“Hey, Levi?”
“Hey, Kit.”
“Can I watch you swim sometime?”
Surprise lights up his face, and a crooked grin grows.
“You look proud,” I tease. “You know I’ll be impressed, don’t you?”
A shocked laugh bursts out of him. “What’s gotten into you?”
“I don’t know. Stop changing the subject,” I joke.
He eyes me. “Hey, Kit?”
“Yes, Levi?”
“Can I watch you dance sometime?”
Oh … “It’s been forever since I’ve really danced.” I mean, almost daily ballet warm-ups lately. Stretching, plus the work on my rearattitudewhen Ayumi isn’t in the room. But he knows none of that. Besides, with no hard flooring in the suite, I haven’t done turns or leaps since fall break.
“You don’t have to show me,” he says. “But don’t act like you forgot. I know it’s still in there.”
My heart gallops. “There’s not really a place,” I finally say. I’m not going to dance in the gym as basketballs bounce past.
“I have a spot.” He drapes an arm over the steering wheel. “You can watch me swim if I can watch you dance.”
I break into a grin. “Okay.”
Eye crinkles, anticipation, affection. It’s all there, and it’s glorious.
I sink into my seat, soaking in this afternoon, treasuring it. I should have done this months ago. After this, I can never go back to Old Kit.
I won’t.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Levi parallel parksin front of one of the historic brick homes that have been turned into businesses. The Thanksgiving-themed wreath sways on the door as he opens it for me. A bell dings, and a waft of lavender and sugar greets us.
An elderly woman with a gray bun makes a dainty beeline for us with a joy that radiates from her face. She’s even shorter than me. “Levi!” she calls, with a Texan lilt. “And is this?—”
He winces and she stops.
I almost laugh at his expression.
“So nice to see you again, Miss Evelyn. This is myfriendKit.”
“It’s lovely to meet you, dear.” She pats my hand and leads us to a display case full of mouthwatering treats.
“Do you make all of these?” I ask, marveling.
“Sure do, for almost fifty years.”
“I think I’ve tried some of them already. Safe to say you have a gift.”
She and Levi chuckle knowingly.
“Miss Evelyn is inspiring. She wants to use what God’s given her to bless the kids in the south-side elementary schools.” He points that direction. “You contribute dozens of sweets to their bake sales, right? And you offer them free baking classes in the summer. Sometimes you bring cookies to the baseball field on Saturdays just because.”
