Apology Accepted

Chapter 17

Maddie as played by Arielle Kebbel.

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When the rain finally dies down a bit we clean up the table and rush to the car.

"Hurry, the rain is gonna come back soon,'' I tell him as I wait by the car.

"It's just water!" he says with a laugh as he takes his time walking over.

"The longer you take the longer till you get your grilled cheese!"

That seems to get his attention because he laughs and jogs over.

"Don't you go threatening this man's food, Hunter. That is a sacred thing."

I roll my eyes and pull at the seat belt, "I'll keep that in mind when I find a man."

"I, me is man!" Levi says, turning towards me, throwing his arm behind my headrest to back out of our spot.

I'm so used to digging my face into his shoulder blades that seeing his entire body as we wait for another car to pass us is fascinating.

I do my best to be subtle but I've got to admit I'm not trying very hard. He is focused on backing out so that I'm free to look him up and down. He has always looked handsome when he is concentrating but now his whole body is displayed, his face, neck, torso, and even his lap and legs are all turned towards me.

My eyes drift from his hair downwards but eventually, my eyes are drawn back to his neck.

"Relax, we are headed towards food already, no need to be licking your lips." He says when we finally are on our way back.

I hadn't noticed I was biting my lips or licking it much less. I feel some heat rise up my face and I turn towards the window hoping the change in scenery will cool me down.

"I was thinking about a crunch bar I hid in the freezer, do you think someone ate it already?"

He chuckles as we reach a stoplight and he turns to look at me, a picture of beauty with one arm on the steering wheel the other resting on the shift stick. "If someone ate your chocolate bar I'll buy you another one, don't worry baby girl."

He has called me that dozens of times and yet it made my blush even worse today. Him offering to buy me chocolate like a caring boyfriend definitely wasn't helping.

"It's fine you don't have to do that."

"It's a chocolate bar, not a car, I can afford to get you that," he says, pulling gently on a stand of my hair.

"No one touches the hair Ross," I tell him before trying to pull the back of his hair in retaliation. As soon as I get a handful of his hair he throws his head against the rest and holds my hand hostage. "Return to me my hand you heathen!"

"No it's mine now!" he laughs back and struggles a bit but he just uses one of his hands to hold my arm in place.

I eventually give up struggling, afraid to cause an accident, and just play with his hair.

We drive the rest of the way in silence, just the radio playing softly and the occasional blinker sound. Levi cuts the engine and we just sit there for a minute longer before he lets out a sound of content.

My head snaps towards him, he is sitting there with his eyes closed and head leaning forward giving me more access to his neck and hair. I stop out of shock and as soon as I do I swear a small protest formed in the back of his throat. However, instead, he just sits up straight, causing my hand to slip from where it was resting, and clears his throat.