Hated Ties (Book 3. Ties)

8. Bullshit

This is odd to me. Indefinitely odd. Staring at my very own father talk to Richard, the man who raised Nicole as his own, feels confusing. Yet, here they are a few feet from me laughing and talking.

"That frown is going to be permanent if you don't quit," Levi says as he ungraciously throws his body on the couch to sit next to me.

I move my sight to him. "You have to give me a chance. I'm not used to seeing this..." Words escape me, so with my hand I signal to the two men having a conversation.

"Yeah, it doesn't get weirder than this," Levi replies.

"So, do you like your job," I ask to change the subject.

He nods in response. "I've met a lot of people from different backgrounds. I went to Cambodia two years ago and worked in a little clinic there."

"You did," my voice raises in question.

"That's how my dad met Sirrah. She is the director of the program that sends students, nurses, doctors, and other service providers to volunteer somewhere to aid people who need health services."

Levi left the country to volunteer his time to help complete strangers? "What was your experience?" I want to know more about him. What his life was like without me. I don't know why I need to know, but I desire more. 

A scowl formed on his face. "Some people are really poor, Mackenzie. In some areas, people don't have access to a clinic for miles and miles. Not everyone is struggling in Cambodia, but there are a lot of people who are."

"You're upset," I state.

He moves his head up and down. "I wish I could do more." His eyes move back to mine. "There is one thing that they have in common with us."

I look at him in question. "And what's that?"

"The kids laugh just as loud as ours." Levi begins to chuckle. "I just don't like how their kids cannot have shoes, or how they have to wear the same shirt with the same hole for a long time. I want them to have more."

All I can think of to say is, "that is so sad." Kids are so innocent and perfect. They don't deserve the discrimination and injustices of this world run by selfish, powerful people. 

"I also got lice when I was there," he says. I frown as Levi leans his head near mine and shakes his head. When he returns to his previous posture, he speaks again. "Now you do too," he declares with a charming smile.

My hand immediately moves to my scalp in confusion. "What," I whisper my question of astonishment.

His smile grows wider. "I'm just kidding."

I cannot help a short chuckle to escape my lips.

"There it is," he states.

"What," I ask again.

"A smile. It doesn't happen very much anymore." I stop blinking.

This man will be the death of me. Nothing passes by him. The best method to leave a conversation is to roll your eyes, which I do.

I choose not to respond to him, instead, I look at my phone. There is a message from Stephanie. I am wary about opening it, since I haven't spoken to her from the moment I left New York. I unlock my phone and view the message. It's a black-and-white picture that says "it's a girl." I don't notice the tears rolling down my cheeks.

Levi's hand moves to my thigh right above the knee. "What's wrong?"

I glance at his hand on my thigh first. Then, I sniff and wipe away the tears as I laugh. "Nothing... It's a good cry. A happy cry." I show him the picture. "My friends are having a baby. They totally deserve that little girl." I send Stephanie a message that expresses just what I told Levi.