The Summer Before

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Levi

The girls were out celebrating Charlotte's bachelorette party, leaving the house to Jason and me. A small favor I was happy for.

The break was much needed with everything going on between Tessa and me. Maybe it would give me time to clear my head before I made a terrible mistake. Only time would tell, and I was running short on that.

"You sure you don't want us to take you to a strip club or something?" Landon was pushing for something other than a poker night for J's bachelor party.

Jason didn't budge. "No, man. I don't need a night out at the strip club. I just want this night in with my bros, some good drinks, and barbeque, and I'm good."

Landon huffed. It wasn't his idea of a bachelor party, but it was very Jason. And as his best man, I was here to support him.

Truth be told, I could have used a night out with the boys to get my mind off a certain brunette that has been tormenting me lately, but I wasn't about to push Jason to do anything he didn't want to. This was his night to do whatever he pleased.

And as long as the girls stayed out with Charlotte, I didn't have anything to worry about. At least, that's what I kept telling myself. Maybe I'd get lucky, and they'd crash at Charlotte's place, or Colin's, or Leah's. Anywhere but here. Who knows what the fuck I'd do if Tessa came back drunk tonight and tried something bold.

You know you'd let her do anything she wanted.

Stupid suck.

I shook the thought from my head as our poker game continued. I was losing terribly, unable to stay focused on the game, letting my bluffs fail, and practically giving away the cash stash I had in my wallet. Sid and a few other guys from the office loved it, ribbing me for losing so easily and joking that I should just hand over my wallet and cut my losses.

They weren't wrong. My head was so messed up over what had been going on lately with Tessa that I couldn't focus on anything else. I really needed to get a handle on that situation ASAP.

Landon kept my whiskey glass full, numbing some of the thoughts racing through my mind. After a few hours, I almost felt like myself. I was laughing along with the guys, swapping stories about Jason from when we were kids. Hell, I even won a round of poker.

The night was shaping up to be more fun than I had initially anticipated.

I'd almost forgotten about my Tessa problem as the hours passed until the front door swung open.

Micah looked puzzled as Colin walked in, leading Tessa, Leah, and a very drunk Charlotte.

Jason immediately went to his fiancée's side, guiding her back to his seat at the table, gently sitting her on his lap as Colin explained, "We didn't mean to crash the bachelor party, but Leah left her keys at our place, and I lost mine somewhere tonight."

"You lost your keys?" Micah responded.

"Lost or locked inside our apartment," Colin clarified with a wave of his hand. "Either way, we had nowhere else to go. No way was I taking Charlotte to her parents' place looking like that."

He pointed to Charlotte, who was staring dreamily at Jason as she draped her arms around his neck. J mirrored her expression as he waved off their intrusion, telling them they were all more than welcome to join our game.

"I'm just gonna steal a spot on the couch." Colin was the first to answer. "I'm not much of a poker player."

Leah pulled up a seat between two of my coworkers, smiling flirtatiously as she asked them to explain the game to her. I didn't miss the glare Landon shot her way.

Uninterested in unpacking the situation with them, I averted my gaze, looking at Sid. He was smiling wide as he looked away from our group. His eyes slid up and down, undressing the remaining member of Charlotte's party.

I knew before I looked up what I'd see.

Tessa was a knockout, wearing some too-sexy outfit that revealed far too much skin for a night out on the town. I knew all too well what she had going on underneath those clothes. Maybe that's why I became instantly livid when Sid spoke up.

"There's an empty seat right here, gorgeous." He patted his lap, inviting Tessa over to him.

I could feel my jaw clench as I watched them, waiting to see what she'd do.

As if she knew, Tessa glanced my way hesitantly. She replied with a shy smile as she grabbed another chair, pulling it to sit between Sid and me.

Sid didn't seem deterred by her polite dismissal. He continued to flirt with Tessa as I stewed on her other side, more irritated than I had any right to be.

With everything going on between the two of us lately, it was hard to shut down the instant desire to punch my friend in the face for flirting so openly with her. Tessa was hardly flirting back, but that didn't stop my primal instincts from taking over, demanding that I stake my claim over what was mine.

As we sat at the table, finishing up another round, Sid was still shamelessly eyeing Tessa, making suggestive comments, and accidentally brushing his hand against her. I couldn't stop myself; it was the alpha male inside of me that made me do what I did next...

As Tessa lightly rolled her eyes at something Sid said, I dropped my left hand under the table. It grazed Tessa's skin possessively as I positioned it high up on her inner thigh.

Her breathing hitched as I gave her leg a firm squeeze, daring her to give me a reason to go further. I didn't care that there was a room full of people or that I knew better than to play this game so blatantly in public. At that moment, I only wanted to remind Tessa who she really wanted.

I needed to show myself the way she reacted so easily to my touch. It drove me insane thinking of anyone but me having any part of her. She was mine. She always had been.

Screw Sid and any other guy who thinks they can have her!

That's when it dawned on me how utterly fucked I was.

I was too far gone- way past the point of no return. And the realization was daunting...

I was still hopelessly in love with Tessa Rhodes. 

A/N:

Ohhhhhhh snap! The big L. He finally admits it! But will he tell Tessa? What do you think? 

Let me know below. And if you're super pumped about Levi's admission to himself, hit that vote button so we can get this story out to other readers on Wattpad <3

See you back here on Monday to find out what happens next. Have a great weekend everyone!