“Well now you’ve got my full attention,” she said, checking for spills on her clothes and the seat.
Sophie stared down her friend. Virginia felt the heated glaze. “I asked you if this was going to be a problem. ‘No, Sophie, this will not be a problem.’ Your exact words. Remember? We had just let Levi down after his first menu attempt. We were up in our room, sitting on the balcony. I asked you. You answered.”
Virginia flinched at her friend’s brash reminders. “I don’t see how it’s a problem.”
“Business-wise, no. But for Pete’s sake. You turn into an ashen statue when you see him unexpectedly. You stumble over your words when just the subject of Levi arises. You flirt with him. You light up like a Christmas tree when you’re on your way to see him or if you know he’s coming to see us. And you’re still holding on to the business-only rule, even though you two clearly, so very very clearly, want to be together.”
Virginia stood frozen under her friend’s words. Sophie was an expert at the like-date-done cycle. And she always rebounded at a rate that both amazed and worried Virginia. As for herself, fear didn’t register on the relationship scale, just inexperience and ultimately wanting to place her heart in the right hands. While Levi seemed like a qualified contender, he was a public figure and that went against her number-one rule.
“It just doesn’t seem that simple to me,” Virginia said quietly. “And since we have talked about it ad nauseum, please, for Pete’s sake, let it go for a while.”
Sophie stood back. She seemed to be taking stock of the situation, of her best friend nearing a puddle of tears in the middle of the business class train car. She stepped forward and wrapped Virginia in a hug.
“Hm,” she said, again assessing the situation. “Permission to return to the subject matter post-Gala?”
Virginia laughed lightly. “Permission granted,” she said, into Sophie’s shoulder, as the two were still connected in a hug.
With Sophie on her side, Virginia knew she could relax. Even if Levi did make his way to their car, which she assumed he would based on their track record of running into each other, literally and otherwise, Virginia knew she could count on her friend to not push the topic in front of Levi.
Moments later, the loudspeaker crackled. “Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats. The conductor will soon make the rounds for tickets. Please have them out and ready to be punched.”
“That was quick. Must not be too full of a train,” Virginia said, taking her aisle seat next to Sophie in the row Sophie had chosen.
“That or you were staring into space for so long we lost track of time,” Sophie said, peering sideways at Virginia with a hopeful expression. She added a wink for good measure.
“You, Sophie Ward, are impossible.”
She shook her head once. “Nothing I haven’t heard before.” She set her pink metallic water bottle next to her in the seat, pulled out her novel of the week, and settled in to read. Within seconds, however, she popped up from her laid back position. “Oh! I almost forgot. Grandma gave me these way back in the spring to give to you. I forgot until last night. And you know she’ll ask.” Sophie pulled three Sudoku puzzle books out of her backpack.
“Awe, Gram! I’ll be sure to thank her when we see her this weekend.”
“You better do a few, too, so you can tell her how they are. You know she likes a report,” Sophie said, resettling herself.
“I’m on it,” Virginia said with a smile. She put her earbuds in, set her music app to smooth jazz, and worked through an entire puzzle book on their three-hour ride along the Hudson. She briefly noticed that the number of boaters and floaters out on the water had diminished some now that the summer was nearly over.
The train came to a whooshing stop in Albany. The wait time would be forty-five minutes, more than enough time for Virginia and Sophie to enjoy a restroom with ventilation and space.
“I’m leaving most of my stuff here,” Sophie said. “What about you?”
“I’m just taking my phone and my ticket. My purse is packed away in my bag.”
“Ticket, good call.” Sophie reached up and grabbed their tickets out of the slot where the conductor had placed them after hole-punching them. She handed one to Virginia and the two set out for their bathroom break.
An unexpected crowd met Virginia and Sophie as they walked in to find the restroom. In the wide, rectangular space, they saw hundreds of patrons congregating in an area cornered on one side by floor-to-ceiling windows and the other by a non-descript, used-to-be-white wall. The group—mostly women, Sophie noted—was collectively excited, laughing and had big, goofy smiles on their faces. It seemed the entire female contents of the train had been emptied just into that one corner of the Albany train station.
“Do you want to see what’s going on?” Sophie asked.
“Not … really,” Virginia answered slowly, the realization dawning on her. “Levi.”
“Levi what?”
Instead of answering, Virginia walked closer to the crowd. She could hear high-pitched giggle-chatter from ladies of all ages. She heard the words dimples, face, food, and sweetheart. Yes, most definitely, if this sea of people could be parted down the middle Virginia had no doubt that Levi would be standing—humbly and welcoming—at the helm.
“Oh, yes. I forgot he was on the train,” Sophie said.
“Miraculously, so did I,” Virginia said, still quiet but also able to laugh at herself in the moment.
Suddenly, Sophie tugged at Virginia’s elbow. “C’mon. Let’s hit the restroom and see if they have any good snacks. We can make it back to our seats before the rush to get back on the train.”
With a lingering look at the flocking fans, Virginia followed Sophie’s directive.
An hour later, the train was chugging along at its normal speed. They had curved west around Albany and so rural sites, a few flower fields that would soon be frosted over, and three small train stations would keep them company out their windows until they arrived in Rochester.
