After a few more hours, we find an empty park bench and sit. I pull out my phone and type away, writing down all my thoughts.
“You’re so fast,” Levi says, sitting back and relaxing.
“There’s so much to write,” I say, going back to my phone. He doesn’t rush me or ask any questions, and after an hour of nonstop typing in my phone, my wrists and fingers ache. I lock it and look over at him, and he’s completely relaxed, happy even.
“You’re done?”
“For now, I think. I’m hungry.”
Levi checks the time and chuckles. “Oh yeah, it’s time for lunch. I’ll drop Dasher off with Lucy if you’d like to go to the deli. She brought cans of dog food for me too, so I’ll feed him too.”
“That lemonade actually sounds really good.”
“And being inside will give you a chance to warm up,” he offers.
See, that’s the thing about Levi—he’s always putting me first.
After we feed and drop Dasher off with Lucy, we head toward the diner.
When we enter, Greta smiles wide and leads us to the same booth we sat in the first time. It feels like deja vu because we order the same things, but I’m grateful the conversation is different.
“So are you leaving?” Greta asks, refilling my lemonade. It’s freshly squeezed and if I could take a gallon home with me I could. Levi glances up at me, and I give her a smile.
“After the new year,” I proudly say, hoping she spreads the word.
“Ahh, well that’s great news,” Greta says, winking at Levi.
When she walks away, he smirks.
“You know she’s going to tell everyone.”
I grin. “That was the point.”
“Mm. I like possessive Fallon. She’s strategic.” He leans forward. “And sexy as fuck,” he whispers.
Levi and I finish eating, and soak up the heat until the restaurant gets busy. Once a line forms outside, he pays then we return to the festival.
Levi gets a text and laughs.
“What?”
“Lucy asked if she could keep Dasher all day because he’s helping her sell more items in his costume.”
“That’s hilarious,” I tell him. “But he did draw a lot of attention when I was waiting for you earlier.”
Levi quickly texts Lucy back and tells her that’s fine.
“Do you want to ice skate?” he asks as we pass a small rink that looks like it was brought here just for the event.
“That would be a big no. I’m not great on regular skates or ice, so that actually sounds like a nightmare. I need my arms, hands, and wrists.”
He chuckles. “Fair enough.”
We walk around the festival a few times, and I’m actually amazed by how they packed so much into such a small space. Before long, Levi lets me know that we should probably get situated for the Christmas tree lighting. We find seats right up front, but a crowd’s already forming.
I stare up at the gigantic Christmas tree with amazement.
“It’s sixty feet tall,” Levi leans in and tells me. “Twenty feet shorter than the Rockefeller Center tree in New York.”