The Summer Before

Chapter Fifteen

*Present day*

Tessa

Tuesday started much like Monday on the Levi front. He left early for work- probably to avoid running into me- and didn't return until well after his office closed that night. Jason apologized for Levi's behavior when I joined him and Charlotte for dinner.

I shrugged it off, trying not to let it get to me. I wanted everything to go smoothly for Jason and Charlotte, so I didn't make a big deal of it. Besides, it's not like Levi and I are friends anymore.

What do I care if he avoids me?

At least I had a good distraction now that Charlotte was back in town. She's a school teacher, so now that it's summer vacation, she has almost the entire season off, and she's promised to spend as much time with me as she can while I'm here.

Thank goodness for that!

Catching up with Charlotte has definitely helped distract me from the ongoing saga that is Levi and me. I don't even know why I keep letting it get to me. It's not like he and I were ever going to work out. Once upon a time, I thought we would, back when I thought he cared, back when I thought we were meant to be.

Now that's ancient history. Yet, it still gets under my skin- he gets under my skin, and he hasn't even been around lately.

Charlotte could tell that something was bothering me. We were doing some last-minute wedding shopping earlier, and she kept giving me strange looks. When we returned to Jason's house, she finally asked what was wrong.

I debated what to say. I mean, why freak her out about what almost happened at the club? In the end, I told her everything, sparing no detail. After all, she's my best friend. If I can't talk to her, who can I talk to?

She was understandably shocked by my story, asking several times if I was sure I was okay after the incident. I assured her I was, mentioning that nothing actually happened since Levi was there in the nick of time to save me.

Levi...

If only he'd stop avoiding me. Maybe then we could finally have a mature conversation. Oh well, what's meant to be will be, I suppose.

Charlotte and I spent the rest of the day catching up and going over every detail of her plans for the wedding. She had everything organized in a binder that she started the second Jason proposed. I can't blame her; those two were always meant to get married. I'm not sure which one was more excited about the engagement- her or Jason.

I think he cried harder than she did when she said yes. Don't let him tell you any different- my big bro is a big softy. Especially when it comes to Char.

It makes my heart happy to see my brother and my best friend so in love. They truly were made for each other. Their relationship shows that true love can still exist in this crazy world we live in.

Halfway through Charlotte's explanation about seating arrangements, Jason came home. To say his face lit up when he saw my bestie would be a huge understatement.

As soon as he set his things down, he made his way to where we were perched on the couch. Jason gathered her up in a sweet embrace and told her he missed her. She did the same as she nuzzled against him.

Watching them together reminds me of what I'm missing. I never had that with Benji or any of my other boyfriends. I almost had it last summer with Levi until he showed me who he truly was.

I'd never been so hurt in my life. What he did- still stings to this day. I don't know if I'll ever be able to get over it completely, but perhaps we can be friends again someday.