Page 23

With a deep breath, I tiptoe through the living room to the front door near the kitchen. I’m trying to be as quiet as I can, but the door lock makes a snapping sound when I twist it, and I freeze. I can’t hear Lev’s breathing anymore, so I rip open the door and quickly head outside and down the driveway.

I don’t slow down until I’m about a block away. Then I shove my hands into my pockets to keep them warm and trudge on through the cold. Once I finally get home, I immediately jump in my car and head to the diner. I need an egg sandwich desperately. Nothing helps with a hangover more than the diner’s egg sandwiches.

Pulling into the diner lot a few minutes later, I easily find a parking space. Given the early hour, the diner isn’t busy yet, and that’s just how I like it. Once inside, I scan the room and then head to an open seat at the counter. I lock eyes with the woman standing behind the counter, and she smiles and gives me a nod. Lindsey Richardson is easy to recognize with her purple hair tied back into two pigtail braids. She always looks nice and seems to take pride in that. She’s pretty, just like her brother.

I chuckle inwardly at that thought as she sets a coffee mug in front of me.

“Hey, Dare.” She gives me another warm smile. “You’re here early this morning.”

I just left your brother’s place almost slips out of my mouth, but I’m not sure that would go over well. So instead, I reply, “I was out last night.”

“All night?” She picks up a pot of coffee from the coffee maker next to her, then fills my mug to the brim.

I smirk. “No, not all night.” I was at your brother’s. “Can I have an egg and bacon sandwich?”

“I’ll get it right in for you,” she says, and she turns and heads toward the kitchen.

I sip my coffee as the diner starts to fill up around me, and when my sandwich comes, I eat it in about four bites. I’m exhausted but feel at least mildly better after having eaten. Tossing some money on the counter, I lift my eyes to see Lindsey looking over, and I point at the cash to let her know I’ve paid. She nods and waves as I turn and leave.

The drive home is short, but I still feel like shit, and I know what I really need now is to just sleep it off. Last night was fun, but it was a lot; I need to be more aware of my alcohol intake, regardless of whether I’m having a good time.

When I get home, I head upstairs to my room, change into my favorite pajamas, and smoke a joint to calm my stomach. Then I crawl into bed and fall asleep.

Sometime later, I wake, startled. With a groan, I roll over, burying my head in my pillow to try to go back to sleep. But a sound from downstairs rouses me again. It’s knocking, like . . . someone knocking on my front door? I push myself up onto my elbows and blink the sleep from my eyes as I glance at my phone, surprised to see it’s already early afternoon.

The knocking stops, but I manage to drag myself up out of bed anyway.

As I walk down the stairs and to the front door, I look out the window and see a car I don’t recognize pulling away from the curb. Confused, I open the door. My clothes are folded and sitting on the front porch, and there’s a brown bag clearly filled with food sitting beside them.

Lev must have dropped them off.

I stare at the clothes and food bag for half a second before I lean down and pick them up. After another glance down the street in the direction the car went, I shut the door and head into the kitchen. The clothes have clearly been freshly laundered, and I shake my head at that as I set them on the table and open the bag.

What the heck?

There’s a note sitting on top of a few take-out containers inside the bag.

I thought you might need something to eat to feel better.

-Lev

There’s also a phone number on the paper, and I’m sure it’s his. Why is Lev giving me his number? And more importantly, why is he bringing me food?

I’m not going to complain, though, because it smells amazing. I pull out the take-out containers, shaking my head at the various cartons of chicken, noodles, and rice, along with a container of wonton soup. The soup is still warm.

Eager to try it, I take some of the soup and pour it into a bowl. I also grab a container of noodles and then take them into the den to watch TV.

The food was apparently exactly what I needed, and I feel so much better with a full stomach of warm food and some water. When I’m finished eating, I take a quick shower and throw on a pair of boxers. Then I sit down at my computer to do a little bit of work, drawing out a few drafts and writing a pitch for a potential client, the Willstorre Group. The design that I do for this client comes together really nicely, and I feel a slight sense of pride as I send it off in an email and then close everything out and lean back in my chair, comfortable but still confused.

Despite all the work I got done in the last while, my head is still stuck on Lev. Apparently, he pulled me out of the bar, took me to his house, and was a complete gentleman. Then I freaked out and essentially took off. Yet he showed up at my house with my clothes, which he’d washed for me, and hot food . . .

If I didn’t know any better, I would think he was trying to win me over. That thought makes a weird tingle run down my spine. He used to make me feel like I mattered when we were younger, and it seems like he’s doing the same thing now, whether or not it’s intentional.

Against my better judgment, I pull up my social media app on my phone and type in “Lev Richardson” again. There are a few new pictures of him hanging out with Lindsey at their parents’ house. I scroll back to some of the older pictures, and dammit if I don’t land on the one of him all glistening and sweaty. My dick stirs like it did that first night I saw the picture.

I sigh and lean my chair back more, clicking to enlarge the photo. Lev’s blue eyes are staring back at me again, and I bite my lip. He is really hot. I remember when I was a kid, Lev was here a lot, hanging out with Nate alone or with Nate and the other guys. If Nate was giving me a hard time, Lev nearly always stood up for me. He protected me. I remember feeling like he thought I was important or mattered. He always had this vibe about him that was so caring and natural.

Of course, I also had a major crush on him. Puberty was just starting for me then, and I was still trying to figure out what I liked and whom I was attracted to. It was a really confusing time for me, but Lev always made the butterflies flutter in my stomach and an excited anticipation to grow when I knew he was coming over. He was just so attractive. Even though Nate was straight, I was always a little bit jealous that he had Lev as his, like they were two halves of a whole.