Loose Ends - Book One

Levi ~ Got Trees?

Everything is back in place. Nothing important is broken. To the eye, the living room looks like nothing goes on in it but normal living activities. Nonetheless, I can't stop picturing what this place looked like before I fixed it. What it looked like after Anabel came over. I feel like a teenager trying to make my bed before my parents find out what happened in it. Vicky would be the parent, and I'd never hear the end of it.

            I probably should, but I regret nothing. As soon as I had her against the wall, my mind blanked. All I could focus on were her lips and how close they were to mine. Walking away was impossible, this time. Even when we were kissing, I was seconds away from quitting on one pair of lips and moving to the other. Her damn phone.

            I hear keys jingling into the front door and I shoot up from the couch. Not sure why I'm so jumpy, I take a deep breath. "Fuck sake, what is wrong with me?" I whisper to myself.

            Vicky walks in with dinner. "Hey, big guy. I just saw Ana at the Chinese spot."

            "Oh."

            "Is she okay? When we locked eyes, she did this weird wave and started walking faster."

            Don't smirk, Levi, don't smirk.

            "I'm sorry, I forgot you two aren't talking." She places the food on the coffee table and looks up at me. "What happened to you?"

            "Huh?"

            "Your hair and shirt is all tossed."

            Damn it. Forgot that.

            "I'd ask if you got in a fight, but you look okay in the face..." Vicky squints her eyes at me in confusion, then continues to survey me.

            "Stop inspecting me," I demand too defensively.

            She tilts her head. "You don't want me to look at you...neither does Ana..."

            Damn it.

            "OH MY GOD." Vicky's eyes widen. "You two fucked!"

            "No, we didn't."

            "That's why you look all disheveled and Ana's all jumpy!"

            "We didn't fuck—"

            "Ooh, I knew it!" She does a small victory dance. "Tell me you did her good, because she really held onto your stubborn ass."

            I stare at her blankly.

            "Sorry."

            "Ana and I didn't have sex."

            Vicky crosses her arms and peers at me in suspicion. "But you did something."

            I drop back down onto the couch and throw my head back. "I kissed her, but—"

Vicky screams and starts dancing.

"I texted her about James," I interrupt her celebration.

            "Ugh, Levi!" Vicky puts on her scolding voice. "We talked about that."

            "I know, but it was driving me crazy," I protest. "He's a slimy little fucker, and I don't want him anywhere near her."

            "Y'know, you can use James as an excuse all you want, but this would drive you crazy with any guy."