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“Yeah, we’ve been friends for a while now. Probably close to six, seven years?”
“Oh, I didn’t know you two were so close.”
“I guess we kind of are. We see each other pretty regularly, and his kids are amazing,” I explain. A smile spreads across my lips, thinking about the two boys that always welcome me into their chubby little arms. “They call me Uncle Rhy.”
Right then, my phone sitting on my dashboard chirps with a familiar tone.
“I’m sorry. That’s probably my assistant.” When I look at the message, I see Carrie has texted me, reminding me that my gift to Levi was sent to his house this afternoon ahead of his party. My mind blanks for a minute.
Shit! Levi’s party!
It’s Levi’s birthday. He had extended the invitation over a month ago, explaining that it would be a small dinner party with some of his close friends. His wife had insisted on it, saying he was getting to that age where his birthdays were numbered and he needed to celebrate every one of them, even if it was just a small gathering of people. I would skip it and spend my time here with Ellie instead, but since it would be a small party, it’d be easier for Levi to miss me if I didn’t show up. At least with a larger reception, I would be one person in the crowd of people.
“Is everything okay?” Ellie asks.
I don’t say anything as I start my car, buckling my seatbelt before looking over my shoulder to back out of the parking space. With my hands on the steering wheel and my feet lightly tapping the pedals to guide us out of the parking lot, I turn to Ellie as she waits for an answer.
“Uh, so I had this thing I had to go to tonight. And I didn’t realize it’d gotten this late.”
Her brows raise, urging me to continue.
“We’re going to have to stop in for a minute.”
“We?” Her brows raise even higher.
“It’s my agent’s birthday, and he’s having a party at his house. I need to at least make an appearance, or I’ll never hear the end of it.”
“And you’re taking me with you?” Her voice squeaks with the last word. “Can you just drop me off at home? Or I can take an Uber from here.” Her mouth scrunches into a small pout as her fingers twist on her lap.
“There’s not enough time, and no, I’m not letting you take an Uber,” I scoff but smile at the same time, finding the way her chin scrunches under jutted lower lip adorable.
“Rhylan, I’m not even dressed for a party,” she says a little more quietly and defeated.
“What you’re wearing is fine. It’s just some of his close friends getting together for drinks and dinner, nothing fancy.”
I hear her sigh and slump back in her seat.
I tap the brake, my car coming to a stop in the middle of the parking lot before I turn to face her, my hand hooking over the back of her seat.
“I can take you home,” I offer.
She lifts her head. “But then… you’re going to be late,” she says softly.
“I know,” I say. “It’s fine. I can be a little late.”
She chews on her lower lip as her eyes finally meet mine.
“But to be completely honest, I’d rather keep you to myself for a little longer.”
Her brows slightly furrow as her lips purse together.
“If you’re okay with that,” I finish.
She nods, the furrow in her brows remaining as she slowly buckles her seat belt. I turn to face forward as my foot lifts off the brake.
Instinctively, I reach for the hand that she has placed on her lap. When my hand covers hers, it feels tense, wound up in a fist and clasping her other hand, wringing it out in stress. But then she relaxes. Her hand slackens, and her fingers loosen, allowing my large fingers to intertwine with her slender ones. And the pads of her fingers wrap around to rest on the back of my hand. I reached for her in an attempt to comfort her, to reassure her, but it seems that I’m the one being comforted. I haven’t realized I need reassurance, but when she holds my hand in hers, I feel calmer. At ease.
Out of sheer intuition, I bring her hand up to my lips and kiss the back of it before bringing it back to her lap. The gesture seems so slight, so fleeting, but the buzz of the exchange can be felt in the air. It’s palpable as it brings me nothing but peace. Contentment that makes me smile, knowing that a feeling like this actually exists.
