by Heather Lyn
This freaking guy.
“So, this weekend,” Levi begins, a sly grin on his face.
“What about it?”
Standing at his truck, Lily asleep inside, I’m not looking forward to him leaving in a few minutes. After the aquarium, we went out for ice cream, and Lily zonked out almost immediately on the way back to my apartment. We drove the thirty minutes in silence, Levi holding my hand tightly in his lap. It was an absolutely amazing day, and I’m not ready to let them go yet.
Silly, but I don’t care.
“Can I take you out Saturday night?”
“Yeah, that sounds great.”
“Perfect. Say five? I’ll get my mom to watch Lily for the night.”
I raise an eyebrow at him. “I thought you wanted to bring Lily with us?”
“She came with us today. Saturday is about you and me.” Leaning forward, he drops his forehead to mine, his lips hovering over mine. “That okay with you, Em?”
“Of course.” Goose bumps break out over my skin when his rough hands come around my waist, sliding under the hem of my shirt.
“I’ll text you when we get home.”
“Okay. Drive safe.”
“Always do.”
Leaning down, he presses a chaste kiss to my lips, and I give him a small wave as I rush inside. Closing the door behind me, I lean my back against it, a huge smile on my face. I turn the lock and look around my almost completely boxed-up apartment. Dropping my purse onto the kitchen counter, I hear the phone inside beep with a message.
Levi: I really enjoyed today, Em.
Emerson: Me too. Thank you, Levi. Really, it got me out and kept my mind off things.
Levi: I’m glad, baby. We’re leaving now, talk to you later.
Emerson: I thought you left?
Levi: Nope. Wanted to make sure you got inside safely.
Emerson: Goofball.
Levi: You know it.
I toss my phone aside and head to my bathroom to take a shower and get changed for the night. I still have some packing to finish up, and I know I’ll end up calling Levi once I’m done. Or maybe he’ll call me first. I feel like a teenager with her first crush.
I’m totally ridiculous.
“Good night, sweetie pie! I’ll talk to you tomorrow, okay?” I blow a kiss at my phone, watching Lily giggle and blow one back. Levi sent a text about an hour ago asking if we could FaceTime before Lily went to bed, and of course I was game.
“Em, give me just five minutes, okay? I’ll call you right back?” Levi’s face appears for a moment and I give him a thumbs-up.
“Don’t rush on my account. I’m heading to bed soon as well, so if you want I can just talk to you tomorrow.”
“No, seriously. I’ll be right back.” Levi winks at me and the screen goes dark as he ends the call.
Shaking my head, I stand from my place on the couch and carry my phone into my bedroom, placing it on my end table. I leave it there while I go into the bathroom to brush my teeth. Pulling my hair up into a bun, I climb into bed and reach for the television remote, finding some comedy reruns and settling back against my pillows.
Halfway through, I hear an incoming FaceTime call chime and I smile, muting the television so I can answer.
“Hello again,” I joke, laughing when he rolls his eyes.
“Sorry, Lily needed an extra hug and then another story. And then another hug. That child is something else.”
I laugh loudly. “She is the sweetest thing in the world. I adore her, Levi. Truly, she’s such an amazing and beautiful little girl.”
He smiles, and my eyes go to his dimple again. Fuck, he’s just so handsome.
“Thanks, baby.”
I’m pretty sure I blush from my head all the way to my toes and he laughs, which only makes me blush harder.
“What?”
“Nobody has ever called me baby before. Or made me feel like this. It freaks me out.”
“Why does it freak you out? Talk to me, Emmy. You don’t have to hide from me. What’s going through that pretty little head of yours?”
I make myself comfortable and set my phone up on my end table, resting my head on my pillows. Levi shifts the camera around to do the same, almost like we’re lying side by side.
“I don’t know. I’ve watched my parents be head over heels in love my whole life. They got married when they were barely out of high school. I’ve dated, and I’m not some virgin who lives with her head in the clouds and believes in love at first sight, but I’m so drawn to you and your little girl. And what if this is a fluke? What if tomorrow you find another hot nurse to start dating? What about Lily? How does this work?”
