AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Were you waiting for the coffee to get cold to give it me?” she teased with a raised eyebrow. She was definitely more relaxed today.
“Can I help you?” I took a few steps into her area.
“I’ve been managing on my own just fine,” she answered matter-of-factly as she gripped the railing and stepped down onto her porch and plopped in her chair. She held out her hand for the coffee.
“Oh, yeah,” I said, walking up sheepishly and placing the coffee in her hand. Our fingers brushed and I had to close my eyes briefly to regain my composure as every molecule in my body sizzled to life.
When her eyes locked with mine, I searched them for signs of recognition of what had passed between us, but she only smiled as she took a sip of the coffee.
“Thank you. I assume Beverly helped you with this?” she asked as she lifted her coffee to me.
“She did,” I stated proudly. One point for Levi. Finally.
I stared at her blankly, not knowing what to say next, which was an entirely new experience for me. On tour, I had always been the life of the party, but around Charlee I found myself at a loss for words and on edge.
Noticing her boot again, I asked, “Looks like you got it checked out. Is it broken?”
She took another sip before answering. “Just a sprain.”
My heart was still racing and it was getting harder to stand still, so I shoved my hands into my shorts’ pockets and chewed on the inside of my cheek anxiously. “How did you get there?”
She looked up, confused. “What do you mean?”
“The hospital.”
“Oh. I called a ride.”
“I could have taken you,” I said rather abruptly.
A warm smile filled her face. “Thanks, but it was no trouble. I’ll be driving my own truck again soon enough.” After a few more silent moments, she added, “Thank you for helping me. I’m not normally that clumsy.”
“Why were you out on the rocks, anyway? Seems kind of dangerous over there.”
“Cleaning up trash. It’s kind of my thing. A lot gets trapped between the cliff rocks, but like I said, I’m normally more careful.”
“That’s cool! I mean, not the trash, but you cleaning it up. I actually joined a group once that cleans the beaches.” I was rambling. “It was very satisfying.”Shut up. Shut up. Shut up.
“Once,” she said dryly. “That’s nice.”
Her voice sounded condescending. “Are you judging me?” I crossed my hands over my chest.
“Tell me, Levi.” That was the first time she had said my name, and the way her lips pinched together in a pout and how her voice curled around it sent goosebumps across my skin. She continued, “Did you clean that beach for you or for the planet?”
My eyes narrowed. “Youarejudging me.” My voice was getting harder now.
“You can lie to me, but you can’t lie to yourself. Do you do charity work because it makes you feel good? Because you know it’s the right thing to do? Or do you do it for something else? Like to impress someone?”
My whole body was fuming from the insinuation. “Who are you to question my intentions? You don’t know me.”
She seemed unmoved by my shift in mood.
She said calmly, “And that’s just it, Levi.”
There it was again. Same effect all over my body even in spite of being upset now.
“I don’t know you, and I don’t want to.”
And that was it. Exactly what Drew was warning me about. The universe she was living in right now did not have enough room for me or anyone it seemed. I had basically thrown myself at her, only to make a fool out of myself.
