The night before, Levee had spent two hours arguing on the phone with Henry after she’d informed him that she wasn’t going back to the rehab center. He was worried. And I couldn’t say that I didn’t share his fears, but he’d finally relented when Levee had assured us both that she could continue therapy at home. The idea of having her all to myself during her self-imposed break definitely made it easier for me to accept. It also didn’t hurt that, the minute her bag hit the floor in my bedroom, she was on the phone, scheduling doctor appointments for the rest of the month.
I secretly texted Henry to let him know she was following through with her end of the arrangement. And I guessed he was relieved, even though his only reply was to ask for naked pictures. I sent him an image of a tribe of naked men I’d found on National Geographic online. It wasn’t like he’d been specific or anything. He didn’t find it nearly as funny as I did, responding with a picture of a puppy puking. An amazing and unlikely friendship was born out of those first few messages.
Levee had refused to speak to Devon in Maine. He’d called numerous times and had even gone so far as to show up at the hotel we had been staying at attempting to explain. Levee wouldn’t even tell him our room number. She pretended to be mad, but when her eyes watered every time she ended his call, I could tell she was more hurt than anything else. I, on the other hand, was pissed enough for both of us. I figured she’d want to talk to him eventually, and I hoped that I’d have a chance to cool off by then. I couldn’t imagine that a brawl with Devon would end well for me.
We’d barely been back at my house for two hours, but we had already broken my bed in —twice. Levee was still naked and curled into my side when my phone started ringing with an unidentified call. She hadn’t gone back to pick up her belongings from the center, and until her new cell was delivered the following day, she was using mine as her sole source of communication. I didn’t even bother answering before passing it in her direction.
“Hello?” she said, propping it against her ear so she could continue teasing her nails over my stomach.
I was gliding a hand over her ass when she suddenly sat upright.
“Uh, who is this?” Her gaze flipped down at mine accusingly as she said, “That’s funny because I thought I was Sam’s girlfriend.”
I dove for the phone, but Levee jumped out of my reach, sending me crashing off the end of the bed. Only one woman would use a blocked number to call me, knowing good and damn well I wouldn’t pick up if I saw her name pop up on my phone.
Confirming my suspicions, Levee said, “How long have you and Sam been together, Lexi?”
“Levee, give me the phone.” I pushed up to my feet, but she ducked under my arm and headed to my kitchen.
Oh, this is going to be bad.
Lexi was in-fucking-sane, especially if she thought I was seeing someone new. I couldn’t even imagine the amount of bullshit she was firing at Levee.
“What a prick!” Levee yelled from the other room as I hurriedly tugged a pair of boxers on and following her.
Shit shit shit.
“He told me he loved me,” Levee whined as I cautiously made my way towards her.
Fuck my life.
The moment I rounded the corner, I found Levee in my discarded T-shirt that hadn’t even made it to the bedroom when we’d gotten home. She was bent over, searching the refrigerator with the phone stuck to her ear. Placing her hand over the speaker, she whispered, “Do you have any beer?”
My mouth fell open as she casually went back to talking to Lexi, whimpering, “I can’t believe he would do this to me.”
“Ummm…bottom drawer,” I mumbled, dumbstruck.
She tossed me a wink and pulled out two before passing me one. She clinked the neck of her beer against mine and then tipped it to her lips. I watched in a weird combination of astonishment and confusion.
Shit. Maybe Levee is insane too.
Placing my bottle on the counter, I closed the distance and attempted to take the phone from her hand. Levee laughed, backing away.
“Stop,” she mouthed.
“She’s not my girlfriend. I swear—” I explained, but she silenced me with a finger over my lips.