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Levi:Toy Story is an awesome movie.To infinity and beyond!
As she read his second text, she giggled.He seriously knew a line from the movie?That was cute.What he’d said made sense, but after being ignored by Zach whenever she annoyed or made him mad, she was overly sensitive to not getting an immediate response mid-conversation.
Harper:Oh.Okay.I hope everything went well on the call.
A second later, her phone started ringing.Levi’s name popped up on the screen and the corners of her mouth curved into a smile.
“Hello?”
“Hey, kitten,” he said in a soft voice.
“Hi.”
She could hear the smile in his voice when he spoke again.
“I’m calling because I want to make sure you aren’t upset.I didn’t mean to ghost you.I wish I would have thought to warn you ahead of time.I would never not reply unless there’s an alarm I have to respond to.”
His gentle and reassuring words gave her butterflies in her tummy.He didn’t sound annoyed calling her to explain.Zach wouldn’t have bothered.He would have been pissed if she’d questioned him.
“Okay.I understand.”
“Were you worried, baby doll?”
How should she answer that?If she answered truthfully, he would know she liked him.They were only supposed to be friends.Right?As ridiculous as it sounded, it already felt like they were more than that.
“I, uh… It gave me anxiety.I thought maybe I said something wrong, or you thought I was stupid for watching a kids’ movie.”
She waited for him to laugh at her and tell her she was being overdramatic.
“Oh, baby.I’m so sorry I worried you.That was my fault.”
Huh?He was taking the blame?
“I promise in the future I’ll do my best to communicate with you better.The last thing I want is to worry you or make you feel anxious,” he added.
Tears pricked her eyes.This man was so damn kind and sweet.She had no idea how to respond to that.She’d always been the one apologizing and begging for forgiveness.
“It’s okay,” she said through the tightness in her throat.
He let out a huff.“It’s actually not.I don’t know everything you’ve been through, but my mom had been abused before she met my dad.Years after, even though my dad treated her like a princess, she still struggled with anxiety and fear.I know it doesn’t just go away.It takes time to heal and to know you’re safe.You’re safe with me, kitten.”
The tightness got to the point where she could barely swallow.When she finally spoke, it came out strangled.“Why would you want to deal with me and my baggage if you know what it’s like?”
There was silence for a long moment, and then her phone beeped, signaling an incoming video chat.From Levi.Her eyebrows pulled together as she tapped accept and watched his face appear on the screen.
“I want you to see my face when I tell you this so you know how serious I am,” he said.“You are more than any baggage you might have.We all have things we deal with.I see you, Harper.I see every bit of you.The scared and anxious side, but also the soft, sweet, absolutely impossible not to adore side.I can go as slow as you need, but I’m going to show you how you deserve to be treated, baby doll.”
A tear rolled down her cheek, and she quickly dashed it away.“You’ll get tired of all of my insecurities and triggers,” she whispered.
“Look at me, kitten.Good girl.Thank you,” he praised.“I won’t get tired of you.You’re precious, and I’m pretty sure you’re my Little girl.”
She gasped at his admission.He couldn’t possibly know that.They barely knew each other.She didn’t know his last name.Or his family.Or his favorite food.
Did it matter, though?Did any of that small stuff matter?Because the small details didn’t define the man.It was the big, everyday things that showed his real character.
“Who do you have there with you?”he asked.
Her cheeks flushed when she realized Whiskers was in the frame.
