Craving Purity- Rewritten

IV

Levi's POV:

I have the box with the ring clenched tightly in my fist. Obviously, right now I should be thinking about my proposal to my long time girlfriend, but I cannot get my mind off of the two men in the jewelry store. My neck is still burning where the one man, Elijah, touched me.

The further I seem to get from the jeweler's, the worse the pain seems to get. It is most likely just paranoia on my end because I have a lot of fear around men who have a clear advantage of strength around me. If I had more confidence, I would complain about what I experienced within the jewelry store, but for now I just want to forget it.

I do not like being touched in general, let alone by strangers. Even with Maggie it is hard for me to be intimate... we have been together for four years now, but we have only had sex a handful of times and I don't remember enjoying any of them. It is not her fault... it is really hard to enjoy sex when the demons of your past are always haunting you.

My text to Maggie about the offer to take her out to a fancy dinner went unanswered, but I cannot just wait. I need to take some initiative in this relationship for once since we got together.

When I get to Maggie's apartment, I see her car in its normal parking space. With her unit, she gets two parking spots, and there is an unfamiliar truck parked beside her car. Unease pools in my gut, since it is not either of her parents' cars. Her dad doesn't like the gas mileage in trucks and her mom doesn't drive at all.

I shakily walk up the stairs and knock on the door, trying to calm down.

It's just paranoia... besides, if it is the scenario that is living in my brain, I deserve it.

Please be wrong.

A man with tanned skin, short black hair, and almond eyes answers the door. There is a brief second where I freeze and stare, as he is not a bad looking guy and he is only wearing underwear right now. Once I get a grip on myself, I step back from the door, knowing that there is really only one explanation for a man in his underwear to be in my girlfriend's apartment.

He says something, but my head is throbbing and my ears feel stuffy and are ringing.

"What?" I ask in a crackly voice, too overwhelmed to cry or yell or do anything.

"Uber Eats?" the guy asks, looking down at my hands and raising an eyebrow. "Well... I don't see any food, so is there something you need?"

I grip the box even tighter in my hand. "Who are you?"

"I could ask you the same thing," the guy responds.

"Who's at the door?" I hear Maggie call, and I see her emerge from behind the guy.

I cannot say I am too surprised that this is happening, but it still feels like I got punched in the gut.

"Levi, what the hell are you doing here?!" Maggie asks in shock, looking at the man who seems to be trying to work out who I am. "Marcus, would you mind waiting inside for a second?"

The guy, Marcus, shakes his head. "No, I think I'll stay here," he says as he gives me a once over. "Do you need some water, man? You look like you're going to pass out."

"You would too if you found out your girlfriend of four years was cheating on you!" I shout, throwing the box with the ring on the ground. "And how can you be surprised that I'm here?! Is your boyfriend not allowed to visit?!"

Marcus looks down at the jewelry box and picks it up. He opens it up and both he and Maggie gape at the ring.

"I came here to propose," I whisper, finally feeling the tears build up.