolded, and snapped the button. A hand sized white picture rolled from the camera. Lexi shook the picture before bringing it to us, holding it out until the coating processed and our image came into view.
Butterflies burst in my stomach at how we looked on that picture, both of our faces presented timid smiles. But we looked happy.
“You look amazin’,” Lexi complimented, her tight throat causing her southern accent to become thicker.
“Can you put it in my room?” Levi asked. Lexi smiled at Levi like a mother would look at her son.
“Of course, sweetie,” she confirmed. “I gotta frame that it’ll go in real nice.”
Levi leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Lexi’s cheek, before taking my hand. “You ready?” Levi asked. I nodded my head. My stomach rolled; my butterflies flew away to leave only racking nerves.
We waved at everyone as we left the front room and we rushed into the Jeep. The music was playing low as we belted up. I expected him to pull out onto the road, but before he did, Levi leaned over the console and took my mouth in a kiss. I sighed as his lips moved gently against my lips, his tentative tongue slipping in to duel against mine.
Levi’s hand wrapped in my hair. He broke from the kiss, breathless, gray eyes leaden with need. “You look real fucking good, bella mia,” he rasped. My heart beat wildly as he swore. Levi rarely cussed. I fought a smile. It showed me how beautiful he truly thought I was. It made me feel like the prettiest girl in the world.
Moving back to his seat, Levi pulled out onto the road, and all the way to the hotel in central Seattle, he kept our hands entwined on my lap. As he pulled into the parking lot at the fancy hotel, players and their dates were entering the main door. I suddenly felt frozen by fear.
Levi held me tightly, lifting his hand to stall the valet that tried to come and take our car. My nerves increased when I saw the valet look at Levi in confusion. “We’d better go,” I hushed out, trying to keep the tightness from my throat.
“No,” Levi pushed. “He can wait. I can see something’s wrong.”
“It’s just nerves, Levi. I’ve… I’ve never been to anything like this, wearing fancy clothes, eating fancy food. I,” I sighed and shook my head, “I’ve never been around this many people… I’ve never had to talk to people like this. I’m,” I pushed down the lump clawing up my throat and asked, “What if I have to speak? What if they hear my voice?” I felt sick just at the thought of going in, my eyes drifting to watch the many girls glammed up in dresses entering the dinner in groups. They were laughing, linking arms… they were all so perfect and normal.
Just like Annabelle and her friends.
Everything I wasn’t.
“What if they do?” Levi said softly, as I looked to his understanding face. “What if they do hear you speak?”
“It’s not like everyone else’s. I’ll…” I swallowed hard. “I’ll embarrass you, Levi. In front of all your friends.”
Levi’s jaw tensed, then he said firmly, “Bella mia, I promise you, it’s not so different that people will judge you.” He leaned forward, his face an inch from mine. “And I’ll be with you. All night, I’ll be with you. I can be your voice if you need it, but you have nothing to be ashamed of. I promise. Just… just trust me. I’d never do anything to upset or hurt you. You don’t need to be so scared. You’ve got me, and I’m not letting you go.”
I read his face and watched his kissable lips promise me I’d be safe. And I believed him. I knew he wouldn’t see me hurt. I knew he’d protect me no matter what.
You have to take this chance, I persuaded myself. You can’t always live in the shadows.
The sound of a horn blasted behind us, making me jump. Levi laughed at my shock, shaking his head. Bringing my hand to his lips, he asked again, “Are you sure you wanna do this? If it’s too much I can take you home. I won’t be mad.”
As I watched his lips brush against my skin, I said, “No. I want to be here with you, for you. I need to do this, for me too. I have to do this sometime. Why not now?”
Levi gave me the brightest smile, then he opened his door. The valet opened my door too and helped me out. I walked round the car and immediately took hold of Levi’s outstretched hand. He proudly led me into the foyer. I looked around in awe at the opulence surrounding us. “Crazy, huh?” Levi said pointing the huge crystal chandelier hanging down from the ceiling.
I nodded my head just as someone came over and asked if they could take my coat. I shrugged it off, Levi’s storm gray eyes roving over my bare arms. He licked along his lips. I caught the flush traveling up his neck.