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“So what are you doing this weekend while we’re gone?” Jesse asked me once Connor’s bedroom door thumped closed upstairs. He had a skating competition in Cleveland, and even though Anthony and I weren’t ready to start competing yet, Anthony was traveling with him for moral support.
“I’ve got lessons with Sophie and a couple of other students, and Krav Maga classes. Katie invited me over to her place with a few of the girls to watch the Saturday afternoon game.”
“Keeping busy,” Anthony said.
“As busy as I can.” It was the only thing that kept my mind off of the two men who otherwise consumed it. Levi would be back in town on Monday, at least. That would help. Or at least it would mean I could see him. Maybe kiss him some more.
A lot more.
And, maybe, we could do a lot more than just kiss.
I understood why he wanted to take things slowly—he was trying to be sure we followed through with what I’d said I needed—but something had clicked for me. Levi was funny and patient, humble and outrageously kind. He was everything that Guy could never be, and he’d shown me time and again exactly how right for me he was. I didn’t have to trust Cam’s and Sara’s judgment any longer. I saw it for myself.
Once all that was clear to me, I didn’t see any more need to keep putting Levi off.
Now I just needed to convince him of that.
Jesse picked up an apple slice and dunked it in caramel dip. “You could come with us,” he said, crunching. “Your man’s not here. It might be good to get away for a while.”
“Tempting as that may be, I think you two will be better off without a third wheel.” Besides, I wasn’t convinced that Guy had given up. If he tried something while I was away from home and all the safeguards we’d put in place so far… That wasn’t something I wanted to think about. “I think I’ll pass.”
Jesse pouted. “No midnight pizza-and-PJ parties?”
I tossed a throw pillow in his direction, laughing. “Not this time.”
He knocked the pillow aside, his eyes crackling to life. “Ooh. Next time you come, we’re doing a pizza-PJ-and-pillow-fight party.”
“I’LL SEE YOUtwo next weekend,” I said to Devyn and Kaetlyn Griggs, sisters who’d just completed their third skating lesson with me. They giggled and waved as they rushed out of the rink with their mother.
Usually, I left with my students, but they were in a big hurry to get to their older brother’s basketball tournament, which was all the way across the city and due to start in ten minutes, and I wasn’t quite done sorting myself out.
I finished putting all my gear in my gym bag. Then I slipped my feet into my boots and tugged on my coat. I took my phone out of my pocket before heading out into the cold. There was a text message from Levi. Simply the thought that he was messaging me before his game sent warmth spreading through all my limbs. I slid the bar to read it.
I think about you nonstop. Can’t wait until I can see you again. In person, not only on Skype. I’m falling hard for you, Cadence.
He was falling for me. That was probably a good thing, since I was almost positive I’d already fallen for him, whether I’d been intending to do that or not. I jotted off a quick response, trying to keep my thoughts to myself for the time being—telling him something like that would be much better done in person—and then headed out myself.
Gord, one of the guys who worked at the front desk, smiled when I got to the entry hall. “Why don’t I walk you out?” he suggested.
“Oh, I…” This wasn’t normal, but then again, I wasn’t often all alone when I left. I smiled at him and nodded. “That would be really nice of you, Gord. Thanks.”
“Just making sure you’re all right,” he said, taking my gym bag from me and holding the door open. He was an older man, probably past retirement age, and always behaved like a true gentleman, even though they were rare in today’s world. “Gotta jump-start that Zamboni, now that you and those girls are gone. There’s a midget hockey game in a few hours.”
“Jump-start it?” I laughed, fishing for the sunglasses buried in my purse.
Gord winked at me. “It’s almost as old as I am. Needs a good jump to start up in the morning.” He glanced out into the parking lot and slowed his pace enough to catch my notice.
“What is it?” I followed his gaze. Guy’s car was parked in the same spot it had been before, but I didn’t see him in it or anywhere else.
“That the car of the man who’s bothering you?” He inched closer to me and put a knobby hand on my elbow.
I nodded.
“Thought so. You get in your car. Lock your doors and go. I’ll call the police as soon as I get back inside. Tell them he’s here.”
“Not yet,” I said. I wanted evidence this time. “Come with me. I want to take a picture of his plates with the building in the background as proof that he’s here and shouldn’t be.” I shifted the keys in my hand until my pepper spray was in position and ready to be fired.
“I could do that,” Gord argued. “You just go on home and let me—”