“Can I talk, Em?” I nod, and he gives me his signature smile. “Listen. Lily is four, and in her entire life I have only been with one person—her mother. After we broke up when Lily was an infant, I never had time for dating, too busy running a new business with Caden and trying to be a good father. When Dana split, I was so consumed with making sure that Lily had everything she needed. See, she adjusted to the change okay, because she was only two. She didn’t understand, and after we told her that she’d be living with Daddy every day, she never asked for Dana again because when she was with Dana, she bounced from babysitter to babysitter. Lily barely knew her mother even when she was around.”
“That’s horrible,” I say, finding it hard to not want to spend every waking second with your baby. It makes no sense to me.
“I agree. But it’s the hand I’ve been dealt, and I like to think that my daughter will turn out just fine, mother or not. But you need to know, me wanting to be with you? It’s not something I take lightly, Em. I saw the connection you had with Lily that night in the hospital. You’re all she can talk about. So yes, things are happening fast, and I’m scared too, baby. I promise you, you aren’t alone. For four years, my daughter has been my entire world. Now you’re working your way in, and I wouldn’t change that for anything.”
“Levi...”
“You’re amazing, Emerson Reese. You’re dedicated to your job, and you work your ass off. You’re driven, talented, beautiful, and I like you a hell of a lot. I don’t think it will take much for you to find a permanent spot in my life, so please don’t worry. We’ll be okay.”
“You really think so?”
“Dad says he saw my mom across the parking lot of the restaurant they first met at and he knew then he’d marry her. Took him about three years of convincing, but he got his way. I’m an awful lot like that stubborn old fool. Just a fair warning.”
“Three weeks, Levi.”
“So I guess we got a head start, then, huh?”
“Guess so.”
“Have faith, Em. I get the feeling we’re in for the ride of our lives.”
I can’t keep the grin off my face, and when we end the call ten minutes later, I fall asleep with it still there.
“Dad, all my stuff isn’t gonna fit in your truck. Levi offered to help us, so I accepted. So I need you to be nice, okay?”
I’m at my parents’ for dinner tonight, and while we eat, we discuss the plans for the move on Monday.
Mom chuckles at the look on Dad’s face.
“When am I not nice, sweetheart?”
“Oh, I’m not sure. Let’s see. How about Billy, my junior prom date? You cleaned your gun in the living room that night.”
“What, a man can’t clean his gun?”
“It’s a decorative piece, Daddy.” I raise an eyebrow and he starts laughing.
“Okay, you got me. I’ll be nice to this Levi guy, okay? How well do you know him, anyway?”
“I know him very well. When I’m not at work or sleeping, we’re talking. And not just the usual ‘what’s your favorite movie’ garbage. We talk about everything.”
“How many dates have you had?” Mom asks, offering me more wine.
Shaking my head, I push back from the table and start clearing the empty dishes.
“One. We took Lily to the aquarium the othe
r day. We’re going out tomorrow night for dinner though.”
“Lily?” Dad questions.
“His four-year-old daughter.”
Oh shit. Guess who never told her parents she’s dating a single father.
This moron.
“His daughter? Honey, are you sure that’s a good idea?” Dad asks. Mom is giving me one of her most sympathetic looks, and I know I’ve just stepped into a pile of shit the size of Texas.
“Why wouldn’t it be? I met her the same night I met Levi. He brought her into the emergency room one night I was on shift.”
“I just don’t think now is a good time for you to be getting mixed up with a guy with that kinda baggage, what with your final year of nursing school.”
Slamming the bowl onto the counter, my blood boils as I storm back into the dining room. Coming to stand in front of Dad, I rest my hands on my hips.
“Number one, Lily is not baggage, and don’t you ever say that again. Second, Levi is a thirty-year-old man who owns his own business and treats me like gold. He was there for me when Ellen passed away this week and I can never repay him for that, so watch how you speak about him. I really like him Dad, and I can’t have your overprotectiveness ruining it.”
