Falling For The Plumber

Chapter 3

Chapter 3
Milly
I stared at the open suitcase on my bed.
The empty suitcase Greg loaned me.
I'd never been anywhere. I had no idea what to take.
How was I supposed to pack for a trip to Canada?
I didn't own any winter clothing.
"Milly, you need to hurry up," Greg said from the doorway.
"I don't want to go on a trip," I said.
He crossed the room and pulled me into his arms, pressing a kiss to the top of my forehead. "You're going to be just fine. This will be good for you."
"You think it's good to take off to another country with a stranger, and lie to his family?"
"Levi isn't a stranger."
"He is to me."
"Do you think I would send you off with him if I didn't trust him?"
"Definitely not," I laughed, wiping my tears on the front of his t-shirt. "I'm sure he's a nice guy and all, but you know I'm uncomfortable around men."
"So this is a good opportunity to step outside your comfort zone. Stretch your wings, experience everything life has to offer away from this island."
"I'm scared, Greg," I whispered.
He tipped my chin up with his thumb, his kind brown eyes calming my nerves, just like they always did. "What are you scared of, Milly?" he asked softly.
"Flying."
"That's normal."
"How does that help?"
"It doesn't, but flying is safer than riding in a car."
"I don't ride in cars very often."
"Once you're in the air, it's no different than being on a bus or a train."
"I've never been on a bus or a train."
"What else are you scared of?"
"The bridge."
"It's either that, or you fly from Key West. And keep in mind that a flight from the island to Miami is thirty minutes, so you'd be on a smaller plane. I wouldn't recommend that for your first flight."
"I looked up pictures of The Seven Mile Bridge. What happens if a big wave comes?"
"You'll be just fine," he said, pulling away. "Let's get this suitcase packed. Levi is gonna be here any minute."
"How is he going to get past the news trucks?"
"He parked a few blocks away. He'll cut through Bruna's yard."
"Can't we just call the police?"
"I did. They won't come unless the reporters trespass onto our property."
"The neighbours are gonna start complaining if they can't even get their cars down the street."
"Milly, you're stalling," he chastised. "The decision has been made."
"I feel like you and dad just want me out of here so your lives can go back to normal."
"That's not true, and you know it."
"Fine," I huffed as I marched over to my dresser. I yanked open the top draw and started tossing panties and bras over my shoulder towards the suitcase. "I better bring my best underwear. Wouldn't want to disappoint my new boyfriend when he undresses me to fuck me."
"I don't care what the wrapping paper looks like. I'm more interested in what's underneath."
I froze at the sound of Levi's voice.
Heat spread up my chest and neck, igniting my cheeks.
"You're on your own, little sis," Greg chuckled.
I gathered up all of the undergarments covering my twin bed, tossing them into the suitcase before slamming the lid closed.
"Uh, Milly," Levi said. "It's winter in Canada. I think you're gonna need more than just bras and panties."
"Can we just pretend that never happened?" I begged, staring at the floor.
"I don't know," he said. "You're asking me to forget lots of things. First I saw you naked, and I have to forget that happened. Which, by the way, I have not forgotten. That image is permanently embedded in my brain. And now you want me to forget I overheard you tell your brother you want to have sex with me."
"I only said that so he might think twice about letting me leave with you."
"Uh-huh," he whispered. "Sure, you did."
"I'm not interested in doing that with you, or any man for that matter. So if you think that is going to be part of this arrangement, you are sorely mistaken."
He blinked, scratching at his thin beard while he processed my announcement.
"Are you a lesbian, Milly?"
"What?!"
"Do you like women?"
"I know what a lesbian is. And no, I'm not into women."
"So you're asexual?"
"I don't even know what that is."
"It refers to a person who isn't attracted to either sex."
"I'm not asexual."
"Okey dokey. Let's table this discussion for another time. We need to get going."
"I don't own any winter clothing."
"We'll have to go shopping when we land in Toronto. Bring whatever sweaters and long pants you have."
"I'll be ready in ten minutes."
"I'll be waiting in the living room."
I tossed my clothes and pajamas into the suitcase. Greg said to bring a backpack with things that I might need on the plane, and some basic essentials in case they lost my luggage. I was a low maintenance girl. My toiletries were pretty basic.
I would be gone for three weeks. I assumed they had a washer and dryer at the Harlowe house, and Levi said we were going shopping.
I placed my ereader, phone and chargers in my backpack and did one final scan of my bedroom. My mother smiled at me from her photo on the dresser.
"I'll be back soon, Mom," I promised.
Levi was in the living room with Dad and Greg. All the curtains were closed.
"You all set, honey?" Dad asked, rising from the sofa.
"As ready as I'll ever be."
"You're gonna have a great time," Greg said. "Levi is going to take you on all kinds of fun winter adventures. I predict you'll like Canada so much that you won't wanna come home."
"Yeah, right," I laughed.
Dad wrapped me up in his arms, squeezing me hard. "You be a good girl, Milly."
"I'm not a child, Dad."
"I know, baby, but this is your first time leaving home. I'm allowed to be worried about you."
"I'll take good care of her, Floyd," Levi said. "I promise."
Dad released me and shook Levis' hand. "I know you will, son. Just keep an eye on her. She's young and vulnerable."
"Dad, stop," I sighed. "I'm twenty-three-years-old."
Greg hugged me briefly before giving Levi a slap on the back. "Thanks for doing this. I really appreciate it."
"It's no hardship," he said, winking at me.
My cheeks flushed. I had to stop blushing every time this man looked at me. He was going to get the wrong idea. I wasn't attracted to him.
I guess you peed yourself then?
That's why your panties are damp?
"Bruna is going to give us a lift back to the van," Levi advised.
I followed him toward the rear of the house, glancing back at my dad and my brother. They looked more excited than sad. I guess it wasn't like I was going away indefinitely. It was only three weeks.
We didn't do much for Christmas anyway. Greg wasn't home the past couple of years, and he had to work that year. We never had much money growing up. Never had a tree or anything. It was just another day. We had a stocking and a couple of gifts. When we were little, there was nobody to cook, so we usually went out to eat. When Greg was a teenager, and started cooking, he would make a turkey dinner, and we would watch Christmas movies.
Levi reached for my suitcase when we stepped into the backyard.
"I can carry my own luggage," I informed him.
"Sorry. I was just trying to be a gentleman."
We cut across the yard. Bruna was waiting on her back porch. She didn't say a word. We followed her around the side of her house under the cover of darkness. Levi placed our bags in the trunk of her old Buick.
"You sit in the back," Bruna ordered, handing me an enormous sun hat.
"Why do I need this?"
"There's reporters crawling all over the neighbourhood. When I find out who leaked your address to the media, I'll tan their hide."
"It was probably my boss," I said.
"You take care of yourself, girl," Bruna said while Levi lifted our suitcases from the trunk.
"I will. Thanks for the ride."
I climbed in the van.
Levi joined me and started the engine.
"You ready?" he asked.
"Let's do it."
"Jorge said to just leave the van at the rental car place. So all we need to do is go in and get the keys, and we're off."