Every person around the table except Levi and Hayley erupted, all talking over one another in an effort to get their question answered first. Levi’s ears burned.
“You need to spell this out for us. We require details.”
“I hope he was a complete gentleman and didn’t take advantage of the situation.”
“Are you guys, like, together, then?”
“Was it love at first sight?”
Hayley’s hand on Levi’s leg squeezed, bringing his attention to her. His nerves were rumbling under his skin like the engine of an F1 race car, and he was afraid they’d take off with his sense of control if everyone kept talking all at once.
Hayley winced.Sorry, she mouthed. She reached into her pocket, held out her hand, and uncurled her fingers. A pair of noise-reducing ear defenders lay in her palm. “I had them in my jacket from a concert I went to recently. Trust me, they help,” she whispered.
Levi looked down at the small earplugs. He caught Trinity watching him with bated breath out of his peripheral vision. With slow movements, he took the earplugs from Hayley’s palm and pushed them into his ear canals. He could still hear the cacophony and chaos around him, but the noise was muted to a more manageable level.
Hayley tipped her chin up and leaned closer so her mouth was by his ear. “Now cover your ears real quick.”
He did as he was told, and as soon as his hands pressed to the sides of his head, Hayley let out a piercing whistle.
Everyone ceased talking and gaped at her.
“Phew, now. That’s better.” She picked up her fork like nothing at all had happened and took a bite.
Levi’s dad elbowed him again. “I like this girl.”
Levi stared at Hayley in disbelief. His appreciation for her was only growing as well. Soon it would overtake his whole being.
Hayley helped herself to the platter of chicken, ignoring the wide-eyed stares directed at her.
Levi couldn’t help himself. He busted out laughing, deep belly laughs that shook his whole body and made his sides start to ache. Had he ever seen anyone shut his whole family up that way? Especially when they were on a roll like that? The moment and the looks on their faces had been priceless.
Hayley’s grin took on a twist of pride while everyone else peered at him like he’d grown a second head.
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard him laugh like that before, have you?” Aliyah stage-whispered out of the side of her mouth to Trinity.
Trinity simply shook her head, still staring at him dumbfoundedly.
His chortles slowly died, and Hayley flipped her hand on his leg palm up in invitation. He twined his fingers through hers.
“I hope you’ll forgive our bad manners, Hayley.” His mom cleared her throat. “I think we all lost our heads there for a second.”
“I probably should have worded what I said a little differently,” Hayley offered magnanimously. “But to put your mind at ease and answer at least some of your questions, your son was a complete gentleman, and, in twenty-first-century standards, nothing happened.” Her cheeks took on a becoming rosy hue. “You know, like—” she gave a delicate little cough—“that.”
Levi swallowed the second round of laughter threatening to bubble out of him. His little sprite was adorable with herflushed cheeks, but he didn’t want to embarrass her further by making her think he was laughing at her discomfort.
“Was anyone really worried on that account? He’s never even liked a woman enough to get over his issues and kiss her,” Aliyah said. A second later, her eyes rounded, and she covered her mouth with her hand. “I’m so sorry. That was inappropriate and uncalled for. Ignore me.” Her face turned scarlet from either shame, embarrassment, or both. “I’m the sister who too often puts her foot in her mouth.”
Hayley’s grip on Levi’s hand tightened.
Levi hung his head. Aliyah may not have meant to say that out loud, but they were probably all thinking it. What woman would be okay with all his rules? For his sisters, he’d asked them not to wear scented skincare products, to use headphones when listening to music, to eat any of their favorite crunchy snacks in their room so he wouldn’t have to hear them chew. They’d all agreed because they were his sisters and loved him, but they obviously didn’t think any other woman would be willing to restrict their lives in such a manner.
Hayley shifted in her seat so she faced him. Her nostrils flared, and the pink flush to her skin had darkened with the rise of her emotions. He realized with a start that she was angry.
He opened his mouth to reassure her. Aliyah hadn’t meant to be hurtful. She just sometimes spoke without thinking it through first.
“Levi, your sister seems to think you couldn’t possibly be keen on me.” While her gaze remained gripped on his, her features softened. Her eyes still sparked, but with mischief and playfulness taking over the ire of before.
Everyone else around the table faded away. He could ignore them all, their boisterous well-meaning invasion of his private life. He could ignore anything as long as he was tethered to the lifeline of her unwavering gaze.