Virginia’s head rested comfortably on the back of her seat. She had plenty of time left on the train to think. Think, think, think.
About her run with the Levi a couple days ago and about how natural it felt, the two of them jogging side by side.
About the Gala and how seamless the planning had been so far. The biggest obstacle up until this point had been denying Levi’s first menu.
About the Gala and how much she adored the flowers and Janelle.
About her mom and how grateful Virginia felt to have such a fun, solid, independent woman as her favorite role model.
About Sophie’s Gram and the conversation they might have regarding the Sudoku book Virginia completed.
And about her run with Levi a couple days ago and about how natural it felt, the two of them jogging side by side.
Since their meeting on the airplane in the spring, everything seemed to bookend with Levi. Her first and last thoughts—no matter the scenario—were of Levi. And somehow, her best friend could always tell when those thoughts were traveling through Virginia’s head. She looked over to Sophie, who had fallen asleep. Now was as good a time as any to get it over with. Phone and dignity in hand, she stepped carefully over Sophie, who, thankfully, did not wake up. Standing straight up in the aisle, Virginia straightened her hair and walked.
Car after car, she looked for his face and listened for his voice, both of which she had known by heart long before she met him in person. That’s how celebrity crushes go, right? Who knew she would someday be called on the carpet for that crush? And who knew he’d be a hundred times more handsome and wonderful in person?
You did, Virginia. You did.
Virginia kept her eyes and ears peeled for Seth, too. She knew he had tagged along because she had seen a glimpse of his curly black mop in Grand Central when she had caught sight of Levi.
She had lost track of how many cars she had walked through, holding on to seats and trying not to stare in any one direction
too long. No sight of Levi, and the end was near.
She was pretty sure there was only one car left. She pushed the large “EXIT” button in order to leave the car she was in, and she stood, swaying with the connecting platform, peering in the window of the last train car. And there he was. Sitting in the last row, which, oddly, faced toward the window where she was looking.
Just as she was deciding whether or not to go talk to him, he looked up from whatever he was laughing about with Seth and caught her eye. Immediately, his face brightened even more and he sat straighter up. His entire disposition grew hopeful. His eyebrows rose and his eyes shone, asking without a word if she was coming in.
Virginia could hear her heart beat between her ears.
Go in, Virginia.
She pushed the button that would let her in to Levi’s car, which was strangely empty.
“Where are all the people?” Virginia asked, pointing to the two dozen empty seats.
Levi smiled as he stood. “I shamelessly buy out an entire car when I do this.” He placed his hands in his pockets, calm and cool as ever.
Virginia flinched in surprise. “Why’s that? And how often do you do this?”
“I ride the rails once a year, usually this weekend, to go home to visit my family. I fly back to New York, but the train is my preferred way to travel, as you know.”
They shared a knowing smile, remembering part of their airplane conversation.
“Unfortunately, I don’t typically enjoy a peaceful ride if the car is full, so I buy an entire car the years I want more quiet time.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, then. I shouldn’t have come back here,” Virginia said, backing toward to the door.
“Hey, no.” Levi reached out and lightly touched her elbow. “Stay. Please?”
Putty. I am putty. And I am in big trouble here. Yep, big trouble.
Virginia put her hands in her pockets, matching Levi’s stance and working to keep herself busy. “So, all the way home. That’s got to be what, ten, eleven hours?”
Seth stood up from the back row. “Eleven. Yes. Eleven.” His words dripped with playful disdain as he glanced at Levi. “I’m going to get something to eat. Can I bring you guys back anything? A milkshake with two straws?”
If looks could kill, both Levi and Virginia’s expression would have sent Seth out of this world. He put his hands up in surrender.
“Sorry. Sorry. See you in a bit,” he said, walking out.
When they were alone, Levi gestured to a set of seats.
“Are you sure? I don’t want to take anyone’s spot. I know someone paid for this seat.”
Levi smiled wide. “I have it on good authority that the paying customer would have no problem with you taking his seat.”
“Well, if you’re sure,” she said, playful and coy.
“I’m sure,” he said, quietly.
She looked around, suddenly quite aware of their alone-ness. As well as how good Levi looked and smelled, though that was nothing new. The clunk-whoosh-clunk of the train filled the space between them as they each waited for the other to speak first.
Oh, boy.
What was she doing there?
“So,” Levi said, rubbing his thighs and taking a deep breath. “What brings you back to my neck of the train?”
That smile.
She cleared her throat. “Actually, I saw you at Grand Central. I thought I’d come see you instead of waiting for the accidental run-in you and I have become so well known for.” She smiled wide to match his. Not like she had to try too hard to smile like that, not with his blue eyes looking straight at her. Straight through her.
“I saw you, too.”
She winced. “You did? Did you see how I avoided you? There and at Albany?”
He laughed, a surprising reaction for just having been told the girl you’re into avoided you. “I saw that, too.” He sat back in his seat and sat his right ankle on his left knee. He grabbed hold of his ankle, holding it in place.
