I'd Sell My Soul

Chapter 6: Let's call it as is

Ali Monroe's POV
We inched forward in the drop off line. Sophie's head was leaned against her window and we had barely spoken to each other this morning. She was mad, I had grounded her for two weeks. School and home is where she's confined to now. It's the punishment aunt Carla doled out to me when I was Sophie's age and had done the exact same thing.

"Sophie, I hope you know I'm not doing this to torture you. I just want you to learn consequences for poor decisions." I look over at her.

"Sure, whatever Aunt Ali." She rolls her eyes, still not looking at me.

"Okay. Right." I turn my attention back to the line.

"You can stop here I'm just going to walk." Sophie zips up her backpack and unbuckled her seatbelt.

"Sophie we're almost to the front just-" I start but she's already opened the car door. "Okay, have a great day." I say as she shuts the door. I sigh and press my forehead to the cool steering wheel. Someone behind me honks, I sigh, pull out of the line and drive off. As I drive I think about all the times I fought with Farrah. All the times when she thought she knew better. She was right. Most of the time. Maybe all of the time. I was a dumb teenage cheerleader. All I thought about was boys, the next social event I needed to be at, clothes. I'm honestly not sure how I survived college without Farrah but I did and I got a successful job right out of college.

I was still on leave from work for Farrah's passing. Thank god Washington state has laws about allotting for time to grieve. I decided to follow through on my promise to swing by Dawson's Saloon. I parked my car and walked up to the glass double doors and was immediately greeted by a young, red head, perky server.

"Welcome to Dawson's, table for one?" She goes to grab a menu.

"Actually is Levi Colt in? He's expecting me." I smile and fold my arms. I glanced around the saloon. Absolutely nothing had changed. All the decor has remained the same tacky stuff.

"Oh umm, he's in his office...why do t I just go get him." The girl stares at me confused.

"That's okay if you can just direct me back to the office, he's expecting me." I reiterate again, wary of her shift in attitude towards me.

"Okay...right...this way." The girl eyes me and directs me to the kitchen, we walk back behind a wall and pass the main chef line and to an old wooden door. The girl knocks. The door pops open to reveal Levi sitting a desk in a rolling chair.

"This woman says she's here to see you." The girl blinks and gestures at me.

"Oh hey Ali, come in. Thanks Bri." Levi smiles at me and waved me, rolling back over to his computer. I walk in the office that's more of a closet and shut the door behind me as I scrunch myself in.

"Sorry I wasn't sure if you were coming in early or later, I was going to take my break." Levi types into his computer as he talks.

"Oh no worries I just...well I hate being in that house for extended periods of time by myself so I guess I'm being a little codependent." I chuckle and scratch at my left hand nervously.

"I can only imagine. You're not looking for a job are you? I could use another server." He chuckles.

"No my marketing job is letting me do satellite work so...anyways...so what've you been up to the last decade?" I smile and find an old stool in the corner to sit on.

He laughs first. "I was in the army for awhile and then I got medically discharged after taking a bullet in the leg in Iraq. I decided to come back home, even though my mom's gone. You know the Smiths? Irene and Jay practically raised Jenny and I while my mom worked, they were our neighbors growing up. Anyways they passed the restaurant responsibilities off to me." Levi glanced up occasionally as he spoke. Jenny is Levi's younger half sister. Jenny was one of my best friends in high school. Obviously Katie was closest to me but Jenny and I were on the cheer team and spent a lot of time together. It was how I met Levi and became friends with him. We lost touch after high school.

"How is Jenny? I haven't seen her in a long time." I ask.

"She's good. She's out in Chicago, practicing law. She got married two summers ago." Levi responded.

"What about you?" I ask.

"What?" He looks up.

"Dating? Married? Engaged? What's your story?" I chuckle.

"Divorced. Recently." He simply says.

"How recent?" I return.

"A year ago. Rebecca. I met in her when I was stationed in Texas." Levi sighs. I can tell it's a sore subject so I decide to steer away as a saving grace swings the office door open. The redhead that Levi called 'Bri' is standing there.

"Hey Levi, sorry I have a couple questions; first off are the Nakamora's coming in tonight? Because Marvin said we are low on fish sticks." She leans on the doorframe as she speaks.

"Aw crap, Nami is gonna think it's personal. I'll run to the restaurant supply store. Ali, get your coat on, you're coming with." Levi jumps to his feet and grabs his jacket off the wall behind him.

"Sweet I'm game." I chuckle and get to my feet.

"And there's another question, I was just wondering if you were free tonight and wanted to come over to mine?" Bri practically cuts me off, interjecting. I look back and forth between the two. Levi looks at me and back at her.

"Uh...I can't." He looks back at Bri, clearly uncomfortable and I'm made aware of what their relationship must be based off of Levi's awkward demeanor.

"Oh umm okay...maybe tomorrow?" Bri looks at me and back at Levi. Clearly she views me as a threat to whatever romantic relationship they have.

"Maybe. I'll see you when we get back." Levi brushes past me and I follow him out. We head out a back door to his truck parked outback.

"Well we'll... Levi Colt I never took you for the younger type." I stifle a slight giggle as we climb in the truck.

"Oh are you talking about Brianna? That's nothing." He says quickly as he turns the key over.

"Hey I hold no judgement. She's cute." I put my hands up.

"Fine. You never told me your story? So what's your situation?" He shifts into reverse and puts and arm on the top of the bench seat as he backs the truck up.

"Newly dumped." I beam with pride at my single status.

"Dumped? Then he's not good enough for you." Levi shifts into drive and puts both hands back on the steering wheel.

"She and no it just fizzled out." I shrug.

"She?!" Levi's head jerks back in my direction.

"I go both ways." I nod.

"Good for you. It slim pickings for men over here anyways." He chuckles as we drive off.