Levi laughs at something she says, and I’m about to lose my shit, but I know I have to keep it together in front of Vayda. “Who is that?”
“I have no idea. I’m glad they set up him up though. He’s been happier these last few weeks, so maybe he’ll consider dating again.”
I paste a smile on my face and curse my parents for setting Levi up with the blonde bimbo. But at least I know his happiness is due to me and not this chick.
"Hey, look who's here." Vayda's voice brings me back, and I see she's talking about the Hendersons. "I'm going to say hi and see if their son is interested in going for a very long walk…" Vayda giggles. She's had a crush on that boy for years.
Will is two years older than us and never paid her any interest, but that hasn?
??t stopped Vayda from trying. She flashes me a bright smile before heading in his direction.
I look at her retreating back and guilt washes over me. I hate that I’m lying to her, but I can’t come clean now. I grit my teeth and head over to my parents, Levi, and the blonde.
"Here you go." I offer my dad the beer and turn to Levi. "Here you go, Mr. B," I say with an overly cheery smile, but I know my eyes are flashing daggers.
“Mr. B., how cute!” The blonde bimbo quips with a high-pitched laugh. My dad smiles and tugs me into a hug.
“We’ve been neighbors with Levi forever. Oakley and his daughter are best friends; Levi is like a second dad to our Oakley here.” I smile up at my dad wondering what he would do if he knew I wanted to fuck my “second dad.”
“That’s so sweet. I’ve always appreciated a man who loves children.” Her voice is dripping with honey, making me want to gag on the sweetness.
"Well, Oakley's always been nothing but a pleasure to have around. After the divorce, she really helped Vayda get through the bad patches." Levi smiles at me briefly before he turns back to the bimbo. She trails a fake nail down his bicep, and now I want to rip her fucking nails off one by one.
“Maybe it’s time someone helped you…” This woman is fucking relentless.
Levi laughs and my mom steps into the conversation. “It is time,” she encourages, and I wince. “Levi, you should really start dating again. Penelope is a realtor and also divorced.” Mom sounds like a goddamn infomercial. Next, she’ll probably start giving Levi a list of her best character traits.
Levi glances at me briefly, knowing how uncomfortable this is for me before he smiles at Penelope. I can't stick around to hear his answer, so I turn on my heel and leave. I rush toward the house on wobbly feet, noticing that Vayda is talking to Will on the far side of the yard.
I never realized how hard it was going to be holding up the façade. We haven’t exactly talked this out or decided how we were going to come out—if at all. But I do know I want Levi and that he wants me but this is just too much.
I head up to my bedroom and slam the door closed before I walk over to window looking out over our front yard. I can’t bear to watch Levi flirting with the blonde for another second.
After a moment, I hear my door open and shut, and swing around to find Levi standing. “What the hell are you doing up here?” I whisper, furiously. I was spitting mad, but I didn’t want to chance my parents or Vayda walking in on us.
With a few strides, Levi closes the distance between us and frames my face before his mouth crushes against mine. “Jealousy looks good on you, babe.” He winks when he finally pulls back. The sunlight streaming through my window accents the dark strands of hair on his sideburns.
“I’m not jealous,” I stupidly try to argue and cross my arms across my chest.
Levi laughs and shakes his head. “You were ready to throw that woman under a bus. Don’t even deny it, baby.” He dips, pressing a kiss on my neck that always makes my eyes roll to the back of my head at how good it feels.
“You can’t just kiss me to make it all better,” I playfully pout, wanting his hands and lips on me all the time.
"I didn't know they were going to set me up. If I'm rude, they're going to know something is up. We have to be careful." The tenderness in his voice just about tears me apart.
“I know,” I whisper and meet his sapphire gaze. “It’s just hard to watch.”
"I know, baby. I'd be the same way." Levi drags a hand through his hair and shakes his head. "I don't like this any more than you do, but I can't seem to leave you alone."
The urgency in his voice reassures me. I stand on my toes and give him a brief kiss before I squeeze his ass. “Get out before someone catches us.”
Levi winks at me and gives me a cocky grin. “Later?”
I nod, and he leaves my room. A few seconds later, I head back outside. I avoid watching where Levi joins the blonde again and head to Vayda and Will instead, promising myself I'll have him to myself tonight.
9
Levi