“I won’t.” Nestled against his side, I tilt my head upward. “Sorry I’m a mess.”
“And I’m sorry I’m in your personal space,” he says, stepping back.
“You’re fine. It’s no big deal.” (Too soon! Come back!) “Anyway, I feel better. I think that counts for something.”
“I’m glad,” Levi answers, grinning at me with straight teeth and lips that I want to touch. (I want to run the pad of my thumb over the soft skin there, and I want to see his face when I do.) “I think it counts for everything.”
Chapter 17
Levi
Hello, good morning, I hope the ten hours we’ve been apart have treated you well. If you’re sure about this—sorry I keep asking—I have a list for you. Ready for it?
I squint at the text, then rub my sleepy eyes, blocking out the intense sunlight barging into my room. My clock reads 10:03, but Levi sent this text hours ago. The promise I made yesterday—my evening with Levi and Suzie and cookies—fills my head. I feel my body surging with energy as I make myself sit up and reply.
Bee
Don’t you ever seel?
Sleep. I mean sleep.
Anywhoooo. Dude I totaly want to d this! Stp asking nd send over the list.
Im in suspne
No. Sspene
DAMMIT!!!
Suspense.
I just woke up. Pleas forgve me.
Groaning, I click the lock button and slide out of bed, already feeling the heat of the day in my bedroom. My eyes still won’t open all the way from exhaustion. “Hey, can someone turn on the AC?” I shout to the rest of the house, pulling my pink summer dress over my head.
No one answers, but when I head into the kitchen, everyone’s there, even Tom, and they’re laughing like it’s a party.
“Just wake up, sweetie?” my mom asks me.
I rub my eyes, realizing too late that I didn’t even look at my hair. (I probably look like a ferocious lion with The Worst Case of Bedhead Ever.) “Yes. Did you know that it’s really hot in the house and I feel gross?”
“The AC broke,” Astrid explains. “Papa’s getting someone to fix it tomorrow. Millie and I are going swimming later, wanna come?”
“No, thanks.” I put my hair up with a leftover band around my wrist. “I’m busy today.”
“But it’s Sunday,” Millie whines. “Come play with us!”
“M&M, I’m planning a wedding that takes place two weeks from now, and today is the start of everything. No buts!”
“A wedding?” Mama asks, handing me a plate of waffles. The scent of syrup and strawberry jam hits me hard and my stomach grumbles.
“Yeah. I offered to take over this project because Levi was stressed out.”
Astrid’s grin is quick. “Of course you’d do that for your boyfriend.”
My dad smacks her gently upside the head. “Now, Astrid, no need to state the obvious.”
“Yeah, Ass-trid,” I chime in, emphasis on the ass. But then I register the rest of my dad’s sentence, and all I can do is glare.
Millie sticks her tongue out at me. Papa shakes his head, like he’s going to scold me for cursing before noon, but my mom saves me by putting her arms around his waist. I hold my breath, seeing them like this. In fact, we all pause.
I don’t think my parents notice how we’re all looking at them, watching to see what they’ll do. They’re talking and teasing as if nothing has been wrong the last few weeks. Mama says something snarky that I don’t catch. My dad gasps and, without warning, starts to tickle her. At that, my siblings and I release a collective breath, laughing with them, thankful that whatever was going on between them seems to have passed.
I glance up, meeting Tom’s gaze across the kitchen. We nod at each other. I haven’t seen him much since the breakup, but he looks better now than he did last week, like he’s been getting more sleep. I stride over and smack his arm affectionately. “Hi, loser.”
“Beef,” he says with equal affection. “So, The Color Project, huh?”
“Yes.”
“Getting really involved, yeah?”
I squint at him. “Ye-es.” I draw out the word with hesitance.
“That’s cool.” Tom squints back at me. “Levi’s pretty great, huh?”
“Yes, but—” My phone dings.
Tom looks down at the screen in my hands. Levi’s name pops up next to the text icon. “Speaking of,” he says.
Looking at his eyes, the way they sparkle with purely evil delight, I instantly know what he’s getting at. “You’re just as bad as the girls, making fun of me! Would you be mature, please?”
Tom puts his hands up defensively. “Bernice, I’ve done nothing to offend,” he says in his most innocent tone.
“Shush, Tom. I come over here to ask you how you’re doing and you tease me.”
His eyes laugh, but he keeps his mouth in a straight line. “Fine, I’ll stop. And I’m good, thanks for asking.”
This has me smiling. “Moving on okay?”
He shrugs. “I think so.”
I take the moment of vulnerability to kiss his cheek. “Good.”
He brushes me off, feigning disgust. “Just go text your boyf—” He makes a little surprised O with his mouth, jumping out of the way of my protesting swats. “I’m just—I didn’t mean to—stop, Bee! Just text him back!”
I shake my head at him like he’s a hopeless case (well, he is) and finally sit down at the table with my waffles.
Levi
I may need a PhD in linguistics to translate those texts, but I’ll do my best.
Frantic, I scroll up. Now that I’m more awake and aware, I instantly see that there are close to a million typos in my previous texts. I groan.
Bee
Not my best work, I admit.
But I can assure you that, despite what you’ve just witnessed, I did indeed graduate high school.
Levi
I believe you. But only because you listen to good music. (People with good taste in music are the only people you can trust.)
I emailed you the list. The girls’ numbers are all at the bottom, in case you need help with anything. They know to be as on-call as they can.
Bee
Awesome!
I’ll talk to Tracy about flowers tomorrow, and market prices, and if she can help out/donate some of her time.
Levi
Great! You can use the office as much as you like. I’ll give you a key.
Bee
No worries!
I can do almost everything from my house.
Levi
?
Oh, and I forgot to tell you, the flowers you designed look amazing. Your boss was right to take advantage of your talent.
Bee
Really? Thank you!
Levi
I’m not kidding/exaggerating, in case you’re wondering.
Bee
I was.
Levi
Stop that. It’s as bad as you saying you’re sorry all the time.
Bee
Sorry.
Levi
Ha. Very funny, Banana.
Bee
God Almighty.
Levi
Okay, that was sort of a joke guess. Kind of. Who knows? Maybe your mom really craved bananas when she was pregnant with you. Besides, fruit names never stopped celebrities! Apple Martin, Banana Wescott, etc.
Also, did I say thank you yet? If not, thanks.
Bee
NICE TRY! My mom craved peanuts and ice cream when she was pregnant with me.
I don’t remember if you thanked me, but it doesn’t matter. I’m so excited to start.
Levi