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I blink over to where Coco and Levi sit, half listening as Owen and Lucy discuss the movie. Levi looks agitated. And Coco looks like she’s practicing lecturing teenage girls on her brother. Their voices are too hushed for me to hear anything though.
But then, Coco holds her hand out toward—me, or at least where I stand here with Owen and Lucy. Maybe she’s talking about them. Levi shakes his head and says something else—making me wish I could read lips. Then his eyes dart up to me.
I blink, look away, and try to hone in on whatever it is Lucy and Owen are saying about some movie I’ve never seen. I’m innocent! I wasn’t staring. I wasn’t trying to turn into a lip reader. Nope. Not me
I’m no longer peering in their direction, but I’m very aware when Coco stands back up and walks toward us. “Owen, is Meredith coming to the next flashback cinema with us?”
“Ah,” Owen’s gaze switches from Lucy’s to mine. “You’re welcome to come,” he says.
“Thanks.” It’s a kind offer and nice of Coco to think of me.
“Mer,” Levi says, his tone cross.
I turn and face him, his face is wrinkled in agitation too. What did I do?
“I’ll walk you home,” he says, waiting by the kitchen exit.
I guess it’s time to go. “Sure.”
I thank Lucy and Coco and say goodbye to the guys before following him out to the living room and through the front door.
“Is everything okay?” I ask when we reach the porch steps.
“Yes.” He rubs a hand over his chin. “No.” He trots down the steps, the annoyance stirring him up seems to check at the door. Maybe it won’t come with us. “Come on,” he says, waving me on. We snatch our bikes, but Levi doesn’t hop on. He holds it by the handlebars and walks along. So, I follow his lead. Riding isn’t the best for talking, and I sense that’s what’s going to happen here.
“So, which is it? Yes, you’re okay? Or no you aren’t?”
Levi’s eyes turn to slits as he stares ahead. “Coco’s trying to set you up with Owen.”
“What? No.Nooo. She is not.” But my mind reels back. She did ask me to talk to Owen half a dozen times. She called him over and interrupted an active conversation. She put me on his team. Still… I talked to Miles. I talked to Coop. But it was Owen she asked to ask me to the movies. I shake my head. “Why would she do that?”
“I don’t know. You’re the same age. He likes yoga, and you’ve been to one class.”
I smirk out a laugh. “That’s not a lot to go on.”
“It’s not,” he agrees—quickly.
I may be seeing things. I’m as inexperienced as a girl who’s only been to homeschool bible study. I sort of am that girl—without the bible study. But throughout the past few weeks, I’ve started to realize that I like Levi.
We’re friends—sure. And he’s stupidly handsome—yes. But this feels like something else. Something more than friends or good looks.
I haven’t had many friends to compare this feeling to—but it feels like something out of a book. Something I’ve only read about or seen in a movie.
And maybe he’s feeling the same. Becausethislooks a little like jealousy. Or at least what TV and books have taught me jealousy should look like.
“I’m not interested in Owen,” I say.
He breathes out a sigh—that’s relief. Right? “Good. That’s good.”
Jealousy, relief, and—attraction. Okay, that last one is me projecting. But it might be there. So, let’s just skip to number five. Shall we? Because that little list item has occupied way too much of my time.I’m ready to turn day dreams into reality.
I clear my throat and press. “What do you care?”
His shoulders stiffen—not exactly ideal kissing posture. His lip curls and he stares ahead—definitely poor kissing position. “I don’t. Not really. I know you both, and I don’t think it’s a good fit.”
“A good fit?” I mutter. Like I’m not good enough? Bring back jealous Levi.
“Yeah,” he says. “Owen is the nicest guy you’ll meet—”