“Did it … bother you?” Virginia sat back, too, crossing her legs as the two faced each other.
“It did not,” he said. And she could tell he meant it. Never breaking eye contact, he explained. “You are uncomfortable with the public stuff, so why would you seek me out?”
Virginia’s head dipped as she tucked one side of her hair behind her ear. “Thanks for understanding.”
He nodded in agreement and waited a beat before asking his own question. “Which leads nicely to my question. Why did you seek me out here, on the train? I could’ve been sitting in a sea of people.”
She could feel the flush-and-blush starting. Was there any way to stop that? She should practice at home. It was becoming slightly embarrassing.
“I had a Plan B if that was the case,” she said, a close-lipped smile sealing her secret.
“Of course Miss Event Planner had a Plan B.”
“I wouldn’t be very good at my job if I didn’t operate on a Plan A / Plan B system, right?”
“Right. In your job. It doesn’t always work that way in life.”
Her head tilted, her eyes questioned.
“Life doesn’t always work with a Plan B. Sometimes you can have Plans A through Z and nothing will work out. You just have to move on and say, ‘maybe next time’.”
Virginia shook her head. “No no no. I always have a plan. I have never come into contact with a situation in my life where a version of my plan didn’t work.”
Levi’s open smile shifted to a debonair-ish grin. “Then might I propose that you need more adventure?”
“Winning the bid of a lifetime and planning this Gala has been quite an adventure,” Virginia responded, turning to look out the window.
Levi nodded, slowly and heavily. “It’s still based in planning. It’s still rooted in counting on everything, A to Z, to be executed flawlessly.”
Virginia turned to Levi, her smile dimming just a touch. “That’s the way I operate.”
Levi regarded her, remaining debonair and adorable. He had that peaceful look on his face again. The one that seemed to turn on when they connected. The one that made her want to forget her rules and her plans.
Then again, forgetting the rules and her plans had never been Virginia’s style. And her life had been going pretty well. Why jeopardize it?
Virginia had no idea how much time passed as she and Levi stared out the window. She knew they were both thinking about the same things. She was also sure they were both having the opposite internal conversations. In Virginia’s, she and Levi would easily decide to be friends. Virginia was pretty sure that in Levi’s silent conversation, he and Virginia were planning their honeymoon.
Eventually, Virginia stood up. “I should get back to Sophie.”
“Virginia,” Levi said, gently taking her hand as they stood up.
She should have separated her hand from his.
She should have taken her eyes away from his.
She didn’t do either.
In his eyes, she saw hunger and desire, affection and concern. In one quick moment, they could share their first kiss and Virginia knew it could be her last first kiss.
But, the Gala. It flashed before her eyes and she knew that focusing on the greatest opportunity of her life had to be more important. At least for the next four months.
Gently, but resolutely, Virginia removed her hand from Levi’s soft grip. She whispered, “I can’t, Levi. I need to focus on the Gala.”
Levi’s hands recoiled to their pockets. He looked down as he kicked one of his toes on the ground. His eyes traveled back to hers and he replanted his smile before speaking. “Have you changed your mind on after the Gala? Per chance?”
Backing away toward the exit door and the big button that would provide her escape, Virginia took a sharp inhale. A smile escaped before she could stop it. She turned around, pressed the button, and stepped onto the connecting platform. She turned around again to face Levi before the door closed.
With her own debonair sm
ile, Virginia made her answer to Levi clear: “To be determined.”
Chapter 16
In a moment of wonderfully stunned silence, Levi watched the woman of his dreams walk further and further away, down the train and presumably back to her seat.
How many women had he come into contact with over his career? How many had lit him up like this? How many had caused delight to fill him like she did, the moment he thought about her?
None.
His body stood frozen in the moment. He didn’t hear the train rocking on the decades-old tracks; he didn’t see the sunshine giving way to charcoal clouds; nor did he register when Seth walked back into the car. It wasn’t until Seth gave him a light tap on the arm that Levi snapped out of his trance and returned to his normal functioning.
“Dude. What was that? I saw Virginia on her way back to her seat and she had this goofy smile plastered on her face.” He gestured with his hands to make his point.
Levi looked alarmed. “Did she see you? Did she say anything?”
Seth put his hands in front of him like a defenseman taking a stand. “Whoa. She didn’t see me, therefore she said nothing.”
Levi’s whole body relaxed.
“So, what happened?”
“Hope. That’s what happened.”
With precision and a smile as wide as the rails, Levi went over his short time with Virginia. He had always been known for his attention to detail, and regaling tales of meetings with Virginia was no exception. Seth was used to Levi’s thorough stories—though this was the first time they involved a romantic interest—and so he gave Levi his full attention from beginning to end.
“What do you think?” Levi asked when he was done.
“I think you two like each other, but you need to respect her business-only policy. For now anyway.”
“Well, she is obviously undecided about post-Gala. Right? I know I’m right. I know what I saw.” He pointed emphatically toward the rest of the train.
“That may be so, but like Kelsey told you at the beginning of the summer, you need to respect her wishes and her space. You won’t win any hearts stepping on toes and scaring her off.”
Behind the Scenes Page 14