Spinning on my heel, I march out to grab my purse and come back to my parents. Neither of them has moved, but they both look completely taken aback by my outburst, so I’m not surprised.
“I’m gonna head out, but I’ll see you Monday morning. Levi will be there around nine, so same time, okay? Thanks for dinner, Mom. Love you guys.”
I curtly make my way to the front door, but my mom comes running up behind me.
“Em, hold on a second. I want to talk to you.”
“Mom, you don’t—”
“No, I’m proud of you. Your father isn’t trying to hurt you or get involved, but you know him, honey. He wants the best for you, okay?”
“I know, but Levi is what’s best for me.”
Mom gives me a small smile and folds her arms over her chest.
“It’s really nice to see you in love. It’s a beautiful look for you.”
I throw my head back and laugh, hardly able to believe what she just said.
“Mom, are you high? In love? You’re joking, right? I’ve known him a month. Not even. I am not in love with Levi.”
“Tell that to the girl who just bit her father’s head off for talking about this man the way he did. Don’t worry, your brain will catch up to your heart faster than you think. Drive safely and I’ll see you Monday, okay?”
Kissing my cheek, Mom heads back into the living room and I take off, quickly getting into my car and heading home. Her words follow me the entire way, and even later, when I talk to Levi and Lily, I can’t get them out of my head.
I’m not in love with Levi. You can’t fall in love in three weeks.
That’s impossible.
Isn’t it?
CHAPTER 7
Levi
WAKING UP SATURDAY MORNING, two things immediately register. I have a date with Emmy tonight, and my daughter weighs a hundred pounds when she’s bouncing up and down on my stomach. Grunting, I sweep her off me and onto the bed, making her giggle.
“Can I help you, little lady?”
“I’m hungry, Daddy!”
“All right, Lily bug. Let’s get you breakfast. Race you to the kitchen?”
Kissing me on the cheek, she goes screaming and yelling downstairs and I groan, lying back down. Turning my head, I catch sight of the time and scrub my hand down my face.
Six in the morning. On a Saturday.
Noticing my phone blinking next to me, I pick it up and see a text from Emmy.
Emerson: Morning. Looking forward to tonight.
Levi: You have no idea, Em.
She replies back almost instantly, and I laugh.
Emerson: Lily wake you up?
Levi: She used me as a trampoline.
Emerson: Ouch.
Levi: Why are you up so early?
Emerson: Excited for a first date tonight. And I’m finishing cleaning my apartment.
Levi: Lucky girl.
Emerson: That’s how I feel too.
“Daddy! I made a mess!”
Fuck.
Unplugging my phone, I go racing downstairs to see what my spirited four-year-old has gotten into. Hopefully nothing that will make my hair fall out so early in the day.
Stepping into the kitchen, I see her standing on a chair in front of the counter. A bag of flour is on top of her head, and the entire area is covered in white powder, including my sweet girl.
Bursting into loud laughter, I unlock my phone to take a picture, Lily giggling the whole time.
“Oh, baby, what did you do?”
“I tried to help make pancakes but it falled on me. Daddy, there was so much!”
“I can see that. Let’s get you cleaned up, and then how about we go to Nana’s for pancakes?”
“Aw, yeah! Nana!” Jumping from the chair, she rushes out of the room, the bag of flour laying behind, and I know she just left the biggest mess on her way to her bedroom.
Shaking my head, I grab the broom from the closet and start cleaning. This is going to be the longest day in the world.
Pulling into my parents’ driveway forty-five minutes later, I see my brother’s SUV there as well. Putting my truck into Park, I turn around to look at Lily.
“Looks like Uncle Cade is here, baby girl.”
“Yay!”
Climbing from the truck, I help her out, watching her go tearing to the front door. It opens and my mom steps onto the front porch, waving at me before being attacked by my daughter and picking her up with a smile. Shaking my head, I grab her overnight bag from the back seat, making sure I don’t forget her bunny, and follow behind her.
Kissing my mom on the cheek, I step into the house, Lily shrieking when she finds my brother in the kitchen with Dad. Making my way into the kitchen, I see them sitting at the kitchen table with a half-full pot of coffee in the center. Dropping Lily’s bag, I make a beeline for the pot, snatching a mug on the way.
“Rough morning, bro?” Cade jokes, bouncing Lily on his lap.
“You have no idea, man. I need caffeine stat.” Pouring myself a cup, I sit across from them, blowing on the hot liquid.
“Mom told us about the flour catastrophe of 2017,” my brother laughs.
I flip him off and Lily shouts at me, and we all erupt into laughter.
“Lily, come with Nana. I have a new toy for you to play with today.” Mom pulls Lily from Cade’s lap and takes her out to the backyard.
“What are you doing here, anyway?” I ask Cade, finally taking a sip of the sweetest-tasting heaven in the entire world.
“Dad asked me to help him fix the shower in the upstairs bathroom.”
“Fuck that,” I groan.
“Well, we can’t all have a hot-ass girl waiting for us later today.”
Laughing, I take another sip of coffee. “Pretty sure no girls are waiting for you ever, man.”
Running his hand over his face, he laughs at me. “Yeah, pretty sure that shit went out the window the first time I fucked my college boyfriend.”
“Well, all right then. I’m gonna go check on my daughter now,” I mumble, not wanting to hear anything about my brother’s sex life.
“Oh, she’s fine. We bought her a sandbox. Tell us about this girl, son.” Dad pours himself another cup of coffee and stares at me.
“What do you want to know? I told you about Emmy weeks ago.”
“Well yeah, you told us you met a pretty nurse the night you brought Lily to the hospital, and that you went to her see her a week or so later. Where does a date fit in with that?”
“Somewhere after she came to visit me at work, and I spend every single spare moment of my days talking to her. We took Lily to the aquarium the other day.”
Dad looks shocked to hear that.
“What?” I ask, pouring myself some more coffee.
“She adores Lily. My daughter is four, and Emmy’s the only woman I’ve ever had her around since Dana left. Why are you making a thing of this?”
“Levi,” Dad sighs, getting up from his chair and coming to stand next to me. “I’m not making a thing out of it. I just want to know about her. You clearly like this girl.”
“I’m kind of crazy about her, Dad. I know it’s way too soon, but I am.”
“You know what I think about that. I loved your momma long before she was even my girlfriend. I’m happy for you, son.”
“Thanks.”
He claps me on the shoulder and then heads out of the room, Cade following behind him.
Left alone, I pull my phone from my pocket and see another message waiting for me.
Emerson: Where are we going tonight? Trying to decide on an outfit.
Levi: Dress comfortable. I’m cooking. Bring pajamas too.
Emerson: Awfully sure of yourself, bucko.
Levi: Don’t pretend you don’t want me too, baby.
Emerson: We’ll see about that.
Chuckling, I stuff my phone back into my pocket and head out to the backyard.
Stepping from the shower into the steam-filled bathroom, I wrap a towel around my waist and stride into my bedroom, using another towel to briskly dry my hair. I’ve just pulled on a pair of boxer briefs and my favorite jeans when I smell something funny. Grabbing a random T-shirt from my dresser, I pull it on as I race down the stairs.
Son of a bitch.
The smoke alarm starts going off as soon as I reach my kitchen. Rushing over to the oven, I yank the door open only for a stream of black smoke to pour out. I grab the oven mitts and pull the ruined meatloaf out of the oven. Slamming it onto the counter, I wave a dish towel in front of the smoke detector to silence the piercing sound. When it quiets, I open the back door, trying to get the smell out of the house.
I’m opening the window over the sink when the doorbell rings.
“Motherfucker,” I growl. Rushing to the front door, I pull it open and my mood only grows worse. Emmy is standing on the front porch in tight jeans and a simple white T-shirt, a cute pair of sandals on her feet